by Sharelle B. McNair
April 28, 2026
The service denied utilizing private data or internet looking historical past as a option to set particular person pricing, an idea referred to as “dynamic surveillance pricing,” however the accuser stated he has proof.
Airline JetBlue is dealing with a brand new lawsuit after being accused of monitoring flyers’ private information as a option to set ticket costs, NBC Information reported.
In a lawsuit filed late April within the U.S. District Courtroom for the Japanese District of New York, the Queens-based airline has been accused of providing completely different fares to completely different prospects based mostly on sure components reminiscent of web historical past and different demographic data. The go well with comes from Andrew Phillips, a NYC native, who claims he was “solely unaware that he was being tracked for the aim of setting pricing” after reserving a December 2025 flight with JetBlue.
He additionally alleges within the grievance that JetBlue failed to tell him that his personal data was being monitored or offered to 3rd events.
“It permits the defendant to control costs in actual time in an effort to make as a lot cash as they’ll on fares for airline tickets, that are priced otherwise for shoppers based mostly on their personal data, which they didn’t consent to give up for this function,” the grievance states, in reference to the alleged apply.
The service denied utilizing private data or internet looking historical past to set particular person pricing, a apply referred to as “dynamic surveillance pricing,” in keeping with The Hill. “JetBlue doesn’t use private data or internet looking historical past to set particular person pricing,” the airline stated within the assertion.
“Fares are decided by demand and seat availability, and all prospects have entry to the identical fares on jetblue.com and our cell app.”
Nonetheless, Phillips stated he has proof that the corporate used “cookie-collected information.”
“I like flying @JetBlue however a $230 enhance on a ticket after at some point is loopy,” he wrote on X. “I’m simply making an attempt to make it to a funeral.”
In a now-deleted response, JetBlue stated, “Strive clearing your cache and cookies or reserving with an incognito window.”
“We’re sorry to your loss,” the airline continued.
Phillips is accusing the airline of violating New York shopper safety legal guidelines and the Digital Communications Privateness Act whereas looking for to broaden his lawsuit right into a class-action go well with and obtain unspecified damages. “Customers shouldn’t should have their privateness rights violated to take part in Defendant’s digital rat race for airline tickets, which ought to value the identical for every equally seated passenger,” the lawsuit states.
The social media banter caught the eye of elected officers reminiscent of Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) and Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.). The Democratic leaders despatched a letter to JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty demanding data on “how JetBlue is defining private information and whether or not private information is utilized in any capability to tell costs,” expressing concern.
“We’re particularly involved that prospects could possibly be charged completely different costs for a similar flight based mostly on their want for journey, reminiscent of attending a funeral,” the congressional leaders wrote.
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