Race discrimination claim preempted by Warsaw Convention

Sewer v. LIAT (1974) Ltd. (D. Virgin Islands Feb. 16, 2011).  The plaintiff had purchased a ticket for a LIAT flight from the British Virgin Islands to Antigua.  The flight was overbooked, so airline personnel informed the plaintiff that he would have to take a later flight.  Undeterred, the plaintiff (and the other waiting would-be … More Race discrimination claim preempted by Warsaw Convention

Third Circuit upholds summary judgment for airline in overbooking case

Kalick v. Northwest Airlines Corp. (3d Cir. (N.J.) Mar. 29, 2010).  Northwest bumped the customer from a flight from Kansas City to Philadelphia.  The customer responded by filing a lawsuit in federal district court, alleging that Northwest had violated 14 C.F.R. § 250.9 by failing to provide him compensation for the bumping and also asserting state … More Third Circuit upholds summary judgment for airline in overbooking case

DOT considering whether to increase denied boarding compensation

Way back in 1978, the CAB increased to $400 the maximum amount of compensation due from an airline that involuntarily denies a passenger boarding due to overbooking.  At the time of the increase, Jimmy Carter was president and the most popular TV show in the U.S. was “Laverne & Shirley” (followed closely by “Happy Days” and … More DOT considering whether to increase denied boarding compensation

Tardy passengers’ state common law “bumping” claims held preempted

Igwe v. Northwest Airlines, Inc. and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (S.D. Tex. Jan. 4, 2007).  Because the passengers failed to check in at the gate counter in a timely manner, KLM gave their seats to other passengers.  The passengers were “irate” and refused the airline’s offer of transportation on a later flight on a different airline … More Tardy passengers’ state common law “bumping” claims held preempted