Window seats with no windows lead to lawsuits against Delta and United

Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have beoth become in embroiled in class-action lawsuits filed in US federal courts, accused of misleading passengers by charging premium fees for so-called “window seats” that lack actual windows. The lawsuits, initiated on 19 August in Brooklyn, New York, against Delta, and San Francisco, California, against United, claim the airlines have collectively sold over one million such seats, generating significant revenue through what it describes as deceptive practices.

Passengers, including lead plaintiff Nicholas Meyer of Brooklyn, who paid €65 for a window seat on a Delta flight from New York to California only to face a blank wall for 4.5 hours, argue they were misled during the booking process. Similarly, Aviva Copaken, a plaintiff in the United case, paid between €42 and €157 for three window seats, all without windows, citing her claustrophobia as a reason for choosing them.

The issue stems from aircraft configurations, particularly on Boeing 737s, Boeing 757s, and Airbus A321s, where air conditioning ducts or electrical conduits replace windows in certain rows.

Unlike competitors such as American Airlines and Alaska Airlines, which clearly mark these seats as lacking windows, Delta and United allegedly fail to disclose this during booking, charging premiums of up to €92 for Delta and €92 on United’s international flights.

The lawsuits, filed by the Greenbaum Olbrantz law firm, accuse the airlines of false advertising, breach of contract, and deceptive business practices, seeking millions in damages for affected passengers.

Attorney Carter Greenbaum emphasised that the airlines’ reliance on third-party sites like SeatGuru to inform passengers does not excuse their misrepresentation, stating, “A company can’t misrepresent the nature of the products it sells and then rely on third-party reviews.”

Passengers choose window seats for reasons beyond aesthetics, including alleviating fear of flying, managing motion sickness, or entertaining children. The complaints highlight that had passengers known these seats were windowless, they would not have paid extra. posts show images of blank cabin walls and complaints about denied refunds.

United refunded passenger Copaken for two of her three windowless seats but not the third, while Delta’s passenger Meyer received no compensation. The lawsuits note that competitors like Ryanair and Alaska Airlines label such seats transparently, often at lower costs, underscoring the defendants’ failure to adopt similar practices.

The legal action could reshape airline transparency, with plaintiffs demanding refunds, punitive damages, and an end to the practice of marketing windowless seats as window seats. The US Department of Transportation’s focus on “junk fees,” which generated €11.5 billion for major US airlines from 2019 to 2023, adds regulatory pressure. Neither Delta nor United has publicly commented, citing ongoing litigation, but the lawsuits’ outcome could lead to stricter industry standards. Passengers are encouraged to check seat maps on platforms like SeatGuru and join the lawsuits if affected, particularly in California, where the United case may expand into a nationwide class action. As the cases progress, they highlight a broader push for consumer rights in aviation, challenging airlines to deliver what they promise or face significant financial and reputational consequences.

In Europe, Ryanair’s seat 12A, the “window seat” with no window, has become an internet meme.