Category: Preemption – ADA

Airline not liable for customer’s travel-related misfortunes

April 14, 2016

Naqvi v. Saudi Arabian Airlines, Inc. (D.D.C. Feb. 12, 2016).  The plaintiff’s air travel originating at Washington Dulles International Airport included a connecting flight on Saudi Arabian Airlines from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to Islamabad, Pakistan.  Upon arriving at Jeddah, the plaintiff learned that the flight to Islamabad would be departing from a distant terminal, not … More Airline not liable for customer’s travel-related misfortunes

Court upholds airline’s right to deplane feisty, drunk-acting passenger

October 12, 2014

Lozada v. Delta Airlines, Inc. (S.D.N.Y. June 17, 2014).  The 69-year-old plaintiff eased the pain of a JFK-MIA flight delay by enjoying alcoholic drinks at two airport bars.  The plaintiff alleged that she boarded the aircraft without incident, but Delta disagreed.  According to airline personnel, the plaintiff appeared intoxicated and loudly demanded, in the gate … More Court upholds airline’s right to deplane feisty, drunk-acting passenger

Conditions of carriage withstand tort claims by delayed passengers

February 1, 2012

Lavine v. American Airlines, Inc. (Md. Special App. Dec. 1, 2011).  Using aa.com, the plaintiffs bought two American Airlines tickets for roundtrip transportation originating and terminating at Reagan National Airport, with an intermediate stop at Key West International Airport.  Their outbound itinerary included a connecting flight from Miami International Airport to Key West.  They received an … More Conditions of carriage withstand tort claims by delayed passengers

Airline not liable for refusing to transport customer who lacked required travel documents

March 28, 2011

Reed v. Delta Airlines, Inc. (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 23, 2011).  The plaintiff and her dog, Blondie, arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport to check in for their flight to Ghana.  Delta personnel informed the plaintiff that she lacked certain documents that Ghana required for Blondie to enter the country.  The plaintiff put Blondie in a cab to … More Airline not liable for refusing to transport customer who lacked required travel documents

Holders of airline gift cards who did not use them, lost them

February 13, 2011

Restivo v. Continental Airlines, Inc. (Ohio App. Jan. 20, 2011).  Continental sold gift cards for air transportation that were valid for one year after issuance.  Purchasers agreed in writing to the one-year validity period.  When the airline refused to honor expired cards, cardholders commenced a class action lawsuit, alleging that Continental had violated Ohio’s gift … More Holders of airline gift cards who did not use them, lost them

Court rejects parent’s contention that airline has duty during boarding to ensure compliance with child custody orders

December 12, 2010

Braden v. All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. (Cal. App. 2nd Dist. Oct. 13, 2010).  In a child custody case, the court had denied the mother’s request to move to Japan with her infant daughter and had ordered that she surrender her daughter’s passport.  Despite the order, the mother, using the passport, took the child with … More Court rejects parent’s contention that airline has duty during boarding to ensure compliance with child custody orders

Federal court slices, dices and dismisses ticket-related complaint on subject matter jurisdiction grounds

August 1, 2010

Onyiuke v. Cheap Tickets, Inc. & Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited (D.N.J. Dec. 31, 2009).  In August 2008, the plaintiff purchased a ticket, through CheapTickets.com, for roundtrip travel from Newark Liberty International Airport to Lagos, Nigeria, connecting in Gatwick Airport.  The first segment was to be on a Continental flight in mid-December 2009, and the connecting flight … More Federal court slices, dices and dismisses ticket-related complaint on subject matter jurisdiction grounds

Third Circuit upholds summary judgment for airline in overbooking case

June 6, 2010

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

Massachusetts judges part ways on scope of ADA preemption in skycap tips cases

August 16, 2009

Travers v. JetBlue Airways Corporation (D. Mass. July 23, 2009).  According to the plaintiff skycaps, JetBlue diverted tip revenue to itself by imposing a $2 fee for each bag checked by a passenger at the curbside.  The skycaps claimed that their compensation, most of which took the form of tips, had decreased substantially because few … More Massachusetts judges part ways on scope of ADA preemption in skycap tips cases

Passenger ground delay case is trimmed but survives

September 1, 2008

Ray v. American Airlines, Inc. (W.D. Ark. Aug. 22, 2008).  The passenger’s December 2007 flight on American from Oakland to Dallas was diverted to Austin due to weather conditions.  The passenger claims that she was confined to the aircraft in Austin against her will and that she endured “deplorable conditions” during the 11-hour ground delay. … More Passenger ground delay case is trimmed but survives