Mightn't that possibly be a good thing? While I'm not in the legal profession and have no doubt that many of these lawyers are motivated by no more than visions of lots of legal fees, I nonetheless can appreciate how some of these class-actions have been an important check against abusive, overly deceptive and questionable corporate marketing practices.

To hear right-wingers tell it, all the litigation is frivolous and motivated by greed, which trial lawyers have in abundance but corporations somehow lack. Get rid of the lawsuits and the benevolent CEOs will pass on savings to consumers (rather than pad their own compensation!)

Bottom line: There's a balance of power here. While both sides have their bad actors, as a consumer it's my hope that they both box so hard they knock each other out. Class-actions are the only effective legal remedy when large numbers of people get cheated out of small amounts of money. Past cases and their deterrent effect are important protections for consumers from future abuses, even when the mechanism for distributing settlement dollars is faulty.

[This message has been edited by RustyC (edited 04-19-2003).]

I called United last night, and they STILL don't know what to do about this. And the confirmed dates for the fee "holiday" are June 1 through September 30, 2003. (I checked the Conference Report, as printed in the Congressional Record on April 12. The president signed the bill into law on April 16, but the Public Law printing is not available yet.)

When I spoke with United, the guy suggested that the holiday might apply to tickets ISSUED during that period, rather than flights taken then. I can't believe that, but obviously United has no idea what the rules are yet. Has anyone spoken with any other airline about this?

Bruce

This morning, United confirmed that the "9/11 security fee" will not be collected on tickets issued for flights during the period June 1 through September 30, 2003. Procedures should be in place later today. (This is good for me, because tomorrow I have to ticket three award itineraries for flights in July.)

United did not know yet whether travelers with tickets already issued for flights during that period can get the fee refunded. (I have two of those.) I assume the answer will be yes.

Bruce

Yes, I am fresh off the phone with a supervisor at US who disclaimed any knowledge of the security-fee holiday. She tells me that I will not get my $5 back.

I won't go to great lengths over $5, but I did promise to email her an article explaining the holiday, so if anyone has anything I can send, please post or email privately.

Interestingly, my sister used her own UA miles for an award ticket on the same flights. I wonder if she would have better luck contacting UA for her refund.

I have three awards during that period. I will definitely be asking for the "security" fees that were extorted from me.

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"Give me Liberty or give me Death." - Patrick Henry

You can refer to the Congressional Record, House of Representatives, April 12, 2003, page H3369. The introductory language to Title IV of the Conference Agreement describes the fee holiday. This is available on-line, but the link is difficult to reproduce.

Bruce

Hmmm, wrong link. Will keep looking.

[This message has been edited by SMessier (edited 04-21-2003).]

could someone please post a link to this new law
Thanks

I cannot imagine anyone at Delta Air Lines, who would answer the phone when you call this morning, knowing about Bush's signing, much less knowing how the company will proceed in response. The folks on the phones will have to wait for the middle management people to hustle around and fine tune their phraseology, then a flurry of paper will be passed around telling the Res people what to say and how to reply. I'd bet there has been *no* preparation for the agents to be prepared today to answer questions, nor that this issue was even forthcoming. It's always catch-up-ball at DAL.

Actually, not. Congress is the entity that decided the new security fee would apply to award travel, even though all other domestic taxes and fees (including the optional airport PFC) do not.

OK, here's the relevant page in the Congressional Record.

Also, I heard from United today by e-mail. They acknowledge the change in law but haven't decided if the holiday applies to tickets purchased or flights taken during that period. The airline trade association is seeking clarification from the government. A very good answer!

Bruce

Here is another link to the legislation.

http://frwebgate3.access.gpo.gov/cgi...ction=retrieve

As far as the detterent effect you might be correct but the criticism of the lawyers involved in these class actions is warranted. The only one profiting from these class action suits are the lawyers not the consumers. Have you saved any money with the $10 coupon from the enrge charge settlement? They aren't valid on most rates. It's a bigger scam than the original surcharge was. The lawyers don't care they got their cut.

I continue to buy tickets for the period June 1 through September 30, 2003, with the "9/11 security fee" included in the price. The general thinking at United right now is that the language in the legislation (see above link) applies to tickets purchased during that period, NOT flights taken then. The airline trade association continues to seek clarification of this important point from the government.

Bruce

The word I got when calling NWA is that this applies to tickets BOUGHT during the June 1 ~ Sept 30 time frame.