American Airlines sued for $5MM (class action) for not refunding baggage fee (1 Viewer)

[buzd]

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Airline-sued-over-lost-luggage-refusal-to-refund-fee-98878389.html


After losing her bag, they wouldn't refund her baggage handling fee. I'm beginning to see a pattern.

From other sources: United made over $4 million in baggage fees last year.
Over 2 million bags were mishandled last year.

 

[BoatsNBeer]

Good thing KOS isn't here....

 

[superchuck500]

I was just wondering about that the other day - it seems they certainly should refund the fee if the bag doesn't make it.

 

[MLU]

Why would they refund the fee? It's not a guarantee that it will arrive on time; It's a guarantee that they will check it. All these people are going to do it drive up the price of checking bags.

 

[SaintsFanInLA]

Why would they refund the fee? It's not a guarantee that it will arrive on time; It's a guarantee that they will check it. All these people are going to do it drive up the price of checking bags.

If you bought a ticket to Los Angeles and the flight actually landed in Bangor, Maine, then would you want a refund?

The baggage handling fee comes with the implication that the bags will arrive where you, the customer will arrive... A predetermined destination.

 

[Redfish]

Well for one thing it'd be doing themselves a favor by refunding the fee. The way it should be is that if the passengers bag is mishandled, lost or arrives late the fee should be refunded. After all what is the fee for ... to increase their profits ...

SWA = No fees

 

[livefromDC]

If you bought a ticket to Los Angeles and the flight actually landed in Bangor, Maine, then would you want a refund?

The baggage handling fee comes with the implication that the bags will arrive where you, the customer will arrive... A predetermined destination.

Great way to look at it. I think airlines brought this upon themselves. They increased their profits by creating an additional charge. They went wrong when they linked this fee to "baggage handling". Because this fee is supposed to be for the sole purpose of baggage handling (and not merely a poorly disguised way to increase profits), they should expect that the public will want a refund if the duty that they were specifically charged for was not carried out. I think its a justifiable lawsuit. By splitting out a set price per checked bag, they've added another responsibility of service beyond getting you to your destination safely.

 

[cdogg]

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- This year is shaping up to be the most profitable year for the airline industry in at least a decade. The bad news is that it costs a lot more to visit Mom.

Operating profits for airlines in the United States exceeded $7.1 billion in the first nine months of 2010, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Transportation. That tally surpasses the industry's full-year profits going back to at least 1999, when airlines posted income of $6.8 billion over 12 months.

The baggage fees are a way to raise fares without publicizing the raised fares," Pickels said.

And they've been a huge success. The industry collected $2.1 billion in fees during the third quarter alone, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. This includes more than $900 million in baggage fees and nearly $600 million in reservation change fees.

http://money.cnn.com/2010/12/22/news/companies/airline_fares_profits/index.htm?hpt=T2


Not directly to do with this, but they wouldn't even feel the 5 million.

 

[MLU]

If you bought a ticket to Los Angeles and the flight actually landed in Bangor, Maine, then would you want a refund?

The baggage handling fee comes with the implication that the bags will arrive where you, the customer will arrive... A predetermined destination.

It's an uneducated assumption made by passengers. There are no guarantees in commercial aviation. Even Rule 240 reaccomodations are at the behest of the airline. They are not legally obligated to do so since deregulation. It's simply a courtesy.

Now I will argue that it's good business to refund the fee should the bag not arrive as scheduled, but nowhere in the contract of carriage does it say that the bag will arrive or that the fee is to guarantee that it will arrive when the passenger arrives. It is for the printing of the tag and to offset the increased bag weights and fuel costs associated with carrying increased bag weights.

 

[Shawn]

It's an uneducated assumption made by passengers. There are no guarantees in commercial aviation. Even Rule 240 reaccomodations are at the behest of the airline. They are not legally obligated to do so since deregulation. It's simply a courtesy.

Now I will argue that it's good business to refund the fee should the bag not arrive as scheduled, but nowhere in the contract of carriage does it say that the bag will arrive or that the fee is to guarantee that it will arrive when the passenger arrives. It is for the printing of the tag and to offset the increased bag weights and fuel costs associated with carrying increased bag weights.

And once people get wind of this, they'll change it most likely.

That's just ********. It may be the law, but it's completely stupid.

 

[stunpals]

There is a reason Southwest is thriving while others FAIL

 

[daMixter]

On another note, what if TSA mis-handles my "bag"- should I be able to sue??

 

[p0pe]

There is a reason Southwest is thriving while others FAIL

Southwest is the best.

 

[FLIPPY]

Just another reason for a lawyer to make a boat load of money......Screw class action suits...Here's your check for 50 bucks.....Thanks for your buisness..

 

[LKN H20Girl]

If traveling domestically and you know where you're staying ahead of time (especially at a friend or family member's house), you can actually FedEx or UPS (hate UPS) your luggage there. There are also some businesses that will ship your luggage for a comparable cost - and it's insured.