I recently traveled to Los Angeles where I was able to purchase a didgeridoo from LA Outback. It has been a long time dream in the making to have my first real eucalyptus aboriginal made didgeridoo. I had waited so long because a big purchase like this must be made in person. This type of instrument is a fit to player type piece, each one is different. I’m happy to say that I found one out of hundreds that fit me and my playing style.
The problem came when I was traveling back from Los Angeles. I have always been able to carry didgeridoos on board planes in the past. As recent as last month and never had a problem. Once I had to play it for security and another time security had the instrument walked though to the gate, these were extreme cases in my experience. Every carrier has put my didgeridoos in the coat rack or allowed me to put them in the overhead bins. This time security made me check it. Knowing that I was not prepared to do this I asked the United Airline representative many questions about safe handling and liability. She circled on my ticket jacket where United was liable for damages up to $1,300. She then put multiple fragile stickers on the didgeridoo case and helped stuff it full of car seat bags as bubble wrap was not available to us. At security I did everything I could to convince them that I was ok to bring the instrument though even to the point of showing them my nuclear power plant security clearance card. And at the United desk it was absolutely the same. Even to the point of telling the rep that if there was any question as to the safety of my instrument that I would miss the flight and send it UPS. I was assured over and over that my instrument was as safe with them as it would have been if in my own possession. I understand my instrument was in a soft bag and I warned the security and the United rep about the possibility of breaking the instrument. Again I was assured that the didgeridoo was safe and that United had my interest in mind when handling my precious cargo.

So with all of that and the guarantee of the replacement value up to $1,300 circled on my ticket. I felt a little better, went though security and on to my flight. Upon arrival at COS I was eagerly watching out the window of the plane at the luggage going down the conveyor only to see my brand new two day old fit perfect to me and my playing style didgeridoo broken in half. I immediately went to the United desk and filed a claim. From the beginning of the process I was told that United was not liable. When I asked for all the paper work back I was curiously given all but the portion of my ticket that was circled with the liability information on it? As if I can’t get that information again?
I have always taken my instrument though to be carried on the plane in the past. I was not prepared for what security told me and so I relied on United’s promise of care. I trusted what the representative said and that United would handle my instrument with care and that if it was damaged United would be ethical and stand next to its promise of liability. Up to this point neither of these things has happened. I am now an owner of a useless un-repairable piece of wood thanks to the miss handling of my precious didgeridoo and the miss-leading information from the United representative at LAX who assured me my instrument would not be damaged.

Attached is the letter of response from the owner of LA Outback testifying to the durability of the instrument and the extreme force that must have caused that much damage. I do not desire to be in this position as I’m sure you do not either. I do expect United to be an ethical company and stand by its promise of liability. Because this is a fit to player type instrument and I would not buy one unless it was purchased in person, I’m requesting that the price of the didgeridoo and a round trip ticket to get back to the purchase place will be served to me quickly. Those are not the total cost of my trip, rental car, Hotel ect where also included. But I’m trying to ask for minimal so to have this resolved quickly. I have written blog http://bit.ly/Vf8T about my ordeal and have a large following on social media many those who are following me are waiting for your response as am I.

Written with sadness,

Allan Weber