American Airlines Class Action Takes Issue with Check In Time Limits

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American Airlines Inc. has been hit with a class action lawsuit filed by a passenger who alleges the airline’s arbitrary check in time limits systematically prevent passengers from traveling.

Plaintiff Lucas Huddleston of Chicago says he booked a flight on American Airlines from Hong Kong to a domestic airport with a travel date of Jan. 16, 2016.

According to the American Airlines class action lawsuit, he had no checked baggage and attempted to check in 50 minutes before the departure time.

Huddleston alleges he was denied the ability to check in and board his flight even though he complied with all of the contract terms. He claims he suffered economic loss due to American’s refusal to let him board the plane.

According to the American Airlines class action lawsuit, the airline posts its general rules online in its International General Tariff, which applies to all of American’s international flights.

Huddleston says he was aware of the rules and that he complied with all of his obligations under the contract.

“The Contract does not include any requirement that passengers without checked baggage check in at any time,” the American Airlines class action lawsuit states. “The Contract does, however, require that passengers present themselves at the departure gate 30 minutes before departure. Because check in is a prerequisite to presenting oneself at the gate for boarding, the most that may be said is that the Contract necessarily requires passengers to check in no later than 30 minutes prior to departure.”

Huddleston says that, as a result of American’s arbitrary check in time rules, he was forced to rebook his flight and stay an extra day in Hong Kong. This delay caused him to incur economic damages, according to the American Airlines class action lawsuit.

The arbitrary flight check in time requirements constitute a breach of contract, Huddleston argues in the American Airlines class action lawsuit.

Being barred from traveling on their booked flights has caused putative Class Members to suffer economic damages such as change fees, forfeiture of redeemed miles and prepaid travel benefits, and out-of-pocket expenses for lodging, food, transport and other costs.

By filing the American Airlines class action lawsuit, Huddleston seeks to represent a Class of U.S. travelers who were confirmed for travel on flights operated by American and who attempted to check in without checked baggage at least 30 minutes but less than 60 minutes before the scheduled departure, and who were barred from boarding their flight between Nov. 29, 2011 and the present.

Huddleston is seeking compensatory relief, attorneys’ fees, pre- and post-judgment interest, and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court. He also seeks an order preventing American Airlines from denying boarding to passengers who attempt to check in more than 30 minutes before their departure time.

Huddleston is represented by Daniel Lynch and James Thompson of Lynch Thompson LLP; Benjamin Edelman; Oren S. Giskan of Giskan Solotaroff & Anderson LLP; and Michael J. Boni, Joshua D. Snyder and John E. Sindoni of Boni & Zack LLC.

The American Airlines Check In Time Class Action Lawsuit is Lucas Huddleston v. American Airlines Inc., Case No. 1:16-cv-09100, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division.

UPDATE: On Oct. 2, 2018, American Airlines passengers have lost a class action lawsuit alleging that the airline’s unwritten check-in policies leads to missed trips and lost money.