JetBlue Airways is facing a multi-million dollar lawsuit after passenger Saman Kohanof claimed the airline falsely advertised “free seat selection” as part of its Blue fare. However, after purchasing his ticket, the airline’s app did not allow him to select a seat.
JetBlue’s Blue fare includes free seat selection, a carry-on bag, a personal item, and no change or cancellation fees. Kohanof purchased a $379 ticket under this fare but says he was never given the option to choose a seat and was instead assigned one at check-in.
Kohanof is seeking more than $5 million in damages from the airline. He is also asking the court to certify the case as a class action, allowing other passengers who experienced similar issues to be included. The lawsuit argues that customers may have been misled into paying for fares based on benefits they could not access.
JetBlue has responded by stating that it does not intentionally mislead customers and aims to communicate its fares and included benefits clearly. If the lawsuit proceeds, it could draw greater attention to how airlines advertise ticket fares and customer benefits.
The case centres on whether passengers were provided with the seat selection included in their fare. It also raises questions about whether airlines consistently deliver the benefits they advertise. As the case develops, the court will decide whether the claims have enough merit to move forward.
