Program Rules Rule

Program Rules Rule

“United has the sole right to interpret and apply the Program Rules,” so says United Airlines and so says the Seventh Circuit. In Han v. United Continental Holdings, Inc. et al., No. 13-3871, the plaintiff, Hongbo Han filed a putative class action against United Airlines alleging it breached the terms of its frequent flyer program by not crediting Han for miles the airplane actually flew instead of the airline’s calculation of miles from airport to airport, regardless of weather diversions, landing delays, and other situations that result in longer flights. The court agreed with United, saying that both parties entered into the agreement under United’s program rules and United’s interpretation of mileage is reasonable.