Instrument policy clash with gate staff leaves violinist holding two bare violins on BA flight
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The violinist Bojan Čičić has reported a recent flying incident, which saw him forced to travel on a British Airways (BA) flight with two bare violins on his lap.
Čičić had travelled on an early flight from London Heathrow to Amsterdam on BA on 14 December. He was let on board the aircraft with no issue, carrying his double violin case, plus a small plastic bag, as his only items of luggage.
Čičić was set to fly back to London the very same day. However, he was stopped at the gate and informed that he would not be able to board the flight with his violin case.
He outlined that he had travelled on his earlier flight, which was very busy, without issue, and that his insurance company would not cover damages to instruments if they were checked into the hold. On previous flights, Čičić said flight attendants had helped him by placing his violin in their wardrobe, when there was limited space for a violin.
‘This all fell on deaf ears,’ Čičić said of the gate staff.
He called a colleague, who had already boarded the plane, to get help from the flight attendants. ‘He said that [the flight attendants] had said I should board the aircraft, as there was a lot of space for my violins,’ said Čičić.
At this point, Čičić was forced to leave the case with the carrier, Aviapartner, and check it into the hold, or face missing the flight. One of the BA flight attendants went to the gate to gain more information from the gate staff.
Čičić eventually boarded the plane with his bare violins, whereupon the BA crew were ‘extremely apologetic’ and upgraded him to first class where there was more space for his instruments.
Čičić highlighted his frustration at the gate staff, rather than the BA staff. ‘The problem seems to be with the staff at the gates who take their responsibility to board the aircraft as quickly as possible, so the flight could leave in time, a little too much to their heart,’ he told The Strad.
‘They are obviously not educated enough about the airline’s policy regarding musical instruments and the fact that I couldn’t reach any member of the crew was the main reason why this situation happened.’
BA’s policy for smaller musical instruments states that they ‘can be carried in the cabin as part of, but not in addition to, your free hand baggage allowance, so long as the case is within the dimensions of 80 x 45 x 25cm [31 x 18 x 10in]’. Čičić’s double violin case measured 79 x 32 x 12cm.
‘They need to change the rules and allow the passengers to be able to contact the crew, who would then decide what comes on board their aircraft, rather than people working at the gates following the rules too closely.’
Čičić emphasises that he had no other luggage and that rules presented by Aviapartner would force him either to continually fly business class, the cost of which is out of his reach, or to travel with his instrument on his lap.
‘It’s ridiculous, as even the low-cost airlines have rules about the violins that are more reasonable than this.’
He continued: ‘I must say that the BA crew were very impressive and professional with the way they dealt with the situation, wanting to know more information, being calm and respectful towards all the parties involved and sincere in their apologetic behaviour for something that wasn’t even their fault.’
The incident follows that of German violinist Carolin Widmann, who was recently forced to carry her bare Guadagnini violin in her arms during six hours of travel with Lufthansa. Widmann has since written an open letter to the CEO of Lufthansa, Carsten Spohr, urging the airline to rethink its musical instrument luggage policies.
Čičić is the leader of the Academy of Ancient Music and founded the Illyria Consort. He directs ensembles including Lyra Baroque Orchestra, De Nederlandse Bachvereniging, Dunedin Consort, Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra and Phion Orkest van Gelderland & Overijssel. He is professor of Baroque violin at the Royal College of Music in London.
