Aurigny has new baggage policy for larger musical instruments
A POLICY change from Aurigny about the handling of instruments has angered local musicians.
The change, which requires passengers to collect large instruments such as a double bass from the baggage handling area as opposed to directly from the hold, is due to be added to the company’s new website, but is already being enforced.
World-renowned harpist Dr Andrew Lawrence-King has been travelling with the airline for decades to attend concerts from his Guernsey home.
He usually books onto a service operated by an ATR aircraft which enabled him to collect his instruments directly when leaving, avoiding the delicate and costly instruments having to go through the carousel and baggage reclaim.
On Wednesday, however, when phoning ahead to discuss an upcoming reservation, Dr Lawrence-King was informed of a new ‘director’s decision’ about handling instruments.
‘This is a sudden and disastrous change of policy, many instruments have been damaged on the carousel. It’s not just a question of value, either – they might be irreplaceable or represent the musician’s livelihood.
‘It does take a few moments longer for the Aurigny staff, but we have to fly, we don’t have the option as they do in the UK of driving down to London – it’s a lifeline service,’ he said.
‘We have regular enquiries and requests about the carriage of musical instruments and this new policy aims to provide absolute certainty about how musical instruments, of all shapes and sizes, can be carried,’ said the Aurigny spokesman.
Full story in today's Guernsey Press
