United Airlines threatened with lawsuit over in-flight TV
A woman plans to sue United Airlines in a $5 million class action lawsuit for deceiving passengers about the lack of in-flight TV and wi-fi access.
Cary M. David claims the airline did not disclose that access is only available during the time a plane is flying over US soil.
Davis paid $7.99 to watch in-flight DirectTV during a four-hour flight from Puerto Rico to Newark.
However, she claims it only worked for only about 10 minutes towards the end of the journey as it approached Newark.
The lawsuit claims United defrauds customers by not disclosing that DirectTV and wi-fi are not available over water or outside the continental US.
"This information (that the services do not work) is not disclosed to those who purchase DirecTV or wi-fi on board. It is not until after the purchase that the consumer learns he or she will not receive some or all of the service that has been paid for," the lawsuit said.
United filed a motion to dismiss the suit, saying it is ‘without merit both factually and legally’.
The airline says notices about wi-fi access limitations are displayed in all aircraft.
District Judge Susan D. Wigenton will rule on United’s motion to dismiss the claim on June 1.
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.
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