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United Breaks Guitars

sonsofmaxwellCited 9× on HN, 2012–2023
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music · general · evergreen · 2012–2023 on HN

Dave Carroll's song and music video about United Airlines baggage handlers breaking his Taylor guitar and the airline's refusal to compensate him. It became a viral example of a customer fighting a company.

Used as the classic example of terrible airline customer service, and of how a viral video can force a company to respond.

9 comments from Hacker News

@crazytony2023-07 · in “40 years ago yesterday Air Canada Flight 143 ran out of fuel mid-flight”

It's weird to me that they unloaded anything in the hold for what should have been a refuel-and-go. Unless they're expecting you to be held on the ground for 3+ hours, they typically don't even bother getting the pax out much less the bags. But there's always ▶ this video

@sandworm1012022-07 · in “Ask HN: PayPal dismissed my claim, saying I didn't provide evidence (yet I did)”

Take to social media. Plead your case to the masses. If you are cute enough (I suggest a puppy in the screenshot) it may go viral and get noticed by PayPal's marketing people. They have actual decision powers. That is how consumer service works these days. These guys did eventually get they money after the morning news shows featured thier song. ▶ this video

@tlss2022-02 · in “Delta CEO wants U.S. to put unruly passengers on 'no-fly' list”

If you're talking about terrible behaviour from United employees, this is not an isolated case. See also "United Breaks Guitars" ▶ this video

@crooked-v2019-05 · in “Deadly stupidity during Aeroflot flight 1492 emergency evacuation”

For me, it's less about waiting times and more about the omnipresent risk of the airline absolutely destroying my luggage ( ▶ this video ).

@nobodyorother2017-09 · in “Delta Is Flying into the Path of a Category 5 Hurricane Again”

Hey, they're not United, which: - Breaks Guitars: ▶ this video - Killed the World's Largest Rabbit: link - Forcibly Disembarks Doctors: link Delta's still shitty with their pricing, but they're clearly the lesser of those two evils.