Spirit Airlines $8.25M Settlement for Carry-On Bag Fees

TL;DR

Who Benefits?: Individuals who made a reservation for a Spirit Airlines flight through Expedia, Kiwi, CheapOair, CheapTickets, Travelocity, or Bookit, between August 31st, 2011, and May 3rd, 2017, and paid a fee for a carry-on bag, and that flight was their first Spirit flight after August 1st, 2010.

How much can I get?: Eligible claimants may receive up to 75% of the carry-on bag fee they paid, subject to the number of claims and court-approved deductions.

Important Dates

• Deadline to File a Claim: January 10, 2024
• Final Approval Hearing: December 11, 2023 at 6:30 a.m. PST

Who Are the Class Members?

Class members include those who booked a Spirit Airlines flight through Expedia, Kiwi, CheapOair, CheapTickets, Travelocity, or Bookit between August 31, 2011, and May 3, 2017, paid a carry-on bag fee, and that flight was their first flight on Spirit after August 1, 2010. However, these individuals must have been a resident of the United States or a U.S. Territory at the time of booking.

There are no exclusions mentioned for class members aside from the requirement that the flight booked during the specified period must have been the first flight on Spirit after August 1, 2010.

What Awards Can Class Members Claim?

Eligible class members can claim a cash payment from the settlement. The payment amount is up to 75% of the carry-on bag fee paid. However, the actual amount will depend on the number of valid claims submitted and court-approved deductions for attorneys' fees, expenses, and service awards.

• Maximum Potential Award: Up to 75% of the carry-on bag fee paid.

The Subject of the Settlement

The settlement addresses claims that Spirit Airlines breached a contract when passengers were required to pay an additional fee for carry-on bags after booking flights through certain online travel agencies, despite the original flight price purportedly including carry-on privileges.

Is Proof Required to Claim the Reward?

Claimants will need to submit a Claim Form with all requested information and a signature to be eligible for a payment.

How to Claim Your Award

To claim your award, submit a Claim Form either online at the official settlement website or by mail postmarked by January 10, 2024. The Claim Form must be completed in full and signed.

Analysis of the Settlement Amount

Spirit Airlines has agreed to pay up to $8.25 million to settle the claims. The final amount each claimant will receive depends on the total number of claims and the court-approved deductions for legal costs.

Why Is There a Class Action Settlement?

The settlement resolves a lawsuit alleging that Spirit Airlines breached its contract by charging passengers for carry-on bags after flights were booked through specific online travel agencies. The settlement avoids further litigation and compensates affected passengers. The next steps of this process include the final approval hearing scheduled for December 11, 2023, where the court will decide whether to approve the settlement.