Suit says those with most United frequent flier miles pay more for redeemed hotels and flights
Those with the most frequent flier miles in their United Airlines accounts are charged higher redemption rates for hotels and flights, contends a lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court in New Jersey.
Seeking class action status, plaintiffs Robert Gordon and Melissa Chan said they found out about the double-standard when they tried to book a three-day hotel stay for a planned trip to Japan. When Gordon found he didn’t have enough miles, the suit says, Chan called the airline minutes later and was quoted a different amount of frequent-flier miles for the same stay, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Gordon alleges that he then called the airline to complain and was told United uses algorithms to set rates for frequent fliers, resulting in higher redemption prices for those with the most miles.
A United spokesman told the newspaper “this suit is without merit both factually and legally.”
