Lawsuit Affects Purchasers of Airline Tickets from the U.S. to Japan from All Nippon Airways or Japan Airlines

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is being released by the law firms of Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP and Hausfeld, LLP.

There is a lawsuit against All Nippon Airways Company, Limited ("ANA") over the price of airline tickets.  Settlements were previously reached with 12 Settling Defendants.  The lawsuit continues against the Non-Settling Defendant, ANA.  The Court has approved the lawsuit as a class action on behalf of a "class," or group of people.  The Court has not decided that ANA did anything wrong; rather, the case is currently scheduled to go to trial. 

Purchasers included in the Class(es) have rights and may be impacted by the outcome of this lawsuit.  The Plaintiffs are asking for money and other benefits from ANA.  There is no money available now and no guarantee that there will be.  

The lawsuit claims that the Defendants agreed to fix prices on tickets for transpacific air travel.  As a result, ticket purchasers may have paid more than was necessary.  ANA denies any liability, although it has pled guilty to fixing the prices of certain discounted tickets.  The lawyers for the Classes will have to prove their claims in Court.

There are two Classes included in the lawsuit.  Generally, purchasers may be included if: (1) they bought a ticket for air travel from ANA or Japan Airlines between February 1, 2005 and December 31, 2007 and paid a fuel surcharge OR they purchased a ticket between January 1, 2000 and April 1, 2006 for a Satogaeri or "homecoming" fare; and (2) the ticket included at least one flight segment originating in the U.S. to Japan.  There are specific exclusions; please review the Class definitions carefully at the website, www.AirlineSettlement.com.  Travel agents are only included if they bought tickets for their personal use.

The Court has appointed a group of attorneys to represent the Classes as "Class Counsel."  Purchasers don't have to pay Class Counsel or anyone else to participate.  Instead, if Class Counsel gets money or benefits for the Classes, they may ask for attorneys' fees and costs.  Class Members may hire their own lawyer to appear in Court for them at their own expense.

If Class Members do nothing, they will be bound by the Court's decisions.  To stay in the Class(es), they do not have to do anything.  If money or benefits are obtained, they will be notified about how to ask for a share.  If Class Members want to keep the right to individually sue ANA apart from this class action, they must exclude themselves from the Class(es) by February 10, 2019.  The detailed notice describes how Class Members can exclude themselves.  If Class Members exclude themselves, they cannot get money or benefits from this lawsuit if any are awarded.  Class Members can register at the website to be kept informed about the outcome of this case.

For more information & a detailed notice, please call 1-800-439-1781 or visit www.AirlineSettlement.com.

SOURCE Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy LLP and Hausfeld, LLP