IAH pax has violin "wrestled" before boarding
 

http://www.thestrad.com/united-airli...ent-violinist/

‘Yennifer Correia…was in the process of boarding her flight from Houston to St Louis when a United supervisor refused to permit her to carry her violin onto the plane,’ ...

‘Without provocation, the supervisor for the Chicago-based carrier then lunged for Ms Correia’s case and, incredibly, tried to wrestle it away from the musician. Ms Correia screamed for help. The United supervisor threatened to “call security” and Ms Correia responded, “Please do!” at which point the United supervisor ran away.’

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At what time is it ok for an airline employee to attempt to touch a passenger's bag without permission, when the passenger has not boarded?

(My apologies that I don't know how to italicize the article quotes while posting from my phone.)

Grabbing items from passengers is uncalled for. But we have no idea what really happened. In any event, United has a very clear p:eek:licy on musical instruments:

I'm not saying it didn't happen, but there is limited information on the web concerning this incident. Even assuming that the case was "grabbed" is a stretch at this time.

Let's wait before everyone grabs the pitchforks.

Just from reading the OP's post, I was thinking wow that is some strong language for a reporter to use (lunged, wrestle, screamed, and ran away?). Then I clicked the link and realized it was just copied from a letter written by someone's attorney. So yeah, about as believable as can be expected from an obvious attempt at a money grab.

These "incidents" are quickly going to turn into boy who cried wolf situations, and then no one will believe anything passengers report about airline employee mistreatment.

I'm not sure the pax would be asking the public for any video if she did not feel her version reflected reality. But, your call for patience is always one that can be heeded.

We need CCTV footage and we need accurate information to reach any conclusion. This is quite unnerving if UA employee's can openly harrass passengers like this.

The UA union seem to be hiring quite a number of crazy people these days.

The UA employee unions don't do hiring for UA.

The union's only role in this is a jointly developed agreed upon process for handling employee performance issues / discipline and the union may provide the employee support in the process -- but in the end it is a company decision.

It looks bad if the UA employee ran away when the passenger called the agent's bluff and asked for security.

IANAL, but at what point goes grabbing a stranger's possessions become a case of assault, battery, robbery, etc.?

I think we've currently very very very far from "no one will believe anything passengers report about airline employee mistreatment." Most of us still remember the pictures of Dr Dao being dragged off of the UA flight which he had legally boarded with valid tickets and his resulting injuries.

Never. This is battery, even after boarding.

At the point where you try to take something from someone without permission. In this case, it wouldn't be assault because of the "without provocation" which implies there was no threat.

I don't know about battery, but it is definitely violince

If she gets harshly reprimanded that will teach her to fiddle with other people's property.

I hope they don't bow to the pressure and settle with the passenger. Hopefully, those involved can pull some strings and make sure UA doesn't cave.

Maybe she was traveling on a BE ticket?

Does IAH have CCTV cameras in the gate area?

Jumping to the conclusion that the agent committed battery is a bridge too far. But if it's true, the guy sure sounds like a real f-hole. As it is, I'll probably just scroll to the next story and peg this one as social media sensationalism until I hear otherwise.

(the f-hole is the curvy s-shaped sound hole on either side of the bridge on a violin, for those who don't know)

According to the story the "guy" is a gal.

Or did you mean the lawyer? ;)