Sarah Mirando  |  October 15, 2013

Category: Legal News

Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest Class Action Lawsuit Settlement News!

 


United Airlines Hit with Class Action for ‘Deceptive’ Mileage Program

By Dominic Rivera

 

United MileagePlus class action lawsuitPlaintiffs Robert Gordon and Melissa Chan are suing United Continental Holding Inc., Mileage Plus Holdings, LLC and United Airlines Inc., alleging that the airline company is running a deceptive frequent-flyer program.

The proposed class action lawsuit states that “United does not disclose that it charges customers who have more available miles, additional miles for the same service – unbeknownst it to frequent flyer customers, when a customer has more miles, United charges them more miles.”


To illustrate how it works, the United MileagePlus class action lawsuit says that “on August 26, 2012, Mr. Gordon was looking to pay for a hotel room, for a trip he and Ms. Chan were taking to Japan, utilizing his United miles. Mr. Gordon has 38,183 miles. United’s website required Mr. Gordon to have 40,750 miles for the three-night stay in the double semi room. Mr. Gordon knew Ms. Chan has more miles, so he did not book the room.”

Just a few minutes passed before Ms. Chan went to book the same room for the same three days. She has 41,773 miles; however, United required Ms. Chan to use 44,550 miles, not 40,750 miles.

“Within minutes, Mr. Gordon and Ms. Chan tried to book the same room at the same hotel for the same dates, but because Ms. Chan had more miles, United required 3,750 more miles for the same service,” the United MileagePlus class action lawsuit states.

When Mr. Gordon called United to complain, he was told that United utilizes an algorithm that modifies the number of miles needed for an award depending on the customer’s number of miles. As a result, Ms. Chan had to pay for additional MileagePlus miles amounting to $26.

The class action lawsuit argues that the absence of disclosure from United makes this corporate practice deceptive.

“United is, amongst other things, advertising but failing to honor the terms of its MileagePlus program and, as such, using false information and deceptive practices in the course of selling its goods and services,” according to the complaint.

The plaintiffs are seeking for an order certifying the Class and appointing them as representatives of the Class and appointing the law firm representing them as counsel for the Class.

The plaintiffs are represented by Gary S. Graifman and Michael L. Braunstein of Kantrowitz Goldhamer & Graifman PC, and Alvin C. Gordon and Ava Gordon of The Gordon Law Firm of New York LLP.

The United Frequent Flier Program Class Action Lawsuit is Gordon, et al. v. United Continental Holdings Inc., et al., Case No. 2:13-cv-05967, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

 

We tell you about cash you can claim EVERY WEEK! Sign up for our free newsletter.

 

 

All class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Lawsuit News section of Top Class Actions

LEGAL INFORMATION IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE
Top Class Actions Legal Statement
©2008 – 2013 Top Class Actions® LLC
Various Trademarks held by their respective owners

4 thoughts onUnited Airlines Hit with Class Action for ‘Deceptive’ Mileage Program

  1. Walter says:

    The United Mileage Plus Card Companion certificate (paper certificate) is impossible to use. I tried downloading it to the system and it doesn’t work because there is not a place to download it to. Even United tecnical support could not do it or find a place for me to download it to. In the past, they gave me an address to send it to, but they claimed they never received it, so I think it us also a non e is tent address. In other words, if they don’t have your paper certificate either mailed it downloaded to their system, you can’t use it. I always get a “server error” message. I’m the past 15-20 years or however long I had this card, I tried using this companion certificate with no success. I even went to the airport which is an hour away to use the certificate, and the agent was trying fir over two hours and got very frustrated. At the end, the manager just gave me a different discount to book my flight since the agent was spending a lot if time with me. I think this is fraud! United should refund me for the certificate value for every single year I had thus card. I’m an excellent card holder and put at least $10,000 each month on the card. I feel deceived! The only reason I don’t cancel thus card is because I have a lot of miles on it that i’m trying to save.

  2. Julius Farrar says:

    I also was frequent flyer member of united and continental.
    All mileage has been lost/stolen by both flying companies. Coupons were worthless. Mileage was to be indefinite, until companies reclaim them.
    I found deception in trying to use miles for travel, requiring to pay monies as if no miles existed.

  3. Corinne. K says:

    I have experienced the same thing..,. I have more miles in my account than my boyfriend and sitting side by side on 2 different computers, we tried to book the same trip.
    His united screen would show trip requiring less miles than mine for the same trip, dates and routing.
    I would love to join this class action

  4. Alvin says:

    This is ridiculous. I have been a member of MileagePlus for a decade, and this is how my loyalty is treated.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. By submitting your comment and contact information, you agree to receive marketing emails from Top Class Actions regarding this and/or similar lawsuits or settlements, and/or to be contacted by an attorney or law firm to discuss the details of your potential case at no charge to you if you qualify. Required fields are marked *

Please note: Top Class Actions is not a settlement administrator or law firm. Top Class Actions is a legal news source that reports on class action lawsuits, class action settlements, drug injury lawsuits and product liability lawsuits. Top Class Actions does not process claims and we cannot advise you on the status of any class action settlement claim. You must contact the settlement administrator or your attorney for any updates regarding your claim status, claim form or questions about when payments are expected to be mailed out.