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United Breaks Guitars

Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 5:05 pm
by California Girl
Back story - this guy's guitar was ruined by United Airlines and he spent a year trying to get them to pay for it. So he created this video. United finally responded as this video grew in popularity. They paid him and they even wanted to use the video to train their baggage handlers!

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Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 5:20 pm
by mindehankins
LOVED it! That was a musician's wife, who screamed "oh my GOD they're throwing GUITARS!!!" Takes one to know one LOLOL.

Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 5:37 pm
by Carolyn
Margo, thanks for sending a good laugh our way! I looked at part 2 and got a good laugh out of that too.

Luckily my husband doesn't check a guitar when we travel, and he doesn't have to travel for music work. He does have a travel guitar that he carries on and it always gets ALOT of attention from the airport security screeners.

Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 7:07 pm
by Cid
Back in the 80's I traveled with my vintage Gibson SG on American. They had assured me that I could bring it as carry on. When I got to get on the plane, they told me I would have to check it. I explained that I would have chose a different mode of transportation had I known I would have to check my irreplaceable guitar. They had someone hand carry my guitar down on the tarmack and place it in the baggage compartment while I watched from the window above. They had a special tag on it, so the same procedure happened on the other end.

I have always marveled at the level of customer service I got on that trip. I've never heard of a similar story either. Maybe they took my drunk, stoned, disheveled look as "maybe he's famous". I could never figure it out.....

Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 9:00 pm
by California Girl
Times have changed. Twice, in the 60's, I carried large framed art aboard and they just put it in the coat closet during the flight. No problem, mon. Those were the daze! 8)

Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 1:16 am
by bubblybrenda
That is hilarious. I laughed the whole way through.

Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 7:57 pm
by Marcia (Mrs. Pete)
fun stuff, thanks for posting

Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 7:58 pm
by Pete (Mr. Marcia)
That's why I only bring a solid body electric...hard to hurt that bad boy.

Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 8:39 pm
by Xislandgirl
Why did it take me so long to open this post? That is funny stuff

Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 12:47 am
by Cid
Pete (Mr. Marcia) wrote:That's why I only bring a solid body electric...hard to hurt that bad boy.
...and a cheap one at that!

Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 11:43 am
by chicagoans
This got coverage in the Chicago Tribune awhile back. I was glad to see him finally get some attention from United after the video went viral.

The whole video is so funny. I love the part where he's sitting by the chalk outline of the guitar and someone brings him a cup of coffee, just like an accident scene.

Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2023 6:02 am
by liamsaunt
Oh my gosh that was so funny! Thanks for sharing this.