United Airlines Files Lawsuit Against Popular Travel Site

CHICAGO- United Airlines (UA) 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.

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.

Photo: Clément Alloing

United Lawsuit Against Travel Site

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.

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

United contends that Kiwi.com continued to display and sell its flights by “scraping” data from the airline’s website.

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 reported.

The airline accuses Kiwi.com of charging inflated baggage fees. In one example, United’s 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.

The lawsuit also accuses Kiwi.com of promoting “travel hacks” like hidden city ticketing — 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.

Extortion Allegations

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’s website only if the carrier agreed to a fresh business agreement.

United rejected the proposal, calling it an extortion attempt, and issued a cease-and-desist letter, which Kiwi.com ignored.

This aggressive stance mirrors earlier disputes between Kiwi.com and other airlines. United argues that Kiwi.com’s tactics are designed to mislead travelers, harm its reputation, and force airlines into business arrangements under pressure.

Photo: Clément Alloing

History of Airline Disputes With Kiwi.com

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:

• Southwest Airlines (WN) sued Kiwi.com in 2021, winning a permanent injunction that banned the site from marketing its flights.
• Ryanair (FR) took legal action in Europe the same year, accusing Kiwi.com of using fake customer email addresses. The case ended with a settlement in 2023.
• American Airlines (AA) filed a lawsuit in 2023 over screen scraping and hidden city ticketing, but later dropped the case in 2024 after reaching a confidential settlement.

Despite these legal challenges, Kiwi.com continues to operate, often clashing with airlines over consumer transparency, pricing, and unauthorized sales practices.

Photo: Aero Icarus | Flickr

United’s Demands and Potential Outcomes

United is suing Kiwi.com for breach of contract, trademark infringement, and false advertising. The airline seeks a permanent injunction to stop the travel site from marketing or selling its flights.

If successful, United could significantly limit Kiwi.com’s access to its inventory, reinforcing airlines’ broader push to regain control over how their products are distributed. This case could also set a precedent for other carriers facing similar conflicts with third-party booking platforms.

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