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(Photo courtesy: Danielli Johnson)

Ryanair Refuses to Let Violist Fly with Instrument

 

Violist Danielli Johnson was flying within Portugal from Porto to Faro in mid-January when she experienced unfair treatment by the employees of Ryanair.

It was her first time using the airline and was traveling for an important audition the next morning. She was traveling with her 1828 French viola from François Gand, valued at approximately CHF 75,000 (which is close to 80,000 USD).

At first, the check-in attendant explained that her instrument was a little over the size of a carry-on bag, but let her in without a fee since she wasn't aware of the rule. However, once she got to the departure gate, another employee said it was too big and would have to go into the airplane hold.

After explaining that it could potentially damage the instrument, Johnson was informed that she had two options: either buy another ticket for the instrument or don't travel at all.

As the other passengers started to board, the employee ignored Johnson's pleas and held onto Johnson's passport. In response, Johnson went to record a video of the situation, causing the employee to call the airport police, who then forced her to delete the video.

Eventually, once all the other passengers boarded, Johnson decided to pay for the extra ticket so she wouldn't miss her audition. The employee told her to go back to the check-in desk to do so, and then closed the boarding gate, causing Johnson to miss the flight altogether.

Afterward, those at the Ryanair service desk informed her that the next flight was in two days, and even then, the company couldn't reimburse the ticket that was just lost.

Ryanair has yet to comment on the situation after being contacted by The Violin Channel.

"I lost an important audition and all the investment for this trip," Johnson told The Violin Channel. "Everything that happened to me that day with this company, made me feel disrespected. I am very sad about missing the audition, which took a lot of preparation Not only was I completely embarrassed for having two policemen confront me, but I also felt excluded and returned home in tears.

"I would like to warn other musicians about this company and their policy on instruments as hand luggage," she added. "I would like to share this terrible experience — they say to put the instrument in the airplane hold or pay the instrument ticket, otherwise, you lose the travel, the ticket, and get bonus embarrassment."

Brazilian violist Danielli Johnson is a graduate of Haute Ecole des Musique de Genève under the direction of Ori Kam. She received a Master in Pedagogy and Performance at the University of the Arts Bern under the direction of Gertrud Weinmeister.

She has played with Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Biel Solothurn Symphony Orchestra, among others.

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