{"id":108775,"date":"2025-08-20T00:14:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-19T18:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=108775"},"modified":"2025-08-19T22:20:51","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T16:50:51","slug":"united-airlines-files-lawsuit-against-popular-travel-site","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/20\/united-airlines-files-lawsuit-against-popular-travel-site\/","title":{"rendered":"United Airlines Files Lawsuit Against Popular Travel Site"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

CHICAGO-<\/strong> United Airlines (UA)<\/a> has filed a lawsuit against Czech-based online travel agency Kiwi.com, accusing the platform of deceptive practices, inflated fees, and unauthorized access to its flight inventory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The carrier claims Kiwi.com misled passengers by charging higher fares and add-on fees than those available directly through United Airlines (UA), despite no longer having a commercial agreement with the airline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"United
Photo: Cl\u00e9ment Alloing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

United Lawsuit Against Travel Site<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to court filings in the U.S. District Court in Chicago, United Airlines alleges that Kiwi.com unlawfully sells its flights, even after a termination of their partnership in late 2023. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

United had previously allowed Kiwi.com to market its flights, but revoked this agreement after discovering what it describes as harmful and deceptive practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

United contends that Kiwi.com continued to display and sell its flights by \u201cscraping\u201d data from the airline\u2019s website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lawsuit claims the platform disguised these actions by using fake email addresses to complete bookings, misleading consumers into believing Kiwi.com maintained a legitimate business relationship with United, PYOK<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The airline accuses Kiwi.com of charging inflated baggage fees. In one example, United\u2019s website listed $75 for one checked bag and $175 for two, while Kiwi.com charged customers $194.99 for a single bag and over $454 for two. In some cases, consumers were charged for baggage that was never booked with United.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lawsuit also accuses Kiwi.com of promoting \u201ctravel hacks\u201d like hidden city ticketing \u2014 a practice where travelers book a multi-leg trip but intentionally end their journey at the layover city. United explicitly bans this practice in its conditions of carriage, calling it fraudulent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Extortion Allegations<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

United claims that Kiwi.com attempted to pressure the airline into a new commercial deal. During an October 2024 meeting, Kiwi allegedly offered to stop scraping United\u2019s website only if the carrier agreed to a fresh business agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

United rejected the proposal, calling it an extortion attempt, and issued a cease-and-desist letter, which Kiwi.com ignored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This aggressive stance mirrors earlier disputes between Kiwi.com and other airlines. United argues that Kiwi.com\u2019s tactics are designed to mislead travelers, harm its reputation, and force airlines into business arrangements under pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"United
Photo: Cl\u00e9ment Alloing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

History of Airline Disputes With Kiwi.com<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

United Airlines is far from the first carrier to take Kiwi.com to court. The agency has been involved in multiple high-profile disputes with major airlines worldwide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n