Comments on: United Breaks Guitars

By: Peter R UK

Peter R UK — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 10:57:03 +0000

It’s a great video and a catchy song, but I have been wondering why Dave Carroll didn’t simply claim against his flight/travel insurance or his musical instruments policy. My daughter is a professional classical musician who frequently travels with a $14,000 flute and a $30,000 concert harp, and the sort of damage incurred to Dave’s guitar would be covered by a standard musical instruments policy. It doesn’t excuse shoddy baggage-handling, but is it usual to travel without insurance in North America?

By: Darmar

Darmar — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:42:49 +0000

Mince…..

You’re comments would be accurate BUT:

Flight Attendants WON’T carry your guitar by hand to the cargo area. Federal Regulations require them to remain on board WITH the passengers in case of an emergency (ground time is the most dangerous time for an aircraft).

If it doesn’t fit in the overhead compartment, DON’T expect anyone to put it in the “Closet”. Many planes don’t have one. No you can’t lean it against the wall….and if you do see a closet…it’s only rated for a specified weight allowance. Many airlines also restrict it’s use to First/Business Class passengers.

You’re comment rates (for accuracy) right up there with those Glad commercials where they show a Flight Attendant heating up something in a microwave. You won’t EVER find one of those onboard an airplane either….so bring your own zip lock baggies.

By: nat thomas

nat thomas — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:13:55 +0000

As a brit, found this song and thread hugely entertaining. Song is great. costumes great, words great. One thread said about how dowdy some stewardess look on AA, have you checked Delta out recently????

By: RMGF

RMGF — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:43:01 +0000

I loved it! Gave me an idea for Homewood Suites, the city of San Antonio, Texas, and Hilton Honors! He should make a little side business out of this. He proved that consumers have the power to show companies who pays their bills!

By: Hkjdhf

Hkjdhf — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:22:34 +0000

Hopefully United can find a way to break them again.

By: Brenda

Brenda — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:39:32 +0000

I love the video and the song, United Breaks Guitars but do you think it will make any difference? I certainly hope so and I hope the Sons of Maxwell get their big break musically as a result.

http://www.squidoo.com/united-breaks-guitars

By: Bing Futch

Bing Futch — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 04:27:56 +0000

Not only does United break guitars; Northwest breaks mountain dulcimers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x50pJe_QvQQ

By: PetalumaPete

PetalumaPete — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:01:24 +0000

Here’s a tribute we put together (as a company team effort) in response and in support of all the David Carrolls of the world. -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hRr0YlHsjo – Enjoy!

By: David G

David G — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:12:26 +0000

If his touring career doesn’t work out maybe he should take requests for other complaint videos and create a cottage business out of it – Dave C if you’re reading this I have a gripe with Direct TV!

By: G R

G R — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:42:07 +0000

Try Dallas Fort Worth American Airlines! Their baggage handling wrecked my brand new luggage the second time through.
Also had to carry fragile test equipment which cost $8,000:00 per repair. Each trip ` It must go in the hold’ ; After the first ` incident’ simply told the agent to sign a consent to pay total damages if it was broken in the hold; they always declined and decided I could take it in the cabin after all !

By: Dragonflye

Dragonflye — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:16:02 +0000

I heard this story on our local radio station this morning. After getting the final “no”, Dave actually threatened to write a trilogy of songs about the incident. Since this is only song #1, songs 2 and 3 should have more follow-up as to what United intends to do about replacing his guitar. Very entertaining…

By: Terry Schmidt

Terry Schmidt — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:27:39 +0000

I just flew United and when I got home found that someone had stolen 6 bottles of wine out of a 12 bottle case I had checked. Now I’m getting the runaround. United blows!!

By: RouxBodine

RouxBodine — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:20:14 +0000

I worked at Taylor back in the early 90′s and back then their cases were extremely durable. Either they have relaxed their standards or a baggage trolley ran it over, because throwing one of the old cases around wouldn’t damage anything more than the tarmac it landed on.

By: sciphiker

sciphiker — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:04:16 +0000

Great idea. Too bad Dave couldn’t be as creative with the music, which is exceedingly boring.

By: beleg

beleg — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:53:38 +0000

kinda of like that song by tom paxton about republic airlines

http://www.themadmusicarchive.com/song_details.aspx?SongID=10214

By: Sue Dunham

Sue Dunham — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:17:46 +0000

Mince is right. He should have had a better guitar case, or carried it on. What was he thinking?

By: Foreigner1

Foreigner1 — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:54:32 +0000

Completely Daft that one needs to make a song and to put it on the internet before a company accepts your existance. This guy is capable of doing that- I and most of the people I know wouldn’t even know where to begin.

United should feel deeply ashamed that they never took this guys claim serious AND they should feel totally ashamed that they only after this release came to react.

By: [bob]

[bob] — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 07:17:43 +0000

Oh, I do so hate United. I made a promise to myself a couple years ago never to fly on that airline again.

It probably had something to do with the obnoxious stewardesses in faded uniforms barking commands at the passengers. Who pays money for that?

By: Ali S.

Ali S. — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 04:56:08 +0000

Never mess with a creative mans guitar.

By: Christophe

Christophe — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 04:46:56 +0000

Excellent

By: Kathy

Kathy — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 02:35:13 +0000

I never fly United; it’s an awful airline.

By: Kalel

Kalel — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:30:03 +0000

“…struck a chord with us…” aheh heh heh

By: Mince

Mince — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:34:33 +0000

Always bring your guitar as a carry-on. If it doesn’t fit in the overhead it will fit in the closet in the front or an attendant will hand carry it to the cargo. Learned that the hard way. Luckily I had an ATA flight certified case so the damage was only to that but it looked like a fist went through it.

By: tony

tony — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:04:12 +0000

I work for an air-freight company out of Columbia SC that handles freight for UPS, Delta Forward Aire and many others. I have seen things that would make your head turn like Linda Blair’s!! This is nothing short of Genius, finally forcing Those That Matter to realize that their service SUCKS!! I personally wouldn’t ship a brick with ANY airline for fear I would get a bucket of sand at the Destination, if it ever gets there.

The fact that they are just now willing to pay for what they destroyed shows how little they care for the people that keep them in business. And I am sure their CEO makes multi-millions every year to destroy our belongings, or to ship them to God only knows where or when we will ever see them again.

Free Tibet

By: Nicole B

Nicole B — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:52:18 +0000

That’s why you don’t piss off creative folk. You’ll probably regret it

By: kid_icarus

kid_icarus — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:22:26 +0000

ha ha ha. that blows. united also broke my guitar years ago (not nearly as an expensive guitar mind you) and totally gave me the shaft as well. and really, i am not surprised the airlines are failing. their customer service has been non-existent for YEARS.

By: Johnny Cat

Johnny Cat — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:55:58 +0000

Everything about that story and video is awesome…except for the bizarre Mexican costumes.

By: in_nah

in_nah — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:31:06 +0000

hooray! this story makes me happy.

By: Neal

Neal — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:56:34 +0000

Update for you:

http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/index.php/smashed-guitar-you tu-4850/

“This has struck a chord with us, and we’ve contacted him directly to make it right,” said Robin Urbanski, a spokeswoman for United. (Urbanski also said she “loved” the video.)

By: Mytake

Mytake — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:43:30 +0000

FANTASTIC! Very well-made song and video, about time people started complaining in a more visible way about airlines and their stupid mishandling of luggage. Congrats Dave Carroll!

By: Alex

Alex — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:35:31 +0000

Faced with bad viral publicity, United is now "trying to make it right" I've flown United many times, and in the past several years, their service had gotten a lot worse. Bad as they are, United is still better than American Airlines, the only airline I refuse to fly (after a couple of very bad experiences) even if they pay me.

By: dooflotchie

dooflotchie — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:33:45 +0000

Brilliant! The song and video were beautifully done and from the sound of it, they were effective too! Hopefully United will be shamed into doing what they should have done to begin with.

I’m definitely showing this video to my husband when he gets home from his Northwest airlines flight!

“Hey honey, you remember the way you looked at me when I said you should pack everything like you *KNOW* it’s going to be thrown around and the baggage manglers will be jumping up and down on it?”

Hehe.