A Cook County couple is suing an Icelandic budget airline for failure to serve a promised in-flight meal.
Jerome and Judy Tatar filed their class action breach of contract complaint April 17 in Cook County Circuit Court, saying WOW Air EHF promises business customers in-flight meals, but failed to deliver on flights originating at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
According to the Tatars, WOW advertises the lowest transatlantic fares, in part, by charging extra for things like in-flight entertainment, snacks and water. The complaint referenced a BusinessInsider.com article in which the company’s CEO said the “no frills” business model is useful for customers as they “won’t have problems with expectations.”
Ernest Wagner
In June, the company introduced WOW Biz class tickets with “considerably higher” fares for flights from O’Hare to Paris, London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Frankfort and Reykjavik, and other European destinations. According to the WOW website, such fares are to include a free carry-on bag, one checked luggage item, priority boarding, additional legroom and an in-flight meal.
The complaint included an image from the WOW website showing a business ticket from Chicago to Paris cost $1,016, while a basic seat on the same flight sold for about $800. Further, a WOW Comfy fare for the same flight, which includes all the business amenities aside from priority boarding and the meal, was $946, almost $70 less than the WOW Biz ticket. A fourth class, WOW Plus, had an advertised fare of $893 to include the carry-on and checked bag in a standard seat.
The Tatars quoted customer reviews from TripAdvisor.com in which other passengers noted the lack of a sandwich despite buying the business ticket, and one who said their “purchased ‘meal’ ended up being a choice between a chocolate bar or a small packet of olives.” Another reported: “Food service was not available on either of our flights so they made up for it by offering Ramen noodles and a can of soda.”
According to the complaint, the Tatars bought their tickets June 22, 2017, for an itinerary taking them from O’Hare to Reykjavik, then to Paris. They then flew from Copenhagen to Reykjavik for their return flight to Chicago. On the first flight, they said a flight attendant told them “WOW Air did not possess the license required to offer meal service on flights from O’Hare” and they later were given the choice of a package of cookies or a candy bar. Their choice on the return flight to Chicago was between a cup of instant noodle soup, a bag of potato chips or a candy bar.
The class would include anyone who booked a WOW Biz ticket for flights to and from O’Hare. The Tatars believe that includes “hundreds, if not thousands, of Illinois residents.”
In addition to class certification and a jury trial, the Tatars want their lawyers, Ernest Wagner and Gregg Barbakoff, of the firm of Maurice Wutscher LLP, of Chicago, appointed class counsel and for the court to award damages, legal fees and any additional relief deemed appropriate.