Six Flags agrees to $11.2 million settlement – here’s who qualifies and what to know

Six Flags has agreed to an $11.2 million settlement over hidden online processing fees, potentially entitling ticket buyers to cash back.The settlement follows a June 2024 class-action lawsuit filed by Sargis Isayan in Los Angeles, accusing park operator Cedar Fair of adding undisclosed processing fees to online ticket purchases at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park and California’s Great America in Santa Clara.Cedar Fair and its portfolio of amusement parks merged with Six Flags Entertainment Corporation in July 2024.Isayan accused the company of the “unlawful practice of ‘drip pricing,’” according to court documents obtained by People. He alleged that customers shopping for admission tickets would see an initial price before an additional processing fee appeared later in the checkout process.The lawsuit claimed the fee provided no additional value to customers and that shoppers were less likely to abandon their purchases after already spending time selecting tickets. As a result, customers allegedly ended up paying more than the prices initially advertised.Customers must have bought online, non-season tickets to Knott’s Berry Farm, Soak City or California’s Great America between June 28, 2020, and July 1, 2024, to qualify for a piece of the Six Flags settlement (AFP/Getty)California law requires businesses to disclose these fees upfront before customers finalize a purchase.Six Flags has not admitted wrongdoing but agreed to pay $11.2 million to resolve the lawsuit. The settlement covers an estimated 1,405,235 customers who may have been affected by the alleged fees, according to People. To qualify, customers must have purchased non-season admission tickets online to Knott’s Berry Farm or its Soak City water park, or California’s Great America, between June 28, 2020, and July 1, 2024. They must also have entered a California ZIP code as their billing address and paid a processing fee on the purchase. Season pass purchases are not included in the settlement.Eligible customers will receive $8, but those who want the money in cash must submit a valid claim form by December 22. Customers who do not file a claim will automatically receive an $8 credit that can be used toward a future purchase at any Six Flags park through the company's website. The vouchers will expire 36 months after they are issued.Customers can submit claims through the official settlement website. A final approval hearing for the settlement is scheduled for March 30, 2027.The Independent has contacted Six Flags Entertainment Corporation for comment. Six Flags announced last week that California’s Great America will close after the 2027 season when its lease expires on the 112-acre property, which Cedar Fair sold to real estate company Prologis for $310 million in 2022.Six Flags is facing a slew of lawsuits, including more than 150 expected claims alleging brain injuries linked to the X2 roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, and three federal lawsuits over riders allegedly ejected from attractions at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey.