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A former United Airlines “Million Miler” has filed a class action lawsuit against the airline, claiming it “immorally” took away his benefits in the Million Mile club when it merged with Continental Airlines in 2010.
George Lagen says he felt betrayed by United and alleges in the class action lawsuit that it breached its contract to club members by changing the benefits they receive. Until the merger, United had boasted one of the most lucrative reward programs – the Million Milers club – for members of United’s frequent flyer program who flew more than a million miles.
“In exchange for Million Miler customers’ purchase of tickets, United provided them with certain lifetime benefits…. However, with a swift stroke of a pen, United fleeced its most loyal customers – the Million Milers – out of their bargained-for benefits,” Lagen says in the class action lawsuit (emphasis in original complaint).
Lagen says his Million Miler “lifetime” benefits were gutted after the merger in a breach of United’s contractual agreements. Million Milers used to have a lifetime “premier executive” flying status (first-class for life), but were bumped down to gold status after the merger.
“The result is a severe cut in benefits, including fewer bonus miles for flights, a reduced chance of upgrade, and lower priorities in boarding and seating assignments,” the class action lawsuit says. Other lost benefits include no longer getting the promised two regional upgrades per year, and a reduction from a 100% bonus on miles to only 50%.
“[Lagen] has been a loyal United Airlines customer for years and, based upon the terms of the Mileage Plus Program, has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in purchasing airline tickets for United flights. He, like thousands of others, did so on the belief that his loyalty and massive expenditures would result in United standing by its pledge to award him with the promised lifetime benefits as a Million Miler,” the United Million Miler class action lawsuit states. “Unfortunately, Mr. Lagen, like thousands of others, has seen his bargained for benefits unlawfully stripped away.”
These are the exact same sentiments as Top Class Actions reader Chris, a Million Miler who told us he just hit one million miles in January – right before United inserted a new “level” of status that allows people to get upgrades before he does, “just by flying a few extra miles a year,” he says.
“Part of the criteria that determines upgrades are things like elite status, fare, and then other much smaller criteria like overall lifetime miles flown, when you booked your ticket, etc. But now there is a level that trumps these other factors,” Chris says. “Also, the loss of the bonus miles is rather sad. Million Milers would get lifetime Premier Exec status, which was the 60K level, for life. Now it’s the second-lowest out of five levels!”
The United Million Milers class action lawsuit is brought on behalf of all people like Chris who were members of the Million Miler Program under United Airlines Mileage Plus frequent flyer program prior to the merger of United and Continental on October 1, 2010. It is seeking compensatory damages for breach of contract, breach of good faith and fair dealing, unjust enrichment, and more.A copy of the United Airlines Million Milers Class Action Lawsuit can be read here.
The case is George Lagen v. United Continental Holdings, Inc. and United Airlines, Inc., U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division.
UPDATE: A federal judge dismissed the United Million Miler Class Action Lawsuit on Jan. 21, 2014, citing insufficient evidence that United breached its contract with program members.
All class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Lawsuit News section of Top Class Actions
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13 thoughts onUnited Airlines “Million Miler” Class Action Lawsuit
I never made the million club but over 30,000 and then they erased it all. I tried many times to fly out of Las vegas, but could not make connections, they robbed me and Continental, over 8,000 miles first class flying. all gone, and now nothing.
I just made two million miles with UA. What a letdown to lose the Red Carpet (Sorry, “United Club now) for life benefit also. I m stuck in the new 75K for life category instead of the 1K for life. I will be 60 in a few months. I became a member at the very start. Almost 30 years now. I value the upgrades as I have had a few surgeries and quite frankly, don’t do that well in “the back” on long flights. The 1K level used to be something that was earned. Now, the privledges can be bought. What’s next? I can hardly wait. Thanks for the memories United. Wish I could impose a “flight change penalty” as easy as you guys did. Tom in California
I am a United Million Mile member gained prior to the merger with Continental. I feel my loyalty of 20+ years flying with United to achieve lifetime benefits has been wasted if commitments can be thrown away by the stroke of a corporate pen. My experience with United has always been positive, especially when dealing with problems caused by the airline. I hope they will eventually see this issue as a smack in the face for a special group of people that have helped grow their business to what it is today and reconsider this change for Million Mile fliers. Count me in.