Airlines Face Penalties for Poor Passenger Treatment
Spirit and American Airlines have recently been ordered to pay monetary penalties for their treatment of passengers. This situation arises as many Americans search for ways to stretch their travel budgets while experiencing a rebound in travel following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Spirit Airlines Settles Over Carry-On Fees
On August 23, Spirit Airlines agreed to pay up to $8.25 million to settle a class-action lawsuit filed by passengers who booked flights through online travel agents (OTAs) and were subjected to additional carry-on bag fees.
According to federal court documents, passengers who booked tickets between August 31, 2011, and May 3, 2017, through one of six OTAs—Expedia, Travelocity, Kiwi, CheapOair, Cheap Tickets, and BookIt—will be entitled to refunds.
The proposed settlement offers a cash refund of up to 75% of the carry-on fee paid by each class action member who submits a valid claim form. The compensation will be pro-rated based on the actual carry-on fees paid by each individual.
Members of the class action suit will receive notices encouraging them to review the settlement details and submit a claim form. Contact will be made via the email addresses on file with Spirit or the OTA, or by first-class mail if an email address is not available.
Spirit Airlines has not yet responded to requests for comment on this settlement.
American Airlines Fined a Total of $4.1 Million
American Airlines has faced a $4.1 million fine for unlawfully keeping 5,821 passengers on tarmacs for extended periods without allowing them to deplane, as announced by the Department of Transportation (DOT) on August 28.
Of this total fine, $2.05 million will be credited toward compensation already provided to the affected passengers. According to the DOT’s investigation, American allowed 43 domestic flights to remain on the tarmac for excessive periods between 2018 and 2021, failing to provide food or water on one particularly egregious flight.
The majority of these delays occurred at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. American Airlines stated that these events resulted from exceptional weather situations and represent a mere 0.001% of the 7.7 million flights conducted by the airline and its partners during that timeframe.
American Airlines expressed regret over the situation, emphasizing their commitment to delivering a positive travel experience and complying with DOT regulations.
The fine represents the largest assessed for violating federal statutes related to tarmac delays of three hours or more without allowing passengers to deplane, according to DOT officials.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg remarked that this fine is part of ongoing efforts to enforce airline passenger rights, ensuring the protection of consumers and holding airlines accountable for their actions.
Your Rights Over Flight Delays and Cancellations
Buttigieg and the DOT are actively exploring changes to improve airline passenger protections in light of recent disruptions. Earlier this year, new rules were announced requiring U.S. airlines to compensate passengers and cover expenses such as meals and rebooking in instances where delays or cancellations are caused by the airline.
For additional information about what airlines are obligated to provide during delays and cancellations, you can refer to the DOT’s airline customer service dashboard.
