Passengers who have flown on some domestic Southwest or American Airlines flights from 2011 to 2018 may be able to get money from a lawsuit settlement. According to the lawsuit, some airlines colluded to limit capacity on domestic flights, leading flyers to pay artificially inflated prices.
According to the fact-checking website Snopes, some customers got a message saying that people who may have purchased a domestic airline ticket from Delta Air Lines, US Airways or American, Southwest, United, Continental Airlines between July 1, 2011 and June 14, 2018 may be eligible for settlement money.
Southwest Airlines agreed to pay a $15 million settlement in January. American Airlines agreed to pay $45 million in June, but denies it participated in colluding.
"We continue to deny, without qualification, that American participated in any such agreement, and the settlement does not include any admission of wrongdoing," American said in a statement at the time, according to the Los Angeles Times. "The facts show that American dramatically increased domestic capacity during the period covered by the complaint while taking delivery of hundreds of new aircraft, giving it the youngest fleet of the U.S. network carriers."
According to a website set up for customers to get information on the litigation settlement, two of the airlines have not reached a settlement.
The website cautions that although some settlements were made, those who may be able to make claims might not receive cash. It’s not known how much an eligible claimant will get.
“No money is being distributed at this time. The lawyers for the Plaintiffs will continue to pursue the lawsuits against the Non-Settling Defendants,” the website said. “All Settlement Funds that remain after payment of the fees, costs, and expenses noted in Question 8 of the Notice will be distributed later or at the conclusion of the litigation or will be distributed to a charitable organization.”
More information can be found at DomesticAirClass.com.
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