Apple Refunding MacBook Air Owners Over Paid Hinge Repairs

In a Support document entitled “Troubleshooting MacBook Air hinges,” Apple reveals that owners its ultra-thin notebook experiencing hinge-related issues may be eligible for a refund, should the customer have paid for a repair in the past.

“Learn what you can do if you experience one or more of these issues with the hinges on your MacBook Air,” Apple states on the Support area of its web site. Knowledge Base article TS2948 continues with a list of possible scenarios:

- Unable to close lid completely.
- Broken or cracked plastic near one or both of the hinges.
- More than one inch (2.54cm) of free play while opening or closing the lid.
- Lid falls freely into closed position from a 30-degree open position. (From a closed position, open the lid approximately 30 degrees and let go.)

Should one of these situations apply, the customer can take their MacBook Air “to an Apple-Authorized Service Provider or Apple Retail Store for evaluation and repair if necessary, even if your product is out of warranty.” The Mac maker then adds: “If you previously paid for a repair for hinge-related issues that were not caused by accidental damage, you may be eligible for a refund. Contact Apple for more information,” the document reads.
(emphasis ours)

Apple asks customers to note that, if they plan to visit an Apple Retail store to address hinge issues, they should make a reservation at the Genius Bar, and offers up this link to get them started. However, Apple’s Genius Bar is available only in some territories.

Note: Support article TS2948, entitled “Troubleshooting MacBook Air hinges” was last modified on July 07, 2010. Unfortunately, the Cupertino-based electronics maker fails to note the changes included in its knowledge base articles with every other update. Hopefully, this information - be it new, or old - is useful for anyone using a MacBook Air and possibly experiencing hinge-related problems.