[private]

It is complicated, but American cannot be sued for its abusive actions with regard to frequent flyer miles except for breach of contract. If you read the terms and conditions, American does not agree to give you the time of day. There are theories that might work, but an attorney would have hard work to create the case.

However, the U.S. Department of Transportation under 49 U.S.C. §41712 has a process for filing a complaint about what American is doing. "The Secretary may investigate and decide whether an air carrier, foreign air carrier, or ticket agent has been or is engaged in an unfair or deceptive practice or an unfair method of competition in air transportation or the sale of air transportation."

American has set up its frequent flyer mile program so that its members have no rights and then abuses them claiming that American has all sorts of rights.

With regard to frequent flyer miles, American has step itself up as the law maker, the police, the courts and the executioner.

[Kent]

Recently I heard (via NY Senator Charles Schummer) about AAdvantage members losing all their miles due to inactivity. What if your AAdvantage credit card gets hacked into? That happened several times to me during 2007 - I had to cancel that card for the obvious reasons. I called American, and learned the steps to get miles back, but it's costly.

As for losing the miles, I quickly read some messages about my miles "may never expire". Well they sure did.

I was saving up miles for years for a trip with my wife to Italy. Besides, I used higher fee credit cards to build the miles.

Anything I can do? Any CLASS ACTIONS OUT THERE?