Violinist and Sydney Con professor Ole Bøhn was forced to change airlines after his instrument was barred from the cabin.

Violinist Ole Bøhn was forced to miss a flight to Sydney after Qantas staff refused to allow his violin in the cabin. The Norwegian violinist, who has performed extensively across Europe, the USA and South America, was supposed to fly from Santiago to Sydney on flight QF 28, but instead had to fly with a different airline 12 hours later.

“When boarding a staff member came up to me and wanted to put a baggage tag on my violin,” Bøhn told Limelight. “I told him no and said it was a violin and I have never had a problem bringing it onboard. Another staff person came and was very upset and claimed that I was rude to her colleague and absolutely denied to let me go onboard with the violin. I asked to speak to her manager who told me the same and that I had two options, one to put it in the baggage compartment or not fly with them.”

“I had no option as to not fly and they said they would book me on Latam flight 12 hours...