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Posted on 12th February 2023 |
Show only this post Show all posts in this thread (Air Travel). |
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If I ever needed another reason for not travelling on LOT Airlines, it is in this case reported on Classic FM. Polish violinist Janusz Wawrowski was returning from Vilnius, Lithuania, to Warsaw, Poland, with his Stradivarius violin, valued at €5 million. Understandably he wanted to take his violin on board as hand baggage, but the airline refused; LOT insisted that it go in the hold, and offered him the choice of complying or not flying. When Wawrowski explained what the violin was worth and his concern that it would get damaged, as justification for not putting it in the hold, one airline employee said “we’ll see if it gets damaged in the hold”. I don't think so! That violin is irreplaceable, and would likely not be fully reparable if it got damaged; it is also worth more than the total value of all the other luggage on that flight. Luckily, the traveller stuck to his guns, and instead travelled home by bus, which took 8 hours! Most air travellers know, as I do from bitter experience, that hold luggage is frequently damaged. I have had many suitcases (and other items) damaged, even ruined, by baggage handlers. Airlines know how dangerous baggage handling is, which is why laptops are always allowed as cabin baggage, so why not a Stradivarius? | |