American Airlines has been ordered to pay customers back at least $7.5 million for overcharging on baggage fees.
The sum was determined after the airline settled a class-action lawsuit but it could be significantly more as the airline has agreed to pay all settlement administration costs, attorney fees, and 100% of refunds to members of the Settlement Class who were wrongly charged a bag fee.
The lawsuit came to fruition after a group of passengers from four states filed the suit in Texas. They claimed that they had all been charged to check luggage even though their airline status or American Airline’s partnered credit card would have promised them free baggage. They were charged anyway and not given refunds when they tried to tackle the problem individually.
The moral of the story: It pays to know what your points are getting you (we can help with that). Always take note of the rewards you get in loyalty programs and save all your receipts just in case you ever find yourself overcharged, like the customers in this class action suit. After so many damaged and lost luggage issues this year, you just never know when you might get that refund.