HOUSTON (KPRC/CNN) - United Airlines says its looking into a tense encounter between a flight attendant and a musician who wanted to fly on the airline.
Yennifer Correia said she was told by a supervisor at the United ticket counter she could not take her instrument on her flight despite federal law saying she can.
Correia says she wanted to carry her precious violin onto the plane for her flight to St. Louis for work. She said it is hundreds of years old, costing tens of thousands of dollars.
She said the supervisor told her no.
"After I did that, they told me that I had to pay $50 to check in the instrument. So I told them, 'That's not what I'm looking for,'" Correia said.
"She was rude from the beginning saying, 'These are the rules. All you can take with you are some personal item on the plane. And the instrument is too big and it's not going to fit,'" Correia said.
She said when she asked for the supervisor's full name, the supervisor tried to remove the airline luggage tag from Correia's luggage, attempting to get her name as well.
"She proceeded to throw herself on top of my suitcase so she could take the rest of the sticker from my suitcase," Correia said. "At this point, we're both struggling, pulling the suitcase, and I'm trying to get her not to take the sticker from me."
The situation finally ended with the supervisor threatening to call security, then simply walking away, Correia said.
"I start screaming, 'Help, help, help. Can somebody record what's happening because this lady's trying to take my personal suitcase from me?'" Correia said.
Federal law requires airlines to allow musicians to take instruments on board as carry-on luggage.
United said, "We're disappointed any time a customer has an experience that does not live up to his or her expectation."
The airline promised to reach out to Correia.
She was supposed to have flown out Sunday to join the Missouri Symphony Orchestra to play for the summer season.
She says she will fly to St Louis on Tuesday on board another air carrier.
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