Class action lawsuit filed against Southwest Airlines

For the past week, Southwest Airlines customers have wound up in cities for days without their luggage. Many are till trying to find their belongings, and some travelers never even made it to their destination.Customers have voiced frustration that Southwest didn’t issue immediate refunds or reimbursements for added costs incurred from the travel disruptions, such as hotels, rental cars or meals.Now, a man in New Orleans has filed a class action lawsuit.In the lawsuit, Eric Capdeville said that after his flight was canceled, he wasn’t offered an alternative option to get to his destination or given a refund, which he claims is a breach of contract.The lawsuit states “Southwest’s failure to provide prompt refunds for canceled flights violates not only its own Contract of Carriage, but also federal law.”The lawsuit goes on to say:”Southwest’s Contract of Carriage mandates refunds in this situation as well as full compensation for incurred costs and resulting cancellations for the failure of the carriage contract.”WISN 12 News reached out to the attorneys in Louisiana, but their offices wer e closed Tuesday, and 12 News is still waiting for a response.Some passengers in Milwaukee told WISN 12 News they’re still trying to track down their luggage.”The bag remains in Nashville; it’s still there and I’m trying to get some final paperwork together. The online situation doesn’t seem to work too well; this works better,” William Stout told WISN 12 News Tuesday he is hopeful to get his bags back soon after a canceled connecting flight in Nashville last week.When asked by WISN 12 News to describe his experiences the past week after getting caught up in the cancellations, Stout said “frustrating.” Ling Zhong, of Boston, was one of the lucky ones at Mitchell International Airport Tuesday, reuniting with her long-lost suitcase. Thanks to a tracking device, she said after three days, she finally got her bag back.”I finally got it, so, I have an air tag in there, so I really recommend everyone to get those. I just put it inside my bag inside one of the pockets, and you can just pull it up on your phone and it tells you where it is,” Zhong said.Southwest Airlines blamed the winter storm and a massive IT system breakdown for some 16,000 canceled flights post-Christmas.”Southwest does not have information to provide on the pending litigation. There are several high priority efforts underway to do right by our customers, including processing refunds from canceled flights, and reimbursing customers for expenses incurred as a result of the irregular operations. We have a long and proud 51-year history of delivering on our Customers’ expectations and we are committed to the all-important imperative of taking care of them during operational disruptions,” a Southwest Airlines spokesperson said in an email.If anyone would like to read the class action lawsuit, click here.

For the past week, Southwest Airlines customers have wound up in cities for days without their luggage. Many are till trying to find their belongings, and some travelers never even made it to their destination.

Customers have voiced frustration that Southwest didn’t issue immediate refunds or reimbursements for added costs incurred from the travel disruptions, such as hotels, rental cars or meals.

Now, a man in New Orleans has filed a class action lawsuit.

In the lawsuit, Eric Capdeville said that after his flight was canceled, he wasn’t offered an alternative option to get to his destination or given a refund, which he claims is a breach of contract.

The lawsuit states “Southwest’s failure to provide prompt refunds for canceled flights violates not only its own Contract of Carriage, but also federal law.”

The lawsuit goes on to say:

“Southwest’s Contract of Carriage mandates refunds in this situation as well as full compensation for incurred costs and resulting cancellations for the failure of the carriage contract.”

WISN 12 News reached out to the attorneys in Louisiana, but their offices were closed Tuesday, and 12 News is still waiting for a response.

Some passengers in Milwaukee told WISN 12 News they’re still trying to track down their luggage.

“The bag remains in Nashville; it’s still there and I’m trying to get some final paperwork together. The online situation doesn’t seem to work too well; this works better,” William Stout told WISN 12 News Tuesday he is hopeful to get his bags back soon after a canceled connecting flight in Nashville last week.

When asked by WISN 12 News to describe his experiences the past week after getting caught up in the cancellations, Stout said “frustrating.”

Ling Zhong, of Boston, was one of the lucky ones at Mitchell International Airport Tuesday, reuniting with her long-lost suitcase. Thanks to a tracking device, she said after three days, she finally got her bag back.

“I finally got it, so, I have an air tag in there, so I really recommend everyone to get those. I just put it inside my bag inside one of the pockets, and you can just pull it up on your phone and it tell you where it is,” Zhong said.

Southwest Airlines blamed the winter storm and a massive IT system breakdown for some 16,000 canceled flights post-Christmas.

“Southwest does not have information to provide on the pending litigation. There are several high priority efforts underway to do right by our customers, including processing refunds from canceled flights, and reimbursing customers for expenses incurred as a result of the irregular operations. We have a long and proud 51-year history of delivering on our Customers’ expectations and we are committed to the all-important imperative of taking care of them during operational disruptions,” a Southwest Airlines spokesperson said in an email.

If anyone would like to read the class action lawsuit, click here.

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