Southwest Flight Attendant Spills Coke on Her Laptop. Now What?

Flying these days isn’t the most pleasant experience. Travel prices are high, and if you actually manage to get a flight, the experience can leave you wishing that you hadn’t.

For example, one woman alleged that Delta Airlines lost her passport. Another traveler, this time with JetBlue, claimed the airline split her baggage in half. A further user said that she was nearly not given a seat on a flight because it was overbooked—and that the airline used how much people paid for their ticket as a determining factor as to whether they’d be able to board.

Now, a woman on TikTok wonders what to do after she claims a Southwest Airlines flight attendant spilled soda all over her laptop and purse.

What Happened to This Woman’s MacBook and Louis Vuitton Bag?

In a video with over 756,000 views, TikTok user Alena Mauhs (@alenamauhs) seeks advice about a recent flight.

“Guys… what do i do?” she asks in the text overlaying the video. “A flight attendant on my southwest flight spilled someone’s coke zero on my MACBOOK PRO and my vintage LOUIS VUITTON purse.”

In the caption, she adds, “My LV purse has a stain and the coke got on my charging ports & keys.”

Mauhs states in comments that she has since reached out to Southwest Airlines for a resolution and took pictures at the time of the incident. But is there anything else she should do?

What Should You Do if a Flight Attendant Ruins Your Possessions?

If you’ve ever been in this situation—or worry you might be someday—you should take a few steps to ensure the airline compensates you for your damaged items.

According to Southwest’s Contract of Carriage, the airline “will compensate the Passenger for reasonable, documented damages incurred as a direct result of the loss of, damage to, or substantially delayed delivery of such Baggage up to the limit of liability, provided the Passenger has exercised reasonable efforts and good judgment to minimize the amount of damage.”

The Contract of Carriage previously defined “baggage” as “all luggage and contents contained inside,” including electronics. The contract does not make clear whether a laptop removed from its carrying case falls under this section. Other flyers with similar incidents have not found success obtaining compensation for their damaged items.

Regardless, internet users say that one should file a case with the airline and, if that is not successful, take the airline to small claims court in order to receive payment.

However, travel insurance, item-specific insurance, Apple’s AppleCare, or a credit card’s purchase protection plan may cover damages.

@alenamauhs my lv purse has a stain and the coke got on my charging ports & keys ? @Southwest Airlines @apple @Louis Vuitton ♬ Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64, Act I: No. 13, Dance of the Knights – Mariinsky Orchestra & Valery Gergiev

In the comments section, users disagreed about whether Mauhs would actually be able to get compensated for the damages.

“Girl if you didn’t say something right then and there, you’re getting nothing,” wrote a user.

“The flight attendant herself will not get in trouble. They have insurance for these types of situations. It was an honest mistake I would reccomend you contact the airline and explain w as much detail as u can. Sorry this happened. Good luck keep us updated!” added another.

“Report immediately and fill out a claim. and don’t worry, airlines have insurance for this!” echoed a third.

The Mary Sue reached out to Southwest Airlines via email and Mauhs via email and Instagram direct message.

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Braden Bjella

Braden Bjella is a culture writer. His work can be found in the Daily Dot, Mixmag, Electronic Beats, Schon! magazine, and more.

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