I'll bet United loves this one...

[Tri Girl]

I saw this on youtube and it made me laugh. What a great way to take out your frustration with the airlines. I'm sure some of you could relate, but with bikes being broken/mishandled.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo&feature=player_embedded


P.S. It's a song- and a pretty good one at that.
Click on the "more info" under their profile on the right and you can read the whole story. Very frustrating.
In a very letigious society, I think this is much better revenge. I can't wait for United songs #2 and 3 to come out.

[Grog]

Well, I like the song. :)

It's true that you need to report damage right away. I always quickly check our bikes before we leave the airport for obvious frame and wheel damage.

But with Air Canada (Star Alliance partner of United Airlines) the coverage for the bikes is only $700, and I would suspect guitars are not different. You need to buy extra coverage (or be insured otherwise). Thankfully our home insurance covers the bikes...

[badger]

I know I'm lame, but I watch the Bachelorette, and the first thing that came to mind was how much these guys are better than that Wes guy singing a corny song to Jillian.

I once had my bike transported from Toronto to Vancouver on Greyhound. They broke my shifter in transit. It was a small piece, but it was rather vital to the whole function of the shifter. Not a cheap thing, but they took responsibility and paid for the repair (but I did buy insurance so I guess that was a no-brainer).

[Pedal Wench]

Ahhh... it's working!!! CNN reported on this guy, showed the video, and later in the day, reported that United is opening the case back up!

[Reesha]

As they should, but I have a sneaking suspicion that it's not really going to change the way they deal with other claims from customers... just the way they deal with his.

[Tri Girl]

PW- that's awesome!!! I'm glad it's working for him. He reported it before he even left O'Hare and then for the next 9 months, but got nowhere. They should rightfully give him at least the minimum insurance coverage they provide, even if he didn't buy extra- ESPECIALLY since they didn't deny the incident occurred. It's like they said: "we know our guys broke it, but what are you gonna do about it?"

Bad publicity is a reason to deal with someone, I suppose. I think Reesha is right, though. It probably won't change the way they deal with others.

I think more people should deal with bad customer service this way, instead of suing. I think we'd get a lot of good music out of it (I liked the song). They're actually a pretty good band- listened to some of their other stuff on youtube.

[KSH]

OMG! That was SO FUNNY!!!

I have been in that situation. Sitting in a plane... WATCHING them THROW luggage and boxes that say "fragile" on them. Not sure who I was flying with... but we all watched in horror as it happened!

WOW! HA!

[grey]

Good for him! Bad publicity is the only way these big companies respond sometimes. Wish it would work on Monsanto....

[Tri Girl]

The band posted this a couple hours ago. It's a minute long statement about the first song. He says United has contacted him and has offered compensation (although he said he'd rather they donate it to a charity of their choice). They had 1.5 million hits since they put it online on July 6th.
The second song should be coming out soon. Ha!:D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_X-Qoh__mw&feature=channel

[ginny]

did you all read some of the comments below the video? Fairly disturbing. It seems both pilots and baggage handlers there have some anger management issues... :eek:

[Tri Girl]

did you all read some of the comments below the video? Fairly disturbing. It seems both pilots and baggage handlers there have some anger management issues... :eek:

Yeah, I read that. Yikes! The pilot who said the band was ungrateful for the safe landing... um.... huh???.. that's not what the song was about- it was about baggage handlers throwing his luggage and the airline employees disregarding him. Don't be so sensitive, Peter Pilot. ;)

[Duck on Wheels]

Even my 86-year-old never-learned-to-ride-a-bike Mom sent me a link to this video because I fly with United so often (they're the US arm of the Star Alliance, which also includes SAS, which is my link from Norway to the world outside). She too was concerned about what they might be doing to my bike. Well, I did actually see my bike being off-loaded last trip, not by United folks but by SAS in Copenhagen on my way to SFO via Chicago. I was pretty nervous about it because my bike crate is a soft-sided one (the Pica Packworks EEP), but the handlers were really nice with it. Maybe it's something about the pack itself that just fits with good handling -- lightweight, well-padded, handles where they need them, fits neatly upright at the back of the luggage trolley. My bike was the first item off, so must've been last on. They stood it upright at the back of the trolley, then set a big suitcase in front of it to stabilize it, then filled the rest of the trolley, but nothing tossed and nothing on top of the bike. At some point on the way home again there must've been something heavy on top of the bike because one of the wheel spindle thingies was bent, but no major damage. Took me just a quick visit to the LBS to get that replaced.

[Ninabike]

I can really appreciate that video. (I have a couple of Taylor T5's like the one played in the video, but I buy mine on ebay so it doesn't "hurt" quite as much if they break. The broken one in the video is actually a Gibson.) I've flown alot with guitars and did have one broken on an Air Lingus flight. However, I admit that that was probably my fault for not bothering to put it in a good case (SKB). There is a case called Anvil which is very heavy duty and designed for serious travel. However, they are expensive ($500.00 range).

I have not flown with a bike, but I recently sold a Bianchi which I had packed and shipped by the best LBS I knew of just because I think packing is the best insurance.

[Ana]

I'm glad he creatively vented his disappointment and frustration. His account was real and he has a right to voice it to others...and if it happens to be in a humorous melody, then so be it ;)

I just heard a piece on NPR about it :)