Two of the largest U.S. carriers, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, are facing legal challenges from passengers who allege they were misled into paying extra for window seats that turned out to have no view at all. The lawsuits, filed this week as proposed class actions, claim that both airlines have profited from selling what they describe as “windowless window seats” without properly disclosing the lack of an actual window.
According to the court filings, United and Delta have “likely sold over a million windowless ‘window’ seats” over the years. These seats, though marketed as windows, are blocked by structural components such as air conditioning ducts and electrical conduits, leaving passengers staring at a blank wall instead of the sky.
Extra Charges Add to Passenger Frustration
The lawsuits detail how passengers often pay significant fees to secure a window seat. Delta customers can spend upwards of US$70 for seat selection, including up to US$40 in ticket tier upgrades, while United charges more than US$50 for domestic flights and up to US$100 for international routes. Plaintiffs argue that the airlines failed to disclose which seats lack a window, despite charging premiums for them.
“For many, it is a special experience to see the world from 30,000 feet,” the lawsuits emphasize, adding that windows provide comfort to anxious travelers, distraction for children, and relief for those with motion sickness.
Aircraft Models Cited in Complaints
The complaints point specifically to Boeing B737 and Airbus A321 aircraft, as well as Delta’s Boeing B757s, as models where certain rows lack windows. For example, the suits cite United’s Boeing B737-800, where seats 10A, 11A, or 12A may not have a window depending on the configuration.
In comparison, competitors American Airlines and Alaska Airlines provide warnings during the booking process when a selected seat does not have a window view. Even low-cost carrier Ryanair discloses such details and charges lower prices for these seats.
Passenger Stories Highlight Issue
One of the plaintiffs in the United lawsuit said she purchased window seats on three separate flights from Los Angeles in May, paying between US$45.99 and US$169.99 per flight, only to find that none of them had windows. United eventually refunded two of her charges, but she argues the airline’s compensation was inadequate.
Another United passenger used 7,500 frequent flyer miles to reserve a window seat on a San Francisco to Washington, D.C. flight in April, but found himself at a windowless row. The airline refunded his miles, but his complaint states that the refund “was insufficient to compensate him for the extra fees and benefits he utilized.”
Meanwhile, the plaintiff in the Delta lawsuit described his experience flying from New York to California earlier this month. On his connecting flight from Atlanta aboard a Boeing B757-200, his assigned seat 23F lacked a window, despite being sold as a premium seat.
What Happens Next
The lawsuits seek class-action status, which could potentially represent thousands of travelers who experienced similar situations. If successful, the cases could pressure airlines to adopt clearer disclosures, similar to their competitors, and potentially reimburse affected passengers.
For now, the legal battle highlights a growing frustration among flyers who feel they are being nickel-and-dimed by airlines, only to discover that even something as simple as a window seat may not be what it seems.