Over 200,000 get refunds in BA/Virgin price-fixing case
Compensation is being paid to 170,000 UK passengers over the British Airways and Virgin Atlantic price-fixing cartel.
According to law firm Hausfeld & Co. LLP, which is handling the case, over 211,000 refunds in total have been processed for customers on both sides of the Atlantic.
Payment has been authorised in 133,000 of these cases.
Hausfeld partner Anthony Maton told the Dow Jones News this is the biggest take-up by UK consumers in a group action of this kind.
He said it sets a precedent for future consumer rights cases.
Hausfeld has negotiated a £73.5 million settlement with both airlines to compensate consumers overcharged for fuel surcharges on long-haul flights purchased between August 2004 and March 2006.
Refunds are between about £2 and £10 for each flight, equating to one-third of the surcharge.
Passengers have until December 31 2010 to claim their refunds.
“Unless significant numbers of claims are made between now and then, big companies like BA and Virgin will continue to believe that they can get away with ripping off their loyal customers,” said Maton.
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports