Airline Fees Receive Legal Scrutiny

Travelers are by now well aware of the additional airline fees tacked on to flights like connecting city charges, baggage fees and other costs that now represent an increasing portion of air carrier revenues.

Now a public transportation agency in Chicago is suing American Airlines, having already gone after United Airlines, alleging that the company is engaged in an illegal tax avoidance scheme.

Both airlines have major hubs at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. Yet American Airlines jet fuel procurement for that facility is reportedly processed by an office of just 1,000 square feet in the small town of Sycamore, Illinois.

By doing so, the Regional Transportation Authority has lost millions of dollars in surcharges on jet fuel.

“Whatever work is being done [in Sycamore] is a sham,” RTA Chief of Staff Jordan Matyas told the Associated Press.

While individual passengers have not been subject to the $23 million deficit the agency is reporting as a result of baggage fees and connecting city charges, consumer fraud lawyers say that travelers may still be paying money they should not be obligated to pay, and are questioning the legality of some of these add-on premiums that now seem almost ubiquitous.

For example, some companies offer discounts on baggage fees to those customers who pre-pay when they make online reservations, yet some travelers are reporting that they still have to pay additional fees at the airport, a sort of double dip that could be a breach of contract.

In other cases, the fees may not even be visible. There are currently class action lawsuit investigations going on that are looking into whether or not connecting city charges have been assessed for travelers by carriers like United Airlines and American Airlines as well as for business people and others who are not taking a non-stop flight. There may be hidden price increases that travelers are not even aware of, yet may be in violation of the contracts agreed to at the time of purchase.

If you have taken a trip with flights with multiple stops and were charged additional traveling fees, you may have legal options available to you. Consumer fraud lawyers are reviewing potential cases of airline customers who booked flights with connecting cities online. If so, fill out the free case review form at the Airline Fees, Connecting City Charges, Class Action Lawsuit Investigation today. Start now and learn whether or not you can pursue damages regarding these potentially illegal practices.