Resident Of Texas Sues American Airlines For Marketing Hotels; Has Also Sued Expedia For Libertad Act Trafficking In Cuba

On 26 September 2019, Robert M. Glen, a resident of the State of Texas, and a naturalized citizen of the United States, filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida, against Fort Worth, Texas-based American Airlines, Inc. (2018 revenues approximately US$44 billion).  

According to the lawsuit, “American Airlines operates multiple flights per day from Miami International.  Airport to destinations in Cuba, including Varadero. Travelers can book these flights through American Airlines’ main website, www.aa.com.  Not only can American Airlines customers book flights to Cuba on the American Airlines website, but they can also book hotels for their stay in Cuba.  American Airlines facilitates such bookings through www.bookaahotels.com (“Book AA Hotels”), an American Airlines website that provides booking services for hotels in Cuba, including the four beachfront resorts on the properties confiscated from Glen’s family: the Iberostar Tainos, the Meliá Las Antillas, the Blau Varadero, and the Starfish Varadero.  American Airlines directs customers to Book AA Hotels through a “Hotels” link from its main website. Customers can reserve accommodations using Book AA Hotels whether or not they purchase a flight on American Airlines. And American Airlines customers can earn extra American Airlines loyalty points by booking a room through Book AA Hotels.  By facilitating bookings at these hotels, American Airlines is engaging in commercial activity that uses or otherwise benefits from Glen’s confiscated property. American Airlines is also participating in, and profiting from, trafficking committed by the hotels themselves.” 

LINK To Glen/American Airlines Case Filings 

On 26 September 2019, Robert M. Glen filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court, Western District of Seattle, Washington, against Bellevue, Washington-based Expedia, Inc.; Expedia Group, Inc. (2018 revenues exceeded US$11 billion); Hotels.com, L.P.; and Hotels.com GP, LLC.  

Expedia Group brands include: CarRentals.com, CheapTickets, Vrvo, Hotels.com, Hotwire.com, Orbitz.com, Travelocity.com, Trivago.com, and Venere.com 

Mr. Glen asserts that he holds a claim to “two beachfront properties located in Varadero, Cuba, on the Hicacos Peninsula.  Varadero is one of Cuba’s most popular beach resort towns…”  

According to the lawsuit, the defendants provide booking services for four (4) hotels located on the land confiscated from Mr. Glen’s family.  The hotels: the Iberostar Tainos, the Melia Las Antillas, the Blau Varadero, and the Starfish Varadero.  The companies managing the properties are also likely to be named as defendants. 

LINK To Glen/Expedia Case Filings 

On 25 September 2019, LATAM Airlines Group and Fort Worth, Texas-based American Airlines Group were sued in United States District Court, Southern District Of Florida, by an individual who claims ownership of the Jose Marti International Airport (HAV) in Havana, Republic of Cuba.    

LINK To LATAM/American Airlines Case Filings