I just cancelled a planned trip to Italy on Norwegian Air rather than check my accordion as baggage. I know from experience that the accordion fits in the overhead bin, even though its dimensions suggest that it will not. The problem is that the instrument is not a big box. It’s really a smaller box with a flat keyboard attached. With the keyboard in front, It fits perfectly in the overhead bin which is deep at the back & shallower in the front.
After many many phone calls with Norwegian customer service, one exhausted rep told me to take it up with the carrier that actually handles check-in & baggage, a company called Aviation Port Services. I hadn’t realized that the airline outsources check-in (maybe because of issues with foreign nationals working on American soil?). So when you’re arguing with check-in reps about bag size, you’re usually not actually arguing with an airline employee. You’re arguing with somebody who has no stake in the airline’s reputation.
It’s true that every aspect of a flight is monetized now – even getting a window or aisle seat costs extra on JetBlue – & the business model of many “low-cost” airlines is to make extra money by forcing people to check their bags at the last minute. Rather than risk the safety of my musical instrument in the baggage hold, I gave up on the flight & will eat the cost of the “low-cost” ticket.
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