Passengers Sue Delta and United Airlines Over Windowless 'Window Seats'

Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are facing separate lawsuits from passengers who claim they were charged for window seats but instead received seats next to a blank wall. The lawsuits seek damages for misleading practices during the booking process, as the airlines did not indicate the absence of windows.

Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are currently embroiled in legal disputes, as passengers have filed lawsuits claiming the carriers sold them “window seats” that lacked actual windows. Both lawsuits, which seek millions in damages, argue that Delta and United fail to inform customers that certain seats are without windows during the booking process, despite charging extra for these selections.

The lawsuits, submitted by the legal firm Greenbaum Olbrantz, assert that the airlines mislabel seats as “window seats,” regardless of whether they are situated next to a window. Plaintiffs pointed out that specific Boeing and Airbus aircraft models contain seats positioned adjacent to walls due to air conditioning ducts, wiring, or other structural components, rendering them without windows.

Passengers often purchase window seats for various reasons, such as alleviating flight anxiety, managing motion sickness, or simply for the landscape view. Complaint assertions maintain that many passengers would opt for different seating if made aware of the windowless nature, thereby contesting the airlines' lack of transparency.

The legal claims describe the airlines’ practices as misleading, with necessary disclosures absent during the booking process, a practice that critics deem "deceptive" and "unlawful". In contrast, other American airlines such as American Airlines and Alaska Airlines are noted to disclose whether specific seats lack windows when booking. Delta has not yet responded to requests for comment, while United Airlines has declined to provide insights due to the ongoing nature of the lawsuits.