Southwest Airlines has settled a lawsuit to the tune of an estimated $29 million — or 5.8 million unredeemed alcoholic beverages valued at $5 each, the Chicago Tribune reports.
“This settlement is a grand-slam result for the class, as consumers are recovering 100 cents on the dollar,” Joseph Siprut, the Chicago attorney who represented the class against Southwest, told the news outlet.
An Illinois man brought the class-action suit against the airline on behalf of himself and any other Southwest customer who received drink vouchers before the airline altered its policy on expiration dates. The plaintiff reportedly bought tickets through Southwest’s “Business Select” program and collected free drink coupons that did not specify a date by which they needed to be redeemed.
On Aug. 1, 2010, the airline changed its policy. The drink vouchers were now only good on the day the person was traveling, making those previously issued worthless.
According to the Tribune, it’s estimated that there are 5.8 million eligible vouchers that were never redeemed. And even if eligible passengers don’t have their vouchers anymore, the settlement still allows them to redeem new drink vouchers.
via Southwest Airlines Settles Lawsuit For 5.8 Million Drink Vouchers.
