Cello boarding pass correctly purchased by Nathan Chan. (CBBG stands for Cabin Baggage.)
Canadian-based WestJet Airlines, to my knowledge, is the only airline with an official policy of not allowing a cello onboard, yet they seem to have no problem selling a seat for a cello and then denying boarding at the gate! Read in the Boston Globe how this happened to me in 2013. The situation has been suffered by cellists numerous times since, the latest being Juilliard student Nathan Chan, who I applaud for fighting back!
By contrast, competitor Air Canada recently adopted a a “friendly skies” policy towards musical instruments as cabin baggage, and in the United States, the Passenger Bill of Rights says that airlines must allow the purchase of a ticket for a cello. Lets get behind Nathan and send letters of outrage to WestJet! Use your Facebook and social media pages to publicize WestJet’s outrageous behavior.
– Paul Katz, Artistic Director and Founder, CelloBello
Reprinted from The Strad Magazine, January 26, 2016
WestJet refuses to allow cello in the cabin – despite musician buying extra seat
Juilliard School cellist Nathan Chan has shared his story in the hope of shining a light on the airline’s policy
Following Norwegian Air’s refusal to transport Helsinki Philharmonic violinist Ari Vilhjalmsson’s $200,000 violin in the cabin – and the airline’s subsequent promise to review its policy in the wake of public condemnation – Juilliard School cellist Nathan Chan (pictured) has published a blog on his website describing a similarly upsetting experience on West Jet.
The young musician booked a flight from Vancouver to New York via Toronto on American Airlines – however, the first leg of his journey was operated by WestJet. Although he had booked an extra seat for his cello for the entire journey the Canadian low cost carrier cited its rule of not allowing cellos on bard because they don’t have ‘specialized tie downs’.
Chan recalls: ‘In what was a very stressful moment, I had to abandon my instrument and leave it with family in Vancouver and board the plane on my own. This was a “sold out flight”. Hope the person on the standby list wasn’t mad that there was an empty seat on the plane due to WestJet’s maddening and confused little policy.
‘Because of this, I’ve had to spend more money to have a 3rd party to fly the cello to me in New York. I still have not been issued a refund for the abandoned seat.
‘Cellists. Never. Fly. Westjet.’
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Nathan Chan Comments: Since a month has passes and WestJet has not yet made any moves toward changing this policy, I feel it is important to share my disheartening experience with musicians and artists. WestJet doesn’t allow cellos in extra, purchased seats due to a very specific policy targeting musical instruments. I have yet to be issued a refund for the extra seat and believe WestJet’s policy in question should be reconsidered for the betterment of travelers everywhere.
