Western Airlines Settles Suit Over Discount Tickets

As many as 265,000 travelers who bought discount fares on the former Western Airlines are eligible to receive credit for up to 7,000 frequent-flier miles under a settlement approved in a Chicago court.

Judge Albert Green of Cook County Circuit Court on Thursday approved the settlement of a class-action lawsuit filed three years ago against Western, which has since been acquired by Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines.

The lawsuit alleged that Western overcharged customers when it levied cancellation or alteration fees ranging from 25% to 50% of the ticket price.

No Wrongdoing Admitted

Lawyers Alvin W. Block and Russell C. Green, representing the plaintiffs, said Western added transportation taxes onto the basic fare price before computing the penalties instead of levying the penalties only against the fare price.

Under the ruling, people eligible to receive the frequent-flier credits are those who changed or canceled the discount tickets on Western flights between Jan. 1, 1985, and April 1, 1987.

As part of the settlement, which carries a maximum cost to Delta of $100,000, the airline admitted no wrongdoing but agreed to give affected travelers their choice of a $4.80 refund, 3,000 more miles on a Delta frequent-flier account at any time, or 7,000 additional miles if the traveler uses them by Dec. 31.

Claim forms are available from Delta, many travel agents and airports, as well as from the lawyers representing the plaintiffs.