How to Find Out If American Airlines Owes You Money in Checked Baggage Allowance
Even before the pandemic made matters worse, air travel was already more difficult than it should have been. One of the most frustrating things is that as a passenger you can do everything right – follow all the rules, arrive well in advance of departure, always have your ticket and ID ready – and still face a lot of hassle, thanks to other people who were not prepared or did not follow the TSA guidelines.
In other situations, it’s on airlines. This has been the case with many American Airlines customers who have accused the carrier of requiring them to pay for checked baggage that should have been free.
The result was a class action lawsuit , and in August the airline agreed to compensate customers to resolve the issue. Here’s what you need to know about the payment, including whether you’re eligible to claim a portion of it.
Why was a class action lawsuit filed against American Airlines?
One of the benefits of having a Gold status in the AAdvantage loyalty program is the opportunity to register a bag for free. This is also a benefit that comes with some American Airlines branded credit cards. So after AA customers in both of those categories were forced to pay to check in their baggage, the group came together to file a class action lawsuit against American Airlines.
In their complaint , these individuals (the plaintiffs in the lawsuit) allege that when they went to the counter to check their bags, an AA employee told them that even with their Gold Status or AA credit cards, the computer was not working. indicate that they can check any bags for free.
Plaintiffs conclude that AA’s computer system was not updated to reflect this privilege and “as a result, AA passengers were incorrectly billed and forced to pay baggage fees.”
American Airlines denied any wrongdoing in its own court documents. However, in August the company agreed to pay out at least $7.5 million to compensate customers who were incorrectly charged for baggage check-in. The settlement agreement is currently awaiting final approval by the court.
How to find out if you are eligible for part of the compensation
In a settlement, class members are divided into two groups:
- Travelers with AA credit cards that entitle them to a free baggage check but are charged on a domestic flight.
- Passengers who received email confirmation that one or more bags could be checked in for free but still had to pay.
In addition to being in at least one of the above groups, you must also travel on or after February 24, 2017, and your tickets must be purchased no later than April 8, 2020.
If the court approves American Airlines’ proposed settlement, those who qualify will receive a full refund for the checked baggage they paid for, which was supposed to be free.
How to file a claim in a settlement
It is also on hold until the court approves the settlement, but the company says in documents provided to the court by American Airlines that it plans to notify customers who are eligible for a refund under the settlement. For now, it’s best to stay tuned to the settlement’s website for updates.