If you bought a domestic airline ticket from American, Delta, Southwest, United, Continental, or US Airways between July 1, 2011 and June 14, 2018, you may be eligible for a payment from the domestic airline travel antitrust settlement, a $60 million fund built from deals with Southwest and American. No claims process has opened yet. The money is sitting in escrow while the same lawsuit continues against Delta and United, and a distribution plan will not be set until that half of the case ends.1DomesticAirClass.com. Domestic Airline Travel Antitrust Litigation Official Site
Who Qualifies as a Class Member
The class covers anyone other than government entities who purchased a ticket from American, Delta, Southwest, United, Continental, or US Airways for travel within the United States, its territories, or the District of Columbia between July 1, 2011 and June 14, 2018.2Origin Settlement. Domestic Airlines Settlement3FRS Consulting. Domestic Airlines Summary
One wrinkle: the Southwest-specific settlement uses an earlier end date of December 20, 2017.3FRS Consulting. Domestic Airlines Summary Purchases after that date but before June 14, 2018 still fall within the broader class period tied to the other carriers.
When You Can File a Claim
You cannot file yet. The official settlement site states that a distribution plan will be prepared only after the litigation against Delta and United reaches a resolution, whether through additional settlements, dismissal, or trial.4DomesticAirClass.com FAQ. Frequently Asked Questions When the claims process does open, class members will need to submit a valid claim form.
Both existing settlements (Southwest for $15 million and American for $45 million) received final approval from Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in May 2019, after a fairness hearing on March 22, 2019.5Block Leviton. Domestic Airline Travel Antitrust Litigation6FindLaw. In re Domestic Airline Travel Antitrust Litigation, D.C. Circuit The funds have been held ever since.
How to Stay Informed
The official case website offers a registration form so class members can be notified when claims open. The settlement administrator can also be reached at 1-866-459-3634, by email at info@DomesticAirClass.com, or by mail at Domestic Air Settlements, P.O. Box 44, Minneapolis, MN 55440-0044.4DomesticAirClass.com FAQ. Frequently Asked Questions
What the Lawsuit Alleges
The consolidated case, MDL No. 2656 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, was filed in 2015. It accuses the four largest domestic carriers of what industry observers call “capacity discipline”: an alleged agreement, in violation of the Sherman Act, to hold back on adding flights and seats so that reduced supply would push ticket prices above competitive levels.7Hausfeld. Hausfeld Wins Significant Victory on Behalf of Class of Domestic Airline Ticket Purchasers
In October 2016, Judge Kollar-Kotelly denied the airlines’ motion to dismiss, finding that plaintiffs had shown “a pattern of parallel behavior” and identified factors that “exclude the possibility that defendants acted independently.”7Hausfeld. Hausfeld Wins Significant Victory on Behalf of Class of Domestic Airline Ticket Purchasers Southwest and American settled without admitting wrongdoing.
Where the Case Against Delta and United Stands
Delta Air Lines and United Airlines continue to contest the case. On September 5, 2023, Judge Kollar-Kotelly denied both airlines’ motions for summary judgment, keeping the case on track for potential trial.1DomesticAirClass.com. Domestic Airline Travel Antitrust Litigation Official Site7Hausfeld. Hausfeld Wins Significant Victory on Behalf of Class of Domestic Airline Ticket Purchasers Delta and United then sought permission to take an interlocutory appeal of that ruling; a decision on that request has not been reported. Fact discovery closed in July 2019, and the case has moved into expert discovery.5Block Leviton. Domestic Airline Travel Antitrust Litigation
Until this half resolves, the escrow account stays closed.
What Individual Payouts Might Look Like
Set expectations modestly. Objectors to the settlements have pointed out that the $60 million works out to less than five cents per flight over the class period. Class counsel may also request attorney fees of up to 30 percent of the settlement fund, not counting litigation expenses.8Hamilton Lincoln Law Institute. Domestic Airline Travel Antitrust Litigation
The FAQ published by the settlement administrator also warns that if direct cash payments to the class turn out to be impractical, the court may direct remaining funds to charities, government entities, or other approved recipients under a cy pres distribution, though no such plan has been proposed.4DomesticAirClass.com FAQ. Frequently Asked Questions Whether class members receive checks, and how large those checks will be, will depend on the distribution plan the court ultimately approves once the case against Delta and United ends.