{"id":378532,"date":"2026-06-28T19:04:11","date_gmt":"2026-06-28T19:04:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/378532\/"},"modified":"2026-06-28T19:04:11","modified_gmt":"2026-06-28T19:04:11","slug":"musician-says-southwest-agent-wouldnt-allow-guitar-on-flight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/378532\/","title":{"rendered":"Musician says Southwest agent wouldn\u2019t allow guitar on flight"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a now-viral interaction, a Southwest Airlines gate agent called sheriff\u2019s deputies after a local musician attempted to bring her guitar on a flight from Sacramento International Airport on Thursday evening.<\/p>\n

Samantha Henson, a Sacramento-based vocalist and guitarist, was boarding a 6 p.m. flight to Portland for a friend\u2019s wedding when a flight attendant stopped her \u2014 her guitar was too large to bring on board as a carry-on, the attendant said.<\/p>\n

Henson deboarded and returned to the gate, where the agent told her she could try to take the next flight to Portland that evening. However, according to Henson, the agent said the later flight was full and that she would not be able to board with her guitar.<\/p>\n

Southwest Airlines\u2019 written policy on its website<\/a> for flying with a musical instrument states that passengers may bring instruments on board if they will fit in the overhead bin or under a seat, even if they are larger than the size limit of 24 by 16 by 10 inches, unless the instrument and its case weigh more than 165 pounds or the dimensions add up to more than 150 inches.<\/p>\n

\u201cInstruments transported in soft-sided cases or other packaging that is not strong enough to protect it under normal baggage handling conditions will be subject to limited release: Southwest assumes no liability for any damage to the item during transport,\u201d Southwest\u2019s musical instrument policy continues, in part.<\/p>\n

A Southwest Airlines spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment Saturday.<\/p>\n

After speaking with the gate agent, Henson decided to wait for the next flight and called Southwest customer service. According to Henson, the customer service agent on the phone told her she would receive a voucher after she completed her flight.<\/p>\n

A few hours later, Henson attempted to board a second flight to Portland. A different gate agent stood by the jet bridge entrance, checking passengers in. While Henson was waiting in line to board the flight, she said the gate agent who turned her away earlier that afternoon \u201cran up\u201d to her. According to Henson, the woman said, \u201cYou\u2019re not going to get on that flight. You know that, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

Henson continued to wait in line, but when she reached the gate the agent behind the desk turned her away. Henson stood by the gate and waited until everybody had boarded, at which point the agent said he would call the Sacramento County Sheriff\u2019s Office if she did not check her bag and board the plane.<\/p>\n

When the sheriff\u2019s deputies arrived, Henson said they appeared \u201cconfused as to why they were there.\u201d The gate agent for her second flight said Henson had stopped people from boarding the plane, a claim that she disputes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t throwing punches,\u201d Henson said in an interview. \u201cI wasn\u2019t raising my voice. I just wanted to get my guitar on the plane.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Henson was talking with the second gate agent, the first gate agent rebooked her on a flight that left just after 4 a.m. the next morning. Henson said the agent did so without telling her.<\/p>\n

In a video on Henson\u2019s Instagram page<\/a> that had garnered approximately 1.8 million views by Saturday evening, the deputies can be seen standing by the gate with Henson as the gate agent from Henson\u2019s first flight said, \u201cYou should be ashamed of yourself. We want you to get on the next flight. There\u2019s 98 people. But let me tell you\u2026if this happens tonight, you won\u2019t be able to fly for 24 more hours. So be prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n

After the incident, Henson decided to spend the night in the airport and successfully boarded the morning flight on Friday to attend her friend\u2019s wedding that afternoon. She said she was able to do so with her guitar as a carry-on and that Friday\u2019s flight was less than halfway full.<\/p>\n

Henson said she has flown Southwest \u2014 and carried her guitar onto the plane \u2014 successfully for the last five years. According to Henson, her guitar would likely be damaged if it were checked into the plane\u2019s cargo compartment and she is unable to afford a hard case that could adequately protect it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis (guitar) is my baby,\u201d Henson said. \u201cIf anything happened to it, I\u2019d be devastated.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Southwest credit card holder since 2021, Henson says the experience has left her \u201cworried and nervous\u201d about her return flight Sunday, which she also booked with Southwest. Thursday\u2019s events have caused Henson to consider changing to a different airline credit card.<\/p>\n

In a follow-up video posted to Instagram on Saturday afternoon, Henson said she was speaking as part of a broader community of musicians and that she posted the video more to shed light on an musicians face than to condemn any specific employees. \u201cWith that video, I wanted to make light that this is an issue we\u2019re all facing,\u201d she said in the video. \u201cIt\u2019s not unique to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Henson said in the video that she had not heard back from Southwest at the time of filming.<\/p>\n

\u201cMore than anything, I just want this issue to be solved,\u201d Henson said in an interview. \u201cThis is not just about me, this is for millions of other musicians who are flying, and who are trying to bring their music\u2026to the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

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