Spirit Airlines $8.25 Million Settlement for Surprise Baggage Fees

Spirit Airlines has agreed to pay a total of $8.25 million to settle a class action lawsuit from 2017, where the company is accused of charging customers surprise carry-on bag fees on tickets purchased via third-party travel services. 

The class includes first-time Spirit fliers who booked their flights through Expedia, Travelocity, Kiwi, CheapOair, CheapTickets or BookIt between August 31, 2011 and May 3, 2017, when the lawsuit was filed. Under the terms of the settlement, eligible passengers will receive refunds of up to 75% of the fees they were charged for carry-on bags.

📰 Related: See All Settlement Rebates Here

Plaintiffs claim these fees were sometimes as much as the tickets themselves. They originally sought $100 million in punitive damages, though that was dropped from a later version of the lawsuit.

The settlement also mandates that a websites shall be created to allow for potential Class Members to submit Claim Forms and, optionally, banking information to facilitate electronic payment.