AIRLINES

Passenger Right to Sue Upheld: Airline passengers can sue under state law for being bumped from an overbooked flight, a federal appeals court ruled. The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said a Northwest Airlines passenger--who lost his seat on a 1986 flight from Great Falls, Mont., when the airline switched to a smaller plane--may have a damage suit under Montana law. Federal law entitles a bumped passenger to a refund of the ticket price, up to $200, if a substitute flight is more than an hour later than the original flight, or twice those amounts if more than two hours late. Airlines provide free-trip coupons as an alternative.