Airline Price Fixing Lawsuit
Last Updated on May 1, 2020
Investigation Complete
Attorneys working with ClassAction.org have finished their investigation into this matter.
Check back for any potential updates. The information on this page is for reference only.
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Case Update
May 10, 2019 – Southwest Airlines, American Airlines Settlements Granted Final Approval
United States District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly has given final approval to settlements between consumers and Southwest and American Airlines. Southwest and American depart the ongoing domestic airline travel antitrust litigation—which continues to roll on against Delta and United Airlines—with settlements of $15 million and $45 million, respectively, as well as a commitment to continued cooperation with attorneys.
Head over to our blog for more. Visit the official settlement website here.
Case Update
Important Information - March 11, 2019
A settlement has been reached. Check out our blog or the settlement site for all the information you need.
At A Glance
- This Alert Affects
- Anyone who bought tickets directly from Delta, United, Southwest or American Airlines since July 2, 2011.
- What's Going On?
- Several class action lawsuits have been filed accusing the airlines of working together to keep airfares high.
- Type of Lawsuit
- Class action
Case Update
Important Information - August 31, 2015
Thanks to everyone who helped with this investigation! At this point, the attorneys we work with have talked to enough people to move forward with their lawsuits.
Dozens of cases have been filed against United, Delta, Southwest and American Airlines and they continue to move forward. We will keep this page updated as the litigation progresses, but at this point, do not need to hear from any more people who purchased the airline tickets.
Please note that you do not need to do anything to "join" this lawsuit. You will only need to take action when and if the case settles. Should that happen, you may receive a notice in the mail instructing you on how you can claim a portion of the settlement. A good way to keep up to date with settlements is to follow us on Facebook and Twitter and to sign up for our newsletter.
Our full list of active lawsuits and investigations can be found here.
Delta, United, Southwest and American Airlines have been hit with class action lawsuits alleging they worked together to limit available seats in order to keep airfare prices high. The suits were filed just hours after the U.S. Department of Justice announced it was investigating several airlines for possible collusion. Virtually anyone who bought tickets directly from Delta, United, Southwest and American Airlines in the past four years may be able to get their money back through these lawsuits.
What Do the Lawsuits Say the Airlines Did Wrong?
The lawsuits claim that Delta, Southwest, United and American Airlines conspired to fix ticket prices by limiting flight capacity. According to the suits, the companies coordinated how many flights they offered, which routes they offered and how many seats were available, ultimately leading to fewer flights and higher fares. With the cost of fuel plummeting, the price of airfare should be getting cheaper, not more expensive. One lawsuit claims, however, that consumers are paying, on average, $391 for domestic flights – the highest price in over a decade.
The lawsuits also express concern that the structure of the airline industry is facilitating the anti-competitive business practices. Delta, Southwest and American Airlines control 80% of the market, which means it’s easier for them to cooperate – rather than compete – on price and service. The suits accuse the companies of violating a federal anti-monopoly law known as The Sherman Act, which prohibits business activities that restrict competition in the marketplace.
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