Spirit sued over ‘usage’ fees
USA Today and McClatchy Newspapers report today that Spirit Airlines is being sued by a passenger over "usage" fees.
A passenger/plaintiff has started a class action suit against the airline with law firm Podhurst Orseck, saying the fees have no value. They also say that the airline presents the fee as if it is government-required, when it isn’t. The suit is calling the fee "fraudulent, deceptive and unconscionable."
McClatchy Newspapers says the suit says that "Spirit misleads consumers to believe that the (fee) is an official government tax or fee when, in reality, the fee is nothing more than additional airfare because Spirit does not provide any bona fide service in exchange…"
The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports that Spirit Airlines, which dismisses the allegations of fraudulent activity, says the fee is collected for tickets sold through its primary sales distribution channels, such as its website, to cover transaction costs and other third-party expenses.
USA Today reports that the fee can be avoided by buying tickets at the airport counter. They also say that Spirit will have to prove that they are not deliberately deceiving the buying public into believing the fee is a mandated government tax.
Gretchen Kelly
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