Posted on 20th September 2010
A petition has been launched by the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM) calling for a standard agreement to be implemented regarding the rules surrounding hand luggage. This comes after a recent spate of incidents involving musicians who have been targeted by airlines who employ inconsistent policies. Support for the online petition has come from internationally renowned cellist Julian Lloyd Webber, as well as the International Artist Managers’ Association (IAMA) and a growing Facebook campaign.
An increasing number of musicians have reported being stopped by airlines from taking small-sized instruments such as violins on board as hand luggage, unless they pay for a separate seat or put the instrument in the plane’s hold, which can cause irreversible damage.
"This indiscriminate victimisation of musicians has to stop", says Lloyd Webber. "As a cellist I am used to being charged a full fare for my cello even when the plane is half empty. But to expect a violinist to do the same - when their instrument can safely be stowed in an overhead locker - is just plain greedy."
A recent incident reported by the ISM highlights this issue. Twelve-year-old Francesca Rijks, who studies at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, was turned away at the boarding gate of a Ryanair flight returning to the UK from Germany because airline staff refused to let her violin on board as hand luggage. This was despite the fact her parents had been assured by the airline’s customer service department that the instrument would be accepted.
The ISM’s Chief Executive, Deborah Annetts, believes that something must be done. "The lack of a fair and consistent approach by airlines means UK musicians are faced with a hand luggage lottery - increasingly, our musicians cannot afford to travel abroad to perform, whilst international musicians struggle to travel to the UK to play in festivals and performances. Their livelihood is threatened and the creative and cultural economy is being stifled. As cuts begin to impact on every government budget, is this unfair, irrational treatment of musicians really what we want? By introducing fair and consistent practice for all airlines the government could take the easy step of easing one of the current financial pressures facing musicians."
The ISM has launched the petition as the latest part of a campaign to create the standard agreement:
‘YOU CAN CARRY A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT AS HAND BAGGAGE IF THE ITEM IS GUITAR-SIZED OR SMALLER’
The petition will be taken to government and is backed by several organisations including the hugely popular Facebook group ‘Musicians against Ryanair’, which now has over 13,000 members, and the International Artist Managers’ Association (IAMA). The petition aims to get thousands of signatures and will also give people the opportunity to cite any experiences of unfair and inconsistent treatment by airlines.
The Musicians Benevolent Fund fully supports this campaign. If you'd like to lend your voice too, please sign up by visiting the petition website: surveymonkey.com/s/musiciansairlines.