The ultra-low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines is getting sued by several passengers. The explanation is for alleged hidden baggage fees. The category-action lawsuit was filed in the USA District Court in Middle Florida. The plaintiffs say Frontier’s alleged actions violate Florida’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act and Consumer Protections Act and subsequently are considered fraud.
A category-action lawsuit in Florida
The lawsuit claims that the Denver, Colorado-based airline markets itself because the carrier with the bottom baggage fees yet still adds hidden fees for baggage-related reasons. The lawsuit also claims that the eventual baggage-related fees find yourself being much like other airlines.
Photo: Don Mammoser | Shutterstock
The plaintiff is suing for a refund of all baggage fees and an extra $100 million in punitive damages for themself and the others which can be included within the class-action lawsuit. The plaintiff claims that that is allegedly misleading promoting resulting from the prices being similar in the long run. The suit alleges,
“Frontier makes up whatever discount it purports to provide consumers in fraudulent and unwarranted charges.”
The suit alleges that using the Frontier Airlines baggage fee system, a carry-on piece of baggage can cost as much as 4 times as much as a checked piece of bags. It also claims that the staff at Frontier Airlines’ front desks earn bonuses for charging passengers additional baggage fees. The bonuses allegedly are given when the passengers are charged fees on the gate.
The lawsuit also states that although Frontier Airlines allows passengers to bring one free personal item on the plane, the actual allowed size is smaller than the advertised size. Which means that the device used to measure personal items on the gate is smaller than the scale advertised when purchasing tickets.
Photo: Frontier Airlines
Moreover, the suit alleges that Frontier Airlines also doesn’t disclose that there’s a fee for oversize bags and subsequently doesn’t disclose what the fee is. This is particularly noticed when flights are booked through vendors or other third parties.
Lawsuit within the wake of rapid expansion
This lawsuit comes in the course of Frontier Airlines’ rapidly expanding its route capability. The airline recently launched latest routes from San Francisco International Airport (SFO). These latest routes fly from San Francisco to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE). The routes directly compete with Delta Air Lines and United Airlines flights but will offer a brand new lower-cost option. The Frontier Airlines Senior Vice President of Industrial, Daniel Shurz, spoke on the expansion, saying,
“We’re proud to rejoice latest service from SFO to those exciting Midwestern destinations. Inexpensive travel options have arrived for those in San Francisco because of Frontier’s ‘Low Fares Done Right.”
The airline also launched latest flights from Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). The route, which was launched on June sixteenth, is flown 4 times every week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The airline, which can use an Airbus A320neo, will carry almost 750 passengers every week to Raleigh. Shurz commented on this route as well, saying,
“Our growth at Chicago Midway continues, and we couldn’t be more excited. Chicagoans now have a straightforward and reasonably priced option to reach Raleigh-Durham via Frontier’s ‘Low Fares Done Right.'”