BA Passenger Who Paid Fuel Surcharges Win Class-Action Settlement
Jeff Edwards June 04, 2018
British Airways Executive Club Members from the U.S. who used Avios frequent flyer miles to purchase airline tickets may be entitled to a cash refund or as many as 35,000 Avios miles as part of a class-action settlement over dubious fuel surcharge fees tacked on to reward travel.
British Airways acted quickly to settle a class-action lawsuit claiming that some U.S-based passengers may have paid fuel surcharges on rewards travel booked through the airline’s Executive Club frequent flyer program. While BA disputes the contention that the fuel surcharges were inappropriately collected from air travelers in the U.S, the company agreed this week to provide partial reimbursement for thousands of passengers.
The settlement includes “all United States resident Executive Club Members who redeemed frequent flyer miles (“Avios”) for an award ticket from November 9, 2006 through April 17, 2013 and who paid a BA-imposed fuel surcharge.” According to the terms of the deal, travelers affected by the agreement will have between 12,500 and 35,000 Avios automatically credited to their Executive Club accounts. Passengers have the option of choosing a cash payment equivalent to 16.9 percent of the fuel charges paid on reward travel instead of being reimbursed in frequent flyer miles.
Those passengers included in the settlement should have already received notice from British Airways that they may be owed compensation. A unique code on the official notification will provide the exact Avios or dollar amount passengers are entitled to when entered. Passengers wishing to opt out of the settlement or who did not receive notice from the airline, but believe they should have been a party to the settlement can get more information by emailing [email protected]. Affected Executive Club members who do nothing will simply see the agreed upon reimbursement appear as Avios in their accounts.
According to the preliminary settlement agreement, the deal will automatically include thousands of individual British Airways travelers. Under the terms of the settlement, British Airways will pay out as much $30 million or 2 billion in Avios frequent flyer miles.
[Photo: Shutterstock]
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BAs absurd charges are an insult to all frequent fliers. I have tons of AA miles, but they are virtually worthless for travel to Europe, because nearly all award seats are on BA flights. If you can find that rare AA flight, the fees on a one-way award are about $6, but if it is a BA flight, you can add two zeros to the fee! This is particularly true if you are trying to fly biz. For economy seats, I have seen many cases where the BA fees actually exceed the cost of a cash ticket. So, what are the points for?
Planes can't fly without fuel. Fuel should be included in the price. That means a FREE flight should not have a charge for fuel. This does need to be addressed in a suit against AA as many people have had to pay these BA (and others) fuel charges on "free" AA flight awards
Good point on the contract issue, but I think the legal team who led the BA inquiry should now examine the joint partnership that AA and others have in place with BA as I too have been charged numerous times on Fuel Charges that BA imposes on any AA redemption.
This was a breach of contract issue with BAs t&c for EC. AA has a wholly separate program and of course contract.
This lawsuit was against BA. I suggest contacting the attorneys for a possible AA lawsuit