Nowadays it’s pretty clear that you get what you pay for with Spirit Airlines. The low-cost carrier’s fares are attractive to budget travelers but only if you aren’t looking for conveniences like the ability to bring a bag on board or choose your seat.
As anyone who has flown on Spirit knows, those options come with fees that may not make that cheap ticket all that worth it.
Carry-on bag fees, in particular, made Spirit Airlines the target of a class action lawsuit. Years later, part of the settlement agreement for this lawsuit requires Spirit to pay up to $8.25 million back to certain customers for carry-on baggage fees.
Although the settlement is pending final court approval, eligible customers who flew with Spirit between 2011 and 2017 can submit claims online now through early January to get their portion of the settlement.
Pro tip: To avoid checked baggage fees in the first place, consider a card that offers an airline incidentals credit.
Spirit Airlines Class Action Lawsuit
This settlement stems from a lawsuit filed against Spirit Airlines in August 2017.
The plaintiffs argued that when booking a Spirit fare through an online travel agency, they entered into a contract with the airline and that the price they paid included the ability to bring a carry-on bag on the plane. They accused Spirit of breaching this contract when these customers were eventually required to pay a fee to bring their bags onboard.
Just under six years later, in July 2023, the parties reached a settlement requiring Spirit Airlines to pay up to $8.25 million back to customers who meet specific criteria and submit a claim.
The settlement has only been given preliminary approval by the court and must receive final approval before the settlement can go into effect. Nevertheless, affected customers have the ability to start submitting claims today.
Who Is Eligible for the Bag Fee Settlement?
If you meet the following criteria, you could be entitled to money as part of the settlement:
- You booked a flight on Spirit Airlines through Expedia, Kiwi, CheapOair, CheapTickets, Travelocity or Bookit between August 31, 2011 and May 3, 2017 and paid a carry-on bag fee.
- You were a resident of the United States or a U.S. territory at the time you booked your flight.
- The flight was your first flight on Spirit after August 1, 2010.
What Are the Steps Toward Receiving Your Share?
To be eligible to receive a share of the settlement, affected customers must submit an online claim form. The deadline to submit a claim is January 10, 2024, so make sure to move quickly if you believe you are eligible.
If you submit a claim form and the court does give final approval to the settlement, you can expect to receive up to 75% of the carry-on bag fee paid for your flight on Spirit during the 2011 to 2017 period. The exact percentage of the carry-on fee you receive back will depend on the amount of court approved payments for attorneys’ fees, reimbursements of expenses and service awards to the named plaintiffs, and the number of eligible claims submitted.
Find the Best Travel Credit Cards for 2024
Find the best travel credit card for your travel needs.
Bottom Line
Although this lawsuit has been years in the making, it’s a friendly reminder to keep an eye on class action lawsuits, as you never know when you may be entitled to something in return. If you fall into the group of people affected under this case, take action swiftly by filing a claim prior to January 10, 2024.
