Airline talks of making amends for smashed lute

Airline talks of making amends for smashed lute

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norman lebrecht

January 24, 2014

The storm of international protest raised by Slipped Disc over the smashing of Christopher Wilke’s lute by Delta Airlines is starting to have an effect, according to latest reports.

‘It is not uncommon for luggage to be damaged in transit,’ said Russell Cason of Delta corporate communications in Atlanta. ‘I’m hopeful we can resolve it to his satisfaction. With the understanding that this is an unusual situation.’

In other words, we’ll pay this man as little as we can to go away, but don’t expect us to do it ever again.

Delta: must try a lot harder.

wilke

Comments

  • jbbaldwin says:

    ‘It is not uncommon for luggage to be damaged in transit’

    That’s their whole problem. It certainly should be uncommon! Why airlines are allowed to continue to offer such shoddy service is beyond me.

  • Stereo says:

    Boycott them.

  • ed says:

    ‘It is not uncommon for luggage to be damaged in transit,’ said Russell Cason of Delta corporate communications in Atlanta. ‘I’m hopeful we can resolve it to his satisfaction. With the understanding that this is an unusual situation.’

    I take it to mean Delta may try to make it up to Mr. Wilke, but only as a special circumstance- i.e., if the heat remains on them- but not for anyone else whose instruments shipped as luggage are damaged (even if the airline gives the passenger no choice in the matter and requires the instrument to be checked).

    Many years ago I remember a scandal wherein it was revealed that Delta, unbeknownst to passengers, and probably some or all of the crew and baggage handlers, was shipping radioactive material in the cargo hold of its passenger planes. Wonder if that is still happening and if so, whether the company would consider that an ‘unusual situation’ if your instruments glow in the dark or register an unusual geiger count.

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