Travel lawsuits in 2026 span hidden insurance fees, hotel “junk fee” practices, COVID-era flight refunds, timeshare exit scams, airline antitrust claims, and a federal immigrant visa freeze affecting 75 countries. Some have open or pending payouts; others have closed but shape what airlines, hotels, and booking sites are now required to disclose. Here’s where each case stands and who it covers.
Travel Guard Hidden Fee Class Action
The largest recent consumer travel case is Miller et al. v. Travel Guard Group, Inc. et al., filed in the Northern District of California (Case No. 21-cv-09751-TLT). Plaintiffs alleged that Travel Guard Group, AIG Travel, American International Group, and National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh tacked a hidden “Assistance Fee” onto regulated insurance premiums, charging a single bundled price for travel insurance plans. The claims included unfair business conduct, false advertising, fraud, and violations of Washington’s Consumer Protection Act.1CaseMine. Miller v. Travel Guard Group, Inc.
Who Is Covered
The class covers anyone who bought a qualifying Travel Guard plan between December 17, 2017, and January 18, 2024, was charged a bundled price that included an Assistance Fee, and had a billing address in California or Washington. Many plans were sold through Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, and United Airlines, but plans bought through other channels can also qualify.2ClaimDepot. Travel Guard Insurance Hidden Fees Settlement Consumers who already received a full refund for a plan are excluded.3Travel Fee Settlement. Frequently Asked Questions
Settlement Amount and Status
The settlement fund is $23,997,500. After notice and administration costs, taxes, and attorney fees (class counsel requested up to 30% of the fund), the Net Settlement Fund is paid out as cash to class members who filed valid claims, in proportion to the Assistance Fees each paid according to Travel Guard’s records. Class representatives each requested $5,000 service awards, and any residual goes to the cy pres recipient, Travelers Aid International.3Travel Fee Settlement. Frequently Asked Questions1CaseMine. Miller v. Travel Guard Group, Inc.
The federal court granted final approval on December 9, 2024. An objector then filed a notice of appeal, so the settlement is not yet effective and no cash has been distributed. The settlement administrator will post updates once the appeal resolves.4Travel Fee Settlement. Travel Fee Settlement Home Questions can be directed to 1-888-255-2501 or 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103.5Travel Fee Settlement. Contact Us
Texas Booking.com Junk Fee Settlement
In August 2025, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a $9.5 million settlement with Booking Holdings, parent of Booking.com, Priceline.com, and Kayak.com. The state alleged the company advertised artificially low hotel rates, then bundled mandatory fees with government taxes under a single “Taxes and Fees” line that only surfaced at checkout.6Texas Attorney General. Attorney General Ken Paxton Secures Historic $9.5 Million Settlement With Booking
Under the terms, Booking Holdings must display all hotel fees upfront so travelers can compare prices accurately. The company did not admit wrongdoing and said it settled to avoid prolonged litigation. Paxton called it the largest amount any state has recovered from a hotel or online travel agency over junk fee practices and said he had reached similar transparency agreements with Marriott, Omni, Choice Hotels, and Hilton.7Business Travel News. Booking Holdings Agrees to $9.5M Settlement in Texas Junk Fees Lawsuit This settlement is a state enforcement action rather than a consumer payout, so there is no claim form; the benefit is price transparency going forward.
Delta COVID Refund Settlement
In Dusko v. Delta Air Lines, Inc. (Case No. 1:20-cv-01664-ELR, Northern District of Georgia), passengers alleged Delta issued future travel credits instead of cash refunds for flights canceled between March 1, 2020, and April 20, 2021.8Tycko & Zavareei LLP. $27 Million Delta COVID-19 Refunds Class Action Settlement
The approximately $27.3 million settlement received final approval, with more than 14,000 customers submitting claims by the September 15, 2023 deadline. Eligible class members received cash or credits equal to their ticket cost plus 7% interest. Delta paid $2,285,000 in attorney fees and up to $80,000 in costs separately, so claims paid at full value.9CNN. Delta COVID Flight Cancellation Settlement10Tycko & Zavareei LLP. $27.3 Million Delta Airlines COVID-19 Refunds Class Action Settlement Delta did not admit wrongdoing and said it had already paid over $3 billion in refunds during the pandemic. The claim window has closed; the case is now a reference point for other airline refund disputes rather than an open opportunity.
Missouri Timeshare Exit Fraud Case
The Missouri Attorney General’s Office obtained a consent judgment against Vacation Consulting Services, VCS Communications, The Transfer Group, Real Travel, and owner Brian Scroggs. The state filed suit in July 2020, alleging the companies collected fees from consumers and then failed to release them from timeshare agreements as promised, in violation of the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act.11Missouri Attorney General. Attorney General Bailey Obtains Consent Judgment in Timeshare Exit Case
The defendants agreed to pay $800,000: $700,000 in consumer restitution, $50,000 in civil penalties, and $50,000 to the Missouri Merchandising Practices Revolving Fund. The judgment permanently bars Scroggs and the companies from marketing or selling timeshare exit services in Missouri. The defendants denied wrongdoing and said they settled to avoid litigation costs.12KSMU. Missouri Attorney General Announces $800,000 Settlement With Springfield Area Timeshare Exit Companies Scroggs then filed for bankruptcy, and the Attorney General’s Office is pursuing recovery through bankruptcy court.11Missouri Attorney General. Attorney General Bailey Obtains Consent Judgment in Timeshare Exit Case
Lawsuits Over the 75-Country Immigrant Visa Pause
On January 21, 2026, the State Department suspended immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, citing “public charge” screening. Several federal lawsuits followed.
CLINIC v. Rubio (Case No. 1:26-cv-00858) was filed in the Southern District of New York by the National Immigration Law Center, Democracy Forward, The Legal Aid Society, and 11 individual plaintiffs including U.S. citizens separated from relatives. The complaint argues the pause was imposed without proper rulemaking, violates the Immigration and Nationality Act’s requirement for individualized adjudication, and discriminates based on race or national origin.13National Immigration Law Center. Questions and Answers About the 75-Country Visa Ban Lawsuit A federal judge vacated USCIS’s pause on immigration applications for nationals from the affected countries.14Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm. Monthly News Roundup: Lawsuit Challenges Immigrant Visa Freeze Affecting 75 Countries
Storie v. Trump (Case No. 1:26-cv-00567) was filed on February 19, 2026, in the District of Columbia by Red Eagle Law on behalf of more than 130 plaintiffs, including U.S. citizens petitioning for family members and foreign nationals seeking employment-based green cards. The complaint raises Administrative Procedure Act and separation-of-powers claims.15Bloomberg Law. Lawsuits Mount Over Trump Green Card Freeze for 75 Countries Red Eagle Law announced plans to file a separate putative class action on July 10, 2026, with motions for a preliminary injunction and class certification to follow.16Red Eagle Law. 75-Country Pause Lawsuit
US Airways v. Sabre: Travel Platform Antitrust
US Airways, Inc. v. Sabre Holdings Corp. (938 F.3d 43, 2d Cir. 2019) is the leading antitrust case over travel distribution systems. US Airways sued Sabre, which connects airlines with travel agents, alleging Sherman Act violations. A 2016 jury awarded $5 million, trebled to about $15 million under antitrust law.17Hausfeld. US Airways $15 Million Antitrust Verdict Is Remanded by Second Circuit
The Second Circuit vacated the verdict in 2019, holding that Sabre’s distribution system is a two-sided transaction platform as a matter of law under Ohio v. American Express. The court sent the Section 1 claims back for retrial and reinstated US Airways’ Section 2 monopolization claims, which the trial court had dismissed.18CaseMine. US Airways v. Sabre Holdings, Two-Sided Platforms Analysis
DOT Airline Fee Transparency Rules
Alongside private litigation, the U.S. Department of Transportation finalized rules in April 2024 requiring airlines and ticket agents to disclose baggage, change, and cancellation fees upfront, clearly, and conspicuously. The DOT projected annual consumer savings of over $500 million. Under Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the DOT issued more than $164 million in penalties against airlines for consumer protection violations, compared with less than $71 million across 1996 through 2020 combined.19U.S. Department of Transportation. Final Rule to Protect Consumers From Surprise Airline Junk Fees