American Airlines must face revived lawsuit over delayed baggage

A federal appeals court Wednesday revived a lawsuit accusing US Airways, now part of American Airlines Group, of refusing to refund a passenger's checked baggage fee even though it delivered her bag a day late. The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said Hayley Hickcox-Huffman could pursue her proposed class action on behalf of other travellers, because federal law did not pre-empt her state law-based breach-of-contract claim. An American spokesman said the carrier is reviewing its legal options. Carriers say baggage fees, typically US$25 for the first bag, help keep base fares low and let passengers decide which add-ons to buy. Critics say the fees disguise the true cost of flying. Hickcox-Huffman sued US Airways to recover a $15 fee, after her bag did not show up following a May 2009 flight. <br/>