Six Flags Settlement: Class-action deal over hidden ticket fees; who gets $8 and how

Travis Kelce (Getty Images)

Six Flags, the amusement park giant associated with Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce, has agreed to an $11.2 million settlement following allegations that customers faced hidden fees while booking tickets online.

The case could bring cash payments to more than 1.4 million eligible California customers.

Although the lawsuit does not involve Kelce personally, his reported connection to the company adds a celebrity angle to a dispute over ticket prices and consumer rights.The settlement also raises a familiar question for families planning a day out: How much should a ticket really cost? For some customers, the answer allegedly changed just before they paid.

Six Flags faces $11.2 million settlement over hidden ticket fees

The legal dispute began in June 2024 when Sargis Isayan filed a class-action lawsuit against Cedar Fair, L.P., which operated Knott's Berry Farm and California's Great America.According to court documents cited by PEOPLE, Isayan accused the operator of the “unlawful practice of ‘drip pricing.’ ”The complaint alleged that customers saw one ticket price while browsing, only to encounter an extra processing charge during checkout.

Isayan argued that the added fee offered no real benefit. By the time customers reached the payment page, many had already spent time choosing tickets and were less likely to cancel their purchase.Cedar Fair merged with Six Flags Entertainment Corporation in July 2024, bringing the parks under the combined business.Six Flags has not admitted wrongdoing. Instead, the company agreed to resolve the dispute through an $11.2 million settlement, subject to court approval.The case highlights a wider concern about online pricing. When businesses reveal extra charges late in a transaction, customers may struggle to compare the true cost of different options.

Travis Kelce-linked Six Flags settlement: Who qualifies for the $8 payout?

The settlement comes as Travis Kelce's reported ambassador and investor ties to Six Flags draw attention to the amusement park business. However, there is no indication that the Chiefs tight end participated in the alleged pricing practices or played any role in the lawsuit.The proposed agreement covers California customers who bought eligible non-season tickets online for Knott's Berry Farm, Knott's Soak City or California's Great America between June 28, 2020, and July 1, 2024.Customers must also have entered a California billing ZIP code and paid a processing fee.

Approximately 1,405,235 people may qualify.Eligible customers who submit valid claims can receive $8 in cash. Those who do not file will automatically receive an $8 voucher for future purchases through Six Flags, provided they qualify under the settlement terms.The vouchers expire 36 months after issuance.Customers seeking cash must submit their claims by December 22, 2026, through the official settlement website, http://www.knottsgreatamericasettlement.com.A final approval hearing is scheduled for March 30, 2027. Until then, the agreement remains subject to the court's decision.