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Ryanair, the low-cost Irish airline, is no stranger to bad publicity and it’s about to get worse for them this week as their baggage handlers (or those they pay through a third party) are at it again.
Last month, one of their baggage handlers at an undisclosed airport went viral when he was filmed placing guitars rather roughly onto the conveyor belt heading into the plane’s belly. The video below had over six million views on X, formerly Twitter, and the caption by James Elson reads: “Our fragile musical instruments being looked after – not. @Ryanair, Blue Handling – absolutely appalling customer service. To think the amount we paid for you to take them…”
Our fragile musical instruments being looked after – not.@Ryanair, Blue Handling – absolutely appalling customer service.
To think the amount we paid for you to take them… pic.twitter.com/aWwHVlr4Ib
— James Elson (@Elson7James) July 14, 2023
To be honest, I didn’t find that video that appalling but the one that was just filmed this weekend at Palma de Mallorca Airport (embedded below) was outrageous. Barnaby Fairley shared this post on Threads: “@ryanair @ryanair_es This is my guitar being thrown onto your delayed 15:10 flight to Stanstead from Palma. This is disgusting and appalling….”
Post by @barnaby_fairley
View on Threads
Ryanair has been silent but many in the comments pointed out that it was accidental and blamed a third party, Azul Handling, the airport’s baggage handling department. But what’s disturbing, as Fairley pointed out, is that Azul is owned by Ryanair Group, which their website clearly states.
Fairley followed up with another post and a screenshot of the handler smiling as he slammed the guitar down. “This isn’t accidental @ryanair @ryanair_es azulhandling, The smile on his face and the way he drops his arms a foot or so in the air is sickening. It’d be nice if the airline responded themselves to address the situation to reassure passengers that this isn’t the normal means of operating. I’ve never had problems with @ryanair before this and always thought that they were cost effective & efficient. This flight cost me: €167.99 + €65 for the guitar = €232.99 🛫 Ryanair owns Azul Handling”
We’ve seen some atrocious handling from baggage handlers of all airlines in the past. Here are just a couple of examples:
–American Airlines baggage handler busted for ‘bowling with bags’
–Baggage handler violently slamming luggage down will make you a better traveler – Here’s how.
What’s even more disturbing is that handlers have been seen doing this with passengers’ wheelchairs, which is even worse than mistreating a musical instrument. For all those musicians out there, damaging a musical instrument is bad as they’re often are worth thousands of dollars and represent the passenger’s livelihood. But a wheelchair is the way people get around.
One person commented on Fairley’s post: “Yeah I witnessed a baggage handler take my £5000 wheelchair power attachment, lift it by the handlebars and drop it from a height. Zero accountability from the baggage handling company. Had to replace it 🙄”
In 2008, Canadian musician Dave Carroll filmed United Airlines baggage handlers in Chicago breaking his guitar and a year later, his band, Sons of Maxwell, wrote a song titled, “United Breaks Guitars.” It’s embedded below and has over 23 million views.
The lesson here is that if you’re going to be traveling with a musical instrument on Ryanair, then it’s probably best to pay for an extra seat. According to Ryanair’s website: “You can carry any music equipment with you onboard as long as it fits within your Cabin Bag allowance. For smaller music equipment like guitars or violins that exceed your cabin baggage dimensions, you can opt to pay an extra seat fare for it. To do this, you must purchase an extra flight ticket and seat. To book this extra seat, the word EXTRA must be entered as the first name, and ITEM SEAT must be entered as the surname. To purchase a seat for equipment, click here. There is no checked or cabin baggage allowance associated with the purchase of an extra seat.”
But not all airlines offer this. LOT Airlines told a Polish violinist, who plays a 1685 Antonio Stradivari violin worth $5 million to either put it in the cargo hold or stay in Lithuania. He ended up taking an eight-hour bus ride instead.
KEEP READING:
–The surprising reason baggage handlers warn passengers not to tie a ribbon to their suitcases
–American Airlines baggage handler video goes viral for showing how his job is like playing a real life game of Tetris
–Southwest Airlines baggage handlers play rock, paper, scissors with child on plane
–LOL: Airport baggage carousel breaks down and workers send bags through the roof
–A California airport baggage handler has an easy way to make sure your checked bag doesn’t get lost
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