Passengers who thought they were paying extra for a coveted window seat on Delta or United flights are now taking the airlines to court. Reuters reported that class action lawsuits filed this week claim the carriers sold seats labeled as “window” only for travelers to find themselves pressed against a blank wall.
The Lawsuits at a Glance
The proposed class actions were filed against United in San Francisco federal court and Delta in Brooklyn federal court. Each case seeks millions of dollars in damages for more than a million passengers, accusing the airlines of charging premium fees for seats that did not deliver what was promised.
The complaints point to certain Boeing 737, Boeing 757, and Airbus A321 planes where window placements are blocked by air conditioning ducts, electrical conduits, or other components. Unlike Alaska and American, which flag these seat quirks during booking, Delta and United allegedly fail to disclose them—even when charging tens or hundreds of dollars more.
Why It Matters to Travelers
For many passengers, window seats are more than a view. These seats come with many benefits, depending on the passenger. Travelers choose window seats for a variety of reasons, and research shows that window seats can even have health benefits.
The benefits of window seats on an airplane include:
- Helps Prevent Motion Sickness
- Provides a stable horizon for your eyes, reducing sensory conflict with your inner ear.
- Best over the wings, where the plane’s motion is least noticeable.
- Reduced Germ Exposure
- Keeps you away from aisle traffic where passengers and crew walk by.
- Lowers chances of contact with airborne particles and germs.
- Better Rest and Comfort
- A solid wall to lean on for sleeping.
- More control over light thanks to the window shade.
- Fewer interruptions from seatmates climbing in and out.
- Psychological Benefits
- Views outside can ease anxiety or fear of flying.
- Natural light exposure helps regulate circadian rhythm on long flights.
- Practical Advantages
- Window seats are often quieter, especially compared to aisle seats.
- Extra sense of personal space, as you won’t be bumped by carts or passengers.
Lawsuits argue that travelers pay extra for reasons. The plaintiffs say they would never have chosen, much less paid more for, these seats had they known the truth.
Lawyer Carter Greenbaum, who filed the cases, said in a statement that relying on third-party tools like SeatGuru does not excuse an airline from misrepresenting its product. “A company can’t misrepresent the nature of the products it sells and then rely on third-party reviews to say a customer should have known,” he noted.
The Bigger Picture for Airlines
Ancillary revenue—fees for seat selection, baggage, upgrades, and more—is a critical source of income for airlines trying to keep base fares low. But transparency in how these fees are marketed is increasingly under scrutiny. With lawsuits like these, carriers could face pressure to disclose hidden seat limitations and rethink how they label premium seating options.
Delta, based in Atlanta, and United, based in Chicago, have not yet responded to the complaints. For now, passengers might want to double-check seating charts before shelling out for a view that may not exist.
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