Judge rules Delta must face lawsuit over massive computer outage
U.S. District Judge Mark Cohen approved five plaintiffs to pursue breach of contract claims based on Delta's failure to refund. Nine plaintiffs attempted civil action against the company, which allegedly cancelled more than 4,500 flights between July 19 and 21, 2024.
The airline said they were unable to resume operations due to its reliance on CrowdStrike and Microsoft, both of which had system outages.
However, plaintiffs allege that CrowdStrike contacted Delta to offer assistance and resources 'within hours of the incident,' and that CrowdStrike's CEO even personally reached out to Delta's CEO to provide onsite assistance, but Delta repeatedly either declined the offers or did not respond, according to legal filings.
One plaintiff, John Brennan of Florida, said he and his wife missed a $10,000 anniversary cruise after Delta stranded them in an Atlanta layover, yet the carrier offered just $219.45 in compensation, as reported by Reuters.
Delta filed a motion to dismiss the case under the the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, a measure that removed government control over airline fares, routes and market entry.
Cohen ruled in favor of their dismissal under the law for four cases, but the other five will proceed forward under the Montreal Convention, an international treaty that governs airline liability, particularly in cases of passenger death, injury, or damage to baggage and cargo, according to court documents.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Delta and United Sued Over Windowless 'Window Seats'
This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Delta Air Lines (DAL, Financials) and United Airlines (UAL, Financials) were hit with lawsuits Tuesday claiming they charged passengers extra for window seats that turned out to be next to blank walls. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 6 Warning Sign with UAL. Proposed class actions were filed in Brooklyn federal court against Delta and in San Francisco federal court against United. Each seeks millions of dollars in damages on behalf of more than 1 million passengers. The complaints cite Boeing 737s, Boeing 757s and Airbus A321s, where window rows are blocked by air-conditioning ducts or electrical conduits. Rivals including Alaska Airlines (ALK, Financials) and American Airlines (AAL, Financials) flag such seats during booking, but Delta and United allegedly do not. Passengers said they purchased window seats to ease fear of flying or motion sickness, entertain children, or simply enjoy the view. Had plaintiffs and the class members known that the seats they were purchasing were windowless, they would not have selected them much less have paid extra, one complaint said. The lawsuits add pressure on airlines already leaning on ancillary fees for revenue, from seat selection to baggage and cabin upgrades. United and Delta did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Travel Weekly
2 hours ago
- Travel Weekly
Delta previews new platform for corporate customers and TMCs
Delta's division for corporate and travel agency customers, Delta Business, on Wednesday previewed a revamped business platform coming to corporate customers later this year and travel agencies in 2026. Additional features will be "tailored to their workflows," Delta said. The new platform will replace Delta Professional and simply will be called Delta Business. It will offer "intuitive navigation designed around real-world workflows, a smart search to surface key details in one place for faster access to the information you need, and finally, a streamlined wallet solution that enables companies to deploy resources on demand," said Sara Reid, Delta's managing director of sales and distribution innovation. For navigation, instead of going into specific applications for certain actions, the new site will offer key information centralized on the dashboard, including account manager details and contact information, Reid said. There also will be "quick access" to real-time support via chat with a global sales solutions specialist. The new "smart search" is designed to "understand what you're looking for and bringing the right information together in one place quickly and intuitively," Reid said. That includes the ability to ask a question or perform specific searches, such as passenger name record, she added. This function will launch in beta, so it will continue to evolve as Delta receives feedback on it. The third highlight of the new site is the wallet, which will include three key items: loyalty tokens, which can be used for complimentary Medallion status -- whether awarding a high-tier status for a top traveler or distributing Silver status across a team; amenity points, for use when purchasing a new ticket, changing an existing one or upgrading a traveler's experience; and service points, which can be used to waive unused ticket transfer fees. Customers will be able to see the value of their wallets at the top of the new dashboard, Reid said, and travelers will receive confirmation of any new status they receive in their SkyMiles account within 24 hours. The new site also will provide updates on how a company is performing based on their contract with Delta, and all contract documents will be available in one place. A travel manager will be able to adjust the time range to view performance over a specific period, and all metrics will update based on that identified time range, Reid said. They'll also be able to see how travelers are engaging with Delta, including how many are booking with their SkyMiles number, using the Fly Delta app or holding a Delta SkyMiles American Express card. Source: Business Travel News
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Delta loyalty program members vote to choose its summer 2026 destination
Delta Air Lines is letting its customers and employees decide where the airline will fly next summer. The airline announced its first-ever 'Route Race' contest Wednesday in which Delta's loyalty program and SkyMiles members, as well as Delta employees, get the opportunity to vote and choose a European destination the airline will add to its summer 2026 schedule. Beginning August 25th through August 29th, SkyMiles members and Delta employees can vote using the Fly Delta App for one of the three European destinations – Sardinia, Malta, and Ibiza – for next summer. Delta will announce the winning destination within 30 days after voting closes. MORE: Summer travel security essentials: Smart locks, AirTags and more 'SkyMiles Members and Delta people are at the center of everything Delta does. The Route Race is a celebration of their influence, giving our community a voice in where they want to fly next and inviting them to help shape Delta's global network,' said Paul Baldoni, Delta's senior vice president of network planning. 'The destinations where Delta flies are more than just dots on a map – they're gateways to culture, connection and possibility, and this is a chance for our Members and employees to bring one of them closer." Describing the three destinations, Delta said Sardinia, Italy, is a slower-paced but adventurous option with natural beauty, history and food. Malta was described as the escape that blends centuries of history with sunny Mediterranean charm. Ibiza was pitched as the global capital of nightlife with its world-famous DJs, beach parties and laid-back beach bars. Delta currently flies to more than 300 destinations. This summer, the airline said it operated its largest-ever transatlantic schedule.
