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Air Canada, Westjet accused of bag fee collusion
Sunday, 28 Sep, 2016
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Canada’s big two carriers WestJet and Air Canada could face a possible class action lawsuit alleging collusion over baggage fees.
According to a report by CBC, the airlines ‘colluded to fix the price;’ after they each introduced fees for first checked bag within days of each other.
WestJet announced a $25 checked bag charge on September 15, which came into effect the following month.
Air Canada announced a similar fee only three days later, on September 18.
"It doesn’t seem fair and it doesn’t seem right," said Lorne Hoedel, who is acting as the lead plaintiff.
The lawsuit was filed at the Court of Queen’s Bench for Saskatchewan and is awaiting approval.
If it is granted class action status it would apply to all Canadian passengers who flew on domestic or US flights after October 29, 2014 and paid the fees.
"We think we can establish they were acting in concert," said attorney Tony Merchant.
Merchant says due to the two airlines’ dominance, they can operate ‘without any worthy competition to keep them in check.’
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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