USAir won’t let concertmaster board with violin

It’s summer and the flying’s getting harder. This just in from Andres Cardenes, former concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Symphony and a busy teacher and performer:

Just when I start thinking the airlines understand the law regarding violins as carry-on, the B35 gate agent in Pittsburgh tells me I can’t carry it on, nor would it fit. I immediately argued, whereupon she began laughing at me. Fortunately, I carry a copy of the law in my case and showed her. She then proceeded to ignore me as I tried to enter my FF#. Power trip, ignorance, disrespect and rudeness. Nice job description, USAir/American Airlines.

No apologies or even acknowledged me after I argued it was the law. Another gate agent took care of me while the original one ignored me.