Lufthansa faces proposed class action over alleged baggage fee overcharges

A Vancouver law firm has filed a proposed class proceeding in Federal Court accusing Lufthansa of overcharging checked-baggage fees on flights between Canada or the U.S. and Europe. The case could affect tens of thousands of travelers who allegedly paid more than Lufthansa’s published tariff.

Why it matters: - The proposed class action could put Lufthansa’s baggage pricing practices under legal scrutiny in Canada. - Travelers on transatlantic routes may have been charged more than the rate Lufthansa allegedly published in its own tariff. - The plaintiff is seeking damages, punitive damages, legal costs and an injunction, which could raise the financial and operational stakes for the airline.

What happened: - Evolink Law Group filed a proposed class proceeding in the Federal Court against Deutsche Lufthansa Aktiengesellschaft. - The claim alleges Lufthansa systematically charged checked-baggage fees for travel between Canada or the United States and Europe that exceeded the prices in Lufthansa’s published tariff. - The filing says the airline breached its contract of carriage and section 54 of Canada’s Competition Act. - The plaintiff is seeking compensation for the price difference, investigation costs, legal fees on a full-indemnity basis, punitive damages and an injunction to stop further alleged breaches.

The details: - The statement of claim says Lufthansa’s tariff sets the first checked bag at CAD $70 for travel between Canada and Europe. - The plaintiff says he was charged CAD $75 on his outbound flight. - The plaintiff says he was charged about HUF 16,400, or roughly CAD $76, on the return leg. - The claim says Lufthansa’s baggage fee calculator shows CAD $75, which allegedly conflicts with the tariff rate of CAD $70. - The proposed class covers people who, on or after January 10, 2020, traveled on Lufthansa-marketed itineraries between Canada or the United States and Europe and paid checked-baggage fees above the tariff rate. - The plaintiff estimates the class could include tens of thousands of passengers. - More information is available on the dedicated case website.

Between the lines: - The case centers on a basic consumer issue: whether Lufthansa charged the amount it said it would charge. - If the tariff language and booking tools did not match the fees collected, the dispute could extend beyond one passenger to a broader group of cross-border travelers. - The Competition Act claim suggests the case is not only about contract terms, but also about how prices were presented to consumers.

What's next: - The Federal Court will decide whether the proposed class action can move forward. - If certified, the case could expand into a broader claims process for affected passengers. - Lufthansa may have to defend its published tariff, booking displays and baggage-fee collection practices.

The bottom line: - The lawsuit turns on a simple allegation with wide reach: Lufthansa charged more for checked bags than its own published rate on certain Canada, U.S. and Europe itineraries.