American Airlines to Pay Up to $1,300 to Customers Overcharged for Luggage
American Airlines (AA) has agreed to pay up to $1,300 USD to customers who were charged for luggage that should have been free. The decision comes after a lawsuit was filed against the airline in 2021, alleging that customers were wrongly charged for their suitcases despite being eligible for free baggage under the AAdvantage Gold program.
The AAdvantage Gold program is designed for loyal customers who use AA credit cards and are entitled to free baggage as part of their membership. However, numerous complaints were lodged by members of the program who were unexpectedly charged for their luggage at airports.
The lawsuit claimed that American Airlines had been in violation of its own program policies for more than a decade, causing financial discomfort to its customers. In response, AA has agreed to settle for $7.5 million and has set up a process for affected customers to claim their compensation.
Customers seeking a refund must have flown with American Airlines between February 24, 2017 and April 8, 2020, and must meet specific criteria to be eligible. This includes having an AA credit card and being notified by email about their entitlement to free baggage, only to be charged for it at the airport.
American Airlines has attributed the overcharging to a system error, claiming that the guidance to stop charging for bags did not appear in the digital system of the air terminals. As a result, the airline has decided to compensate affected customers who were unfairly charged for their luggage in a bid to rectify the issue.