Originally Posted by
aacharya
To be fair, one doesn't go and do that at the gate when told there's no overhead space left.
To quote my favorite parent's saying: "Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part". This guy should have never expected to be able to get a large item like that on a plane. He should have planned for this issue. Either by buying a seat for it, or making sure it was stored in a very solid case (that one apparently was not).
Really, I cannot believe I am defending UA (have I been drinking?), but I think people need to take responsibility for their own decision and/or lack of planning.