American Airlines files suit against vacation clubs

Friday, October 04, 2013

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Diane Wilson
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RALEIGH (WTVD) -- You get them in the mail and the offers seem too good to pass up. They're offers for free roundtrip airline tickets and other vacation incentives, and supposedly all you have to do is call.

Many of the offers have major company names on the advertisements that make you think they're affiliated with the deal, but think again.

Attorneys general across the country, including ours, are taking action against some of the clubs for alleged deceptive sales practices. But that's not the only legal action these clubs are facing.

Now, American Airlines is fighting back and saying they're tired of being associated with the scams.

The company filed a lawsuit this week against several companies and individuals. The airline says those people are operating a nationwide scam by using American Airlines trademarks on their mass mailed postcards and letters.

In an I-Team investigation, we showed you how these mailings lured people into sales presentation for vacation club memberships at an Apex business park. They told us they thought they were going to get the free travel as advertised, but as we showed you undercover, they got a high energy sales pitch.

Several viewers bought into the vacation clubs for thousands of dollars. After becoming members, they say they couldn't get any of the deals promised during the sales pitch.

While we got refunds for many of those who complained, the company eventually closed up shop.

Still, the mailings continue with new travel incentives, and American Airlines says enough is enough. American Airlines reps say they hope with this court action they can stop their good name from being associated with these deceptive practices, as they say they have nothing to do with these vacation clubs.

The same goes with other major companies listed. When we talked with reps, they told us they have nothing to do with these free travel offers or vacation clubs.

When you receive one of the mailings or emails that offers free roundtrip tickets or a free cruise, remember the saying, if it's too good to be true, it usually is.