Looking to sue American Airlines? Small claims court is an option, and you may have others…
At FairShake we’ve helped thousands of people ripped off by big companies like American Airlines. And we’ve helped get millions of dollars in settlement offers…
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Tired of hitting dead ends when trying to get a refund from American Airlines? Feeling like there’s nowhere to turn?
You’re not alone. It seems like many people have tried all the American Airlines customer service options, but still feel unheard.
There are different ways to file a complaint against American Airlines, but none have the same power and leverage as taking legal action.
So, if you’re thinking of suing American Airlines, where do you even start? You might expect there to be tons of class action lawsuits against them, but it’s often more complicated than that.
What many people don’t know is that hidden clauses buried deep within their contracts frequently allow companies like American Airlines to push legal claims into the private realm of consumer arbitration, away from conventional courts.
But here’s the thing: your American Airlines contract doesn’t have the power to take away your right to pursue legal action by suing them.
Here’s what you can do…
Learn more about the consumer arbitration process here.
If you’re ready to sue American Airlines in Small Claims Court, read on below:
Are you ready to sue American Airlines in small claims court? Small claims courts are only for certain types of claims, so your first step is to make sure your claim can be filed. There are two things you need to pay attention to:
If your claim doesn’t fall within the limits of your state’s small claims court, you’ll have to arbitrate your claim instead.
Your demand letter can be simple and straightforward. Explain who you are (your name, address, phone number and account number), what the problem is, and what you want from them. The whole letter can be a few sentences; remember that you are just checking a box before you file your actual claim.
When you’re done writing, you need to mail a hard copy of the letter, preferably as certified mail or some other service that allows you to confirm delivery, to their legal address.
According to our most recent research, American Airlines is legally based in Delaware and receives mail at this address:
AMERICAN AIRLINES GROUP INC.
C/O CORPORATION SERVICE COMPANY
251 LITTLE FALLS DRIVE
WILMINGTON, DE 19808
If you would like examples of demand letters or more information about how to write them, refer to this excellent guide.
Each state has a set of forms that need to be filled out to file a claim, and sometimes counties will provide additional forms. The correct forms for your location will be available for free on your state court’s website.
Make sure you fill out enough forms. Most states that require you to file forms by mail or in-person will ask for 3 or 4 copies. If you don’t have the right number of copies, they will not accept your claim.
When you’re done filling out the forms, it’s time to give those forms to the court. This process, which is called “filing,” can be a bit complex.
All courts will require you to pay a filing fee before they allow you to sue American Airlines in small claims court. This fee, which will be published on your court’s website, can sometimes be waved if you are a low income plaintiff.
When you file your forms, the court clerk will provide you with a stamped copy of the forms and a court date. Keep it secure, and bring it with you on the day of the hearing.
Now that you’ve filed the papers required to start your case against American Airlines, you need to tell American Airlines that you have sued the company. This is a called “serving” American Airlines. To do this, you need to deliver a copy of your filed papers to American Airlines.
Look at your court’s website for instructions on how to deliver your forms properly to American Airlines, or search for “[your state] small claims service of process”. Courts have many strange rules about how to serve a defendant, and your claim will be dropped if you do not follow them perfectly.
Make sure you know which courthouse the hearing is to take place. Bring a copy of your filed forms, and any other evidence that backs up your case against American Airlines.
Sometimes, American Airlines will not show up to oppose you. If that happens, take advantage of the situation to focus on your side of the story.
Ready to sue American Airlines in small claims court?
If this sounds too hard and expensive, try consumer arbitration instead…