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Southwest Airlines passenger has alleged that a $500 hair styler was stolen from her checked baggage, and says the airline has made no attempt to pursue her stolen item. Angel Weaver took to social media to describe her ordeal, saying Southwest customer service initially hung up on her before rejecting her claim.
Given the value of the item that was taken, the theft would be categorized as a felony charge. Weaver has since submitted a police report, filed a formal complaint with the US Department of Transportation (DOT), and has even written a letter to Southwest’s CEO, but has yet to receive any compensation or update on her case.
Southwest Passenger’s Styler Stolen From Checked Bag
As reported by The Mary Sue, Weaver was catching a Southwest flight from 
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) to Lambert St Louis International Airport (STL) during the recent holiday season and had checked a bag into the hold before boarding. After landing in St Louis and arriving home, she opened her bag and saw that the packaging of a Dyson Airwrap she received as a gift from her mother for Christmas had been damaged.
Initially believing the box may have just been “jostled around in the bag,” Weaver saw that the seal had been fully broken before opening it up and discovering that the contents were empty. This included not only the styler itself, but also the accompanying attachments and instruction manual. The Dyson Airwrap is a high-end multi-styler with a retail value of over $500, and also comes with various attachments. Weaver said,
“All they left me with was cardboard and the leather carrying case—not even the instruction manual.”
Southwest Rejects Claim
Weaver shared an update on her progress, revealing that she has pursued multiple avenues of recourse in her attempts to retrieve her item. This has included sending an email to Southwest CEO Bob Jordan and the Texas Attorney General, as well as filing complaints with the TSA, DOT, and the police. Weaver received a reply from a representative of Jordan, but said they were not helpful, adding that they have not even reviewed camera footage that could help.
In its response to Weaver’s complaint, the airline said that it “cannot arbitrarily pay every claim that is presented,” adding that it was not able to determine liability. It has been reluctant to use the word “stolen” when in correspondence with Weaver, instead using the term “missing” to reference the item.
According to the airline, liability will only be accepted if a bag was mishandled or “shows signs of obvious external damage.” Weaver responded that her bag was not externally damaged, as the thief simply unzipped the bag and took what they wanted from inside. Under the excess valuation terms of its Contract of Carriage, Southwest is liable for up to $5,950, but importantly, this does not cover “electronic equipment,” which the styer is likely to fall under.
Spirit Airlines Employees Charged With Louis Vuitton Purse Theft At Fort Lauderdale
Spirit employees allegedly stole the $500 wristlet purse from a check-in counter at Fort Lauderdale.
Is Baggage Theft Common?
Many disgruntled passengers have taken to the internet to recount their own experiences of theft when flying. Most cases report how difficult it is to pursue compensation claims with an airline, while subsequent complaints to the FAA have also proven fruitless. Passengers will typically have to take things into their own hands if they want to see a cent of reimbursement.
Simple Flying has reported on a few high-profile theft cases in recent years. One recent incident involved two Spirit Airlines employees stealing a customer’s Louis Vuitton purse after it was forgotten by its owner. Theft can also happen in the cabin by fellow passengers, with a spate of onboard robberies on Etihad Airways flights to Asia recently attracting police attention.
