American Airlines settles for $7.5 million in baggage fee lawsuit

FORT WORTH, Texas — American Airlines has agreed to pay out at the least $7.5 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that claimed the airline overcharged clients for baggage charges, in line with paperwork obtained by WFAA. 

The lawsuit – filed in 2021 by a bunch of passengers from Texas, California, Missouri and Minnesota – acknowledged that the Fort Worth-based airline charged them to verify baggage regardless that they’d airline standing, bank cards or purchased premium tickets that gave them free luggage.

The passengers who filed the lawsuit mentioned they confirmed as much as the airport and needed to pay a fee to verify luggage regardless that they’d affirmation emails and receipts that acknowledged their luggage have been free. 

According to the airline’s checked bag policy online, American prices between $30 and $200 for checked luggage on home flights and flights to Mexico, Haiti, the Caribbean and extra for flights to South America, Europe and Asia, relying on the kind of ticket.

However, one of many perks of flying with its AAdvantage program or an American Airlines-branded bank card by way of firms akin to Citi and Barclay’s is getting a number of free luggage.

The class motion lawsuit settlement – which was filed final week – must be signed by Judge Reed O’Connor to approve the deal. The settlement will pressure American Airlines to pay out at the least $7.5 million, the place clients might be eligible for $25 to $200 refunds for every occasion in the event that they have been incorrectly charged.

If, after six months of distribution of refunds, there may be nonetheless left over cash in the settlement account, those that are affected in the declare might obtain extra, the lawsuit says. 

The phrases of the settlement is restricted to those who checked luggage with American between Feb. 24, 2017, and April 9, 2020. Administrators overseeing the settlement are figuring out the best way to pay passengers, and people affected must be notified.