A former Southwest Airlines employee has been accused of printing out $79,000 worth of travel vouchers and using them for personal purposes.
According to court documents obtained by FOX News, the travel agent named Brooklyn Jones managed to steal the funds between August 2023 and September 2023.
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The St. Louis County District Attorney’s Office said Jones used the names of previous passengers before redeeming them for himself.
According to the complaint, Southwest first noticed the discrepancy when officials conducted an internal investigation.
Shortly after the investigation was turned over to law enforcement, charges of theft were filed against Jones.
Court documents also show that after his arrest, Jones gave a full statement admitting the charges and surrendering the unused vouchers.
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The documents also allege that Jones led police officers to his employee locker, where he retrieved 119 gift cards valued at approximately $36,300.
According to court documents, Jones stated that he acted alone in the scheme and even sold the vouchers on four separate occasions.
Although he confessed to the crime, Jones pleaded not guilty to grand larceny on Thursday.
Southwest did not immediately respond to US Sun’s request for comment.
News of the alleged theft comes after several passengers expressed outrage over the iconic airline raising its fees from $25 to $99.
The airline says the increase is due to customer demand.
“This price increase is the result of our regular evaluation of ancillary product pricing based on market trends and customer demand and will generate additional revenue for the company,” the airline said.
The 300 percent increase came after Southwest CEO Bob Jordan hinted at some changes earlier this year.
Jordan said Southwest is trying to make up for the $231 million it lost in the first three months of 2024.
Southwest bosses later added fuel to the fire when they canceled flights to four U.S. airports and laid off 2,000 employees.
This price increase is the result of our regular evaluation of additional product pricing based on market trends and customer demand.”
Spokesperson for the Southwest
“We’re looking at new initiatives – things like the way we sit and board our planes,” Jordan said in an interview with CNBC.
Southwest, known for its free checked bags, may also be considering raising several other fees to offset its lost profits.
“This price increase is the result of our regular evaluation of ancillary product pricing based on market trends and customer demand and will generate additional revenue for the company,” a Southwest spokesperson told USA Today.
In addition, the airline has increased upgrade fees.
The service costs between $30 and $149 per segment per traveler, with the previous maximum price being $80.
The changes will particularly affect group travelers, as Southwest does not offer discounts for multiple passengers.
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