U.S. Airways Strikes Again

By Peter Alexander

Violinist Rachel Barton Pine with her violin

Violinist Rachel Barton Pine—who appeared with the Boulder Philharmonic in 2014—was stranded overnight in Phoenix when U.S. Airways declined to make room for her 1742 Guarneri del Gesú violin in the cabin of her flight.

This comes after two recent incidents reported here of string basses that were seriously damaged in transit (see below). U.S. Airways is the same airline that last year refused to take the bass of Ranaan Meyer of Time for Three as checked baggage, as is normal for traveling bassists.

Barton Pine’s husband and daughter sleeping in the airport. Photo posted by Rachel Barton Pine, via Violinist.com

As reported on Laurie Niles’ blog Violinist.com, Barton Pine was traveling with her husband and four-year-old daughter, who ended up sleeping on the floor of the Phoenix Airport overnight. (Barton Pine did not try to sleep, since someone had to watch her priceless instrument overnight. She reports spending the time doing paperwork.)

Barton Pine and her family did get a flight out of Phoenix the next morning. The story at Violinist.com has full details.