It is good that this was eventually down to a fault of
AA, but it sounds like their handling of the situation was very poor, and made many PAX feel awkward/ uncomfortable/ threatened.
It is interesting regarding theft from a/c. I think quite a few Anetters are guilty of fairly light theft (safety cards/ a spoon with a logo), but nothing of this value.
Airlines must be very aware of it, as I see more and more often in Y class that they gather in the headphones prior to arrival, as well as blankets on some sectors. Whilst it comes under the guise of preparing a/c for short turnarounds, I feel it is more related to theft of those items. Most airlines I take do not gather in J headsets before landing.
In Y, I always point blank refuse to hand back my blanket and headphones (if gate to gate IFE) until the a/c has landed. The blanket thing particularly annoys me when they ask for it and you are still swaddled in it.
You must collect your keyboard for the desktop computers in the
GA lounge from reception because, unbelievably, they have had many thefts of the keyboard.