In an era where customer service is often touted but rarely delivered, one of the world’s most talented violinists, Esther Abrami, found herself at the mercy of corporate indifference and bureaucratic rigidity. The 27-year-old Sony Classical-signed musician, known for her breathtaking performances and a violin that’s nearly as old as America itself, was subjected to what she describes as public humiliation at the hands of Ryanair staff.
Abrami, a French native who has dazzled audiences across the globe, took to Instagram to recount her harrowing experience with the budget airline. Attempting to board a flight from Marseille, France, to Berlin, Germany, for a recording session, she was suddenly and shockingly told that she could not bring her precious 200-year-old violin on board. This wasn’t just any instrument—it was a rare, fragile, and irreplaceable piece of musical history.
“This is the first time I have experienced such rudeness and public humiliation,” Abrami wrote to her 300,000 followers. The post quickly went viral, as outraged fans and fellow musicians rallied behind her.
Abrami’s pleas for understanding and offers to pay for an extra seat to safely transport her violin were met with cold indifference. Despite the flight being far from full, Ryanair staff refused to accommodate her request, citing a draconian interpretation of their luggage policy. The violin, which measures 56cm, was just 1cm over the airline’s arbitrary limit. Ryanair’s response? Check the instrument with the luggage or leave the airport.
Abrami, desperate to make it to her recording session, tried to explain the importance of the flight and the instrument, but her words fell on deaf ears. She was forced to take a risk, carrying the violin out of its protective case, wrapped only in fabric, hoping it would survive the journey unscathed.
To add insult to injury, Ryanair staff reportedly forced her to place the violin case on the floor and attempt to squeeze the instrument into a suitcase measuring device. “Even this was refused,” Abrami noted, describing the Kafkaesque ordeal.
Luckily, Abrami was able to book another flight with a different airline that did not subject her to such treatment. But she knows not every musician is so fortunate. “Missing a flight often means losing a vital work opportunity,” she pointed out, emphasizing the potential career-damaging consequences of such rigid policies.
Ryanair, in typical fashion, offered a curt response to the controversy: “Violinists traveling with Ryanair have to obey the same rules as everyone else; if it fits, it can go onboard, but if it doesn’t, it goes in the hold.”
This dismissive attitude has sparked outrage among musicians and fans alike. The comment section of Abrami’s Instagram post quickly filled with angry responses from fellow artists, vowing to boycott the airline. “Absolutely unacceptable,” wrote fellow violinist Tiffany Laurén. “Shame to you @ryanair!!!!!!” added musician Alexandra Hauser.
Esther Abrami, who plays a fine Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume violin loaned to her through the Beare’s International Violin Society, has an impressive resume. A graduate of the Royal College of Music in London and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, she has been recognized as a “Rising Star” by BBC Music Magazine and has graced the stage of Royal Albert Hall.
This incident is a stark reminder of the often-overlooked struggles faced by artists who travel with delicate and valuable instruments. It’s a call for airlines to rethink their policies and for consumers to stand up against corporate rigidity that disregards the needs of those who enrich our culture and society.
