EPTA few days ago I went to visit some cousins in Mexico City. I have a gig coming up on the tenor sax, and brought mine with me to practice. The trip was lovely, it was good to see the family, especially during holy week. Everything was good.
Yesterday, I flew back to New York, entrusting the return of my Tenor, far too large to fit as a carry-on item, to the checked baggage section of my AeroMexico flight. As you've probably guessed from the beginning of this paragraph, when I arrived in New York, the tenor was not there. My first thought was something along the lines of "maybe they put it in the oversized/strangely shaped luggage area." Nope. After walking around every one of the baggage claims for an hour and a half looking for it, I finally accepted that it just wasn't going to be there.
Once home, I called AeroMexico to see if they knew where my instrument was. After being on hold for an aggravatingly long time, I finally managed to talk to a human being. The following conversation is translated loosely from my memory of the Spanish:
Me: Hello, I checked a case containing a saxophone on a flight from Mexico City to New York JFK, and my instrument has not arrived, do you know where I could find out where it is?
AeroMexico Guy #1: Thats not my area
Me: Can you transfer me to someone whose area that is?
AM Guy 1: It's possible. (Puts me on hold)
Spanish Announcer Voice, over terrible music: AeroMexico; we're really wonderful, thank you for calling mexico's number one air carrier, etc...
AM Guy #2: Hello
Me: Hello, I checked a case containing a saxophone on a flight from Mexico City to New York JFK, and my instrument has not arrived, any chance you could locate it for me?
AM Guy #2: Hang on, let me check (Puts me back on hold)
Announcer Voice: thank you for calling. We hope you will travel with AeroMexico in the future, we're amazing and fantastic, etc...
Am Guy #2: We can't find the case.
Me: What does that mean?
Am Guy #2: Well, either it was lost, or it was stolen, or it hasn't reached its destination yet. We'll let you know if we get an update. (Hangs up)
Three or four hours later, I get a call from AeroMexico.
AM Guy #3: We've found your instrument case!
Me: Fantastic, where is it?
AM Guy #3: Pisa.
Me: PISA?!! How did my saxophone end up in PISA?!
AM Guy #3: AeroMexico is a SkyTeam partner airline. Your bag must have been placed on a connecting flight with another airline.
Me: Fine. Can you send it back to me?
AM Guy #3: It's on another airline at this point, we can't get it back to you. Talk to Delta, they fly into Pisa.
Me: You're the ones who lost the damned thing, and now you can't get it back?
AM Guy #3: The bag last travelled with another airline, and we don't go to Pisa. Sorry.
(Hangs Up)
After calling Delta, and spending another eternity on the phone, this time in English, they agree to send my instrument to New York for me. After I explain the urgency of the situation (my gig is tonight), they tell me they will send it on the next flight, and I can expect to have it in the morning.
This morning, I wake up, full of excitement to have my beautiful Super 20 back. Predictably, it isn't there. Back to the phone with me. It emerges that the idiot I spoke to at Delta thought I wanted the bag sent to where they got it. It is now 11:15 AM Eastern time, and my bag is back in Mexico city, having just complete what must have been a lovely little trip to Italy.
I call AeroMexico again. After getting transferred to the right person for finding my bag, I get:
Me: Hello, I understand you received a case containing my tenor saxophone from Pisa tihs morning.
AM Guy #4: Yes.
Me: I'm playing a show tonight at 8:30 PM. I need the instrument returned to me by then.
AM Guy #4: You'll have it in a few days.
Me: A few days does not work. I need it tonight.
AM Guy #4: That is not possible.
Me: Your entire organization has just consistently failed at doing a really basic part of your job, and you can't even put my bag on a flight today?!!
AM Guy #4: You will have it in a few days.
Me: Do not expect any business from me in the future.
AM Guy #4: No need to get nasty about it. Cheer up. You know it's Easter Monday, right? Be happy!
Me: (completely loses it): OF COURSE I FUCKING KNOW IT IS EASTER MONDAY. HOW THE FUCK IS THAT POSSIBLE TO MISS IN MEXICO. IT BEING A HOLIDAY WON'T MAGICALLY MAKE ME HAPPY ABOUT NOT HAVING MY FUCKING SAXOPHONE WHEN I HAVE A GIG
(Hangs up)
I'm playing the gig tonight with a ridiculously crappy instrument and mouthpiece I borrowed at the last second from a friend... wish me luck.
POST GIG UPDATE
The gig went pretty well; the band I was playing with is actually a rock band, which is a fun diversion from my normal jazz stuff, and also good for playing with a less than optimal instrument, since the weird tone of the sax is somewhat hidden by growling/wailing and the like. Had to unstick the G# key at least once every number, which was annoying, but manageable. Best part IMO was doing an encore of Springsteen's 'Jungleland'- had never played that solo in a gig before, it has a fantastic ratio of difficulty:amount crowd goes fucking crazy
Will call AeroMexico with a complaint and try to get some compensation once my sax gets back, I'll keep you guys posted on how that works out.
