Deadline Nears for Holders of Unused Eastern Tickets

People with unused Eastern Airlines tickets bought before the airline filed for bankruptcy court protection March 9 have until Aug. 31 to claim a refund, the U.S. Department of Transportation said Thursday.

To qualify for a refund, consumers must file a proof-of-claim form with the bankruptcy court. It must be postmarked by midnight Aug. 31. The department said that besides ticket-holders, consumers with unresolved baggage or cargo disputes should file claims if the dispute arose before March 9.

The agency said consumers must file a claim with the court even if they have already notified Eastern.

Proof-of-claim forms can be obtained at any federal courthouse or by calling Eastern at (800) 628-0010. The forms should be sent to: United States Bankruptcy Court, Eastern Airlines, Inc., Claims Processing Center, P.O. Box 1587, Grand Central Station, New York, N.Y. 10163.