SOUTHWORST AIRLINES

WARNING!!! SOUTHWEST AIRLINES (a/k/a Southworst sometimes flying cattle car

or sardine can) IS, WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE WORST AIRLINE ON PLANET EARTH!

I was booked on SWA #455 from LAX to ABQ (non-stop, mind you) leaving LAX at

8:10 PM on Sunday 7/22/07, arriving at 10:40 PM on Sunday 7/22/07. I

checked two bags at 4:15 PM after standing in line approximately one hour.

Then, I stood in the TSA line for another 20 minutes to have my checked bags

inspected and passed off to Southwest's fine, highly educated, and

absolutely honest baggage handlers.

When I arrived at ABQ and went to the appointed carrousel to pick up my

luggage, I was delighted to see my large bag already in the holding area

outside of SWA's baggage office (a/k/a a closet). I picked it up without

anyone confirming whether it was my bag or not. No SWA personnel were

there. I later determined that SWA forwarded the larger bag on an earlier

flight.

Then, I noted the second bag (a very expensive Dakota duffle bag) was not in

the holding area. I naturally expected it to be coming out with Flight 455

baggage. It didn't.

The Dakota bag cost me $325. Its contents included many personal documents

with information that, in the wrong hands, could be used to steal the

identities of a number of persons. The Dakota bag also contained an 80 DVD

zipper case, nearly full of high end late movies - something anyone would

steal if not watched. I estimate the cost of the DVD's to be not less that

$1200.

Yes, I must admit, I was an idiot for packing such items! But, give me a

break - a non-stop from LAX to ABQ -- how could such a bag possibly get

lost? It did BECAUSE A SOUTHWEST AIRLINES BAGGAGE HANDLER STOLE IT JUST FOR

THE DVDS.

I am now advised by Southwest that they have "suspended the search for my

bag." Note - SWA does not scan in baggage, and therefore has no way to

track baggage. They simply lie to the public about this.

Having made claim for the lost luggage, I am offered $30 for my trouble.

I OFFER THIS WORD OF WARNING: NEVER FLY SOUTHWEST AIRLINES.

IT HIRES THIEVES AND DRUG ADDICTS AS BAGGAGE HANDLERS.

IT LIES EVER TIME ONE OF ITS AGENTS OPENS HIS OR HER MOUTH.

IT IS THE FILTHIEST AIRLINE IN THE WORLD. I HAVE LESS GUM STUCK TO MY SUIT

PANTS AFTER RIDING THE NYC SUBWAY.

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES HAS ABSOLUTELY NO COMMITMENT TO CUSTOMER SATISFACTION.

IT IS OFTEN LAUDED FOR MAKING A PROFIT WITH CHEAP FARES. THAT'S LIKE SAYING

A LOAN SHARK MAKES GOOD MONEY FROM POOR PEOPLE WHO CANNOT QUALIFY FOR AN

ORDINARY LOAN.

SOUTHWEST HAS THE VERY WRONG IDEA THAT A CUTE SONG BY 18 YEAR OLD FLIGHT

ATTENDANT IS WHAT CUSTOMERS WANT. SWA'S FLIGHT ATTENDANTS COULD NOT

RECOGNIZE A FIRE IF THEIR OWN HAIR WERE ABLAZE!

I SIMPLY WANTED TO BE SAFELY TRANSPORTED FROM LOS ANGELES TO ALBUQUERQUE,

WITHOUT HAVING THE AIRLINE EMPLOYEES STEAL MY BAGGAGE AND ITS CONTENTS WHICH

WERE WORTH IN EXCESS OF FIVE TIMES THE COST OF THE TICKET.

BY THE WAY, BE SURE TO SHOWER AFTER FLYING -TO GET RID OF THE TEXAS TICKS

THAT PLAGUE THE PLANE.

Comment On This

Sir/Madam

This isn't the fault of SWA. It is the fault of that particular airport (LAX/ABQ) that your baggage was lost. The checker of the bag (hired by SWA) puts that bag on a carousel headed straight for TSA screening. You should have known not to put >$1200 worth of DVDs in the bag knowing it would be screened by a person making little over min. wage. I fly US Airways three times weekly from RDU (Raleigh, NC) to Seattle and back. I've done this for 38 years and nothing has happened (EVER) because I keep my valuables in my carryon, so that I will know exactly where everything is. Southwest is not a bad airline at all, if they had a first class, I would fly them back/forth to work.

Comment On This

Why in the world would you ever put anything of high value into a piece of checked luggage? And by the way, how do you know it wasn't stolen by someone with TSA not SW?