For the last five years, American Airlines has charged some people baggage fees when they shouldn’t have. The American Airlines Baggage Fees Settlement includes people who paid even though they had a Business class ticket, had Elite status , were in the military or just received an email stating that they shouldn’t pay.

What’s The American Airlines Baggage Fees Settlement About?

A class action lawsuit alleges that between July 13, 2013 and June 7, 2018, American Airlines incorrectly charged certain customers baggage fees, breaching American’s contract with these customers.

When customers buy tickets from American for air travel, a contract is formed in which American promises certain customers that they can check a certain number of their bags at no additional charge, depending on route of travel, cabin of service, frequent flyer status or other reasons. American breached its contract with certain customers by charging them to check one or more of their bags despite promises that they could do so at no additional cost.

The Court has not decided in favor of Plaintiff or American. Instead, both sides have agreed to a settlement.

Who’s Eligible?

The Settlement Class consists of all residents of the United States (including the fifty states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico) who:

• traveled on American Airlines between July 13, 2013 and June 7, 2018; and
• meet the criteria of either or both subsections (1) and (2) below:
  1. were charged a checked bag fee inconsistently with statements in American’s Baggage Policy that passengers may check one or more bags for no additional charge, excluding oversized and overweight checked bags, specialty items, and sports equipment, for any of the following reasons:
     • At the time of check-in, the passenger held a First or Business Class ticket for a domestic flight;
     • At the time of check-in, the passenger held a Business Class ticket for an international flight;
     • At the time of check-in, the passenger held AAdvantage elite status with American or an equivalent frequent flyer elite status with a partner airline, or traveled on the same itinerary as a passenger who held such status;
     • At the time of check-in, the passenger was an active U.S. Military member or the dependent of a U.S. Military member travelling on orders; and
     • At the time of check-in, the passenger was an active U.S. Military member on personal travel.
  2. were charged a checked bag fee inconsistently with a Confirmation Email received by the passenger stating eligibility to check a first bag for that ticketed trip at no additional charge.

How Much Do I Get?

Each Settlement Class Member is eligible to receive a 100% refund of all incorrectly charged Baggage Policy Bag fees plus interest or 75% refund of incorrectly charged Confirmation Email Bag fees.

Refunds will be calculated based on the following:

Guru’s Wrap-Up

Take a look at the details of this settlement if you often fly American Airlines. Savvy flyers would have surely known that they would have to pay baggage fees, but you never know. The settlement covers the last five years and applies to those who shouldn’t have paid fees due to their ticket type, Elite status, military status or just because they received an email stating that baggage was free.

Settlement Details

• File claim here
• Rebate: Varies
• Proof of Purchase: Yes
• Settlement Pool: Unknown
• Filing Deadline: 10/19/2018
• Read Settlement Details Here