United Breaks Guitars: Band Takes UA Baggage Complaint to YouTube

Some might call it a taste of sweet revenge, but for musician Dave Carroll, it was a creative way of expressing his disappointment with United Airlines baggage handling, after they smashed his guitar and refused to pick up the $1200 tab to fix it.

Carroll and his band, based in Halifax, NS, were changing planes at Chicago's-O'Hare airport March 31, 2008, when the heard a passenger exclaim, "My God, they're throwing guitars out there," Carroll said. After spending nine months of unsuccessfully reasoning with United Airlines, including with representatives from the United States and India, he finally decided to write a few songs to describe his experience.

Meanwhile, United officials who have seen the video are asking Carroll for permission to use it internally to help change its culture.

When A Superior Room Just Isn't Enough

Stains on the carpet and smells in the air, both good reasons for complaining to hotel staff about less than satisfactory accommodations. Finding yourself in a smaller corner room or next to the elevator though are less than legitimate reasons for complaint. Still, some will.

In this New York Times story last weekend, reporter Geraldine Fabrikant uncovers the many techniques guests use to complain about a room and ultimately land an upgrade. Some do so with complete honesty and sincerity, notifying the hotel of a legitimate problem. Others capitalize on discretionary power of hotel staff, allowing them to check-in and check-up to a higher value room than paid for.

Read: "You're Giving Me That Room? No Way." NY Times