Delta, United sued for charging extra for ‘window seats’ without windows

Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are facing lawsuits from passengers who say they were charged extra for window seats, only to discover their seats were next to a blank wall.

The lawsuits, filed separately in US federal courts this week, accuse the two US carriers of deceiving customers and seek millions of dollars in damages on behalf of more than a million passengers of each airline.

The suits, filed by law firm Greenbaum Olbrantz LLP, allege that both airlines knowingly sell so-called window seats on some Boeing 737, Boeing 757 and Airbus A321 aircraft that in fact have no windows, often because of the placement of air conditioning ducts or electrical components.

“We’re seeking to hold United and Delta accountable for charging customers premiums for products that they didn’t deliver, and misrepresenting the nature of the products that they did deliver,” said Carter Greenbaum, an attorney with the firm, in an interview. “They sold customers window seats and ended up seating them next to a wall.”

Delta declined to comment, while United said it would not comment on ongoing legal matters, according to the BBC and The New York Times, which both reported on the lawsuits.

The complaints argue that both airlines “affirmatively” describe every wall-adjacent seat as a window seat, even when it lacks one, and that customers may be charged more than $50 on United domestic flights — and more than $70 on Delta — for such seats. On international flights, United passengers may pay as much as $100 for a supposed window seat.

The lawsuits say many passengers choose window seats for specific reasons, including a fear of flying, motion sickness, keeping children occupied, or simply for the view. “Plaintiff had no option but to spend the ensuing four-and-a-half hour flight next to a blank wall,” one Delta complaint said, describing a New York passenger’s experience on a Boeing 757.

Named plaintiffs in the United case include Aviva Copaken of Los Angeles, who paid between $45.99 and $169.99 to select a window seat on three flights that turned out to be windowless, and Marc Brenman of San Francisco, who used loyalty points for a similar seat. Both received partial refunds after complaining to the airline.

Other US carriers, including American Airlines and Alaska Airlines, operate similar aircraft but disclose during the booking process if a seat does not include a window, the lawsuits note. “United and Delta could easily implement the same disclosures,” Greenbaum said.

The suits are seeking refunds of the extra fees charged, as well as punitive damages. Casey Olbrantz, another attorney on the cases, estimated that the number of affected passengers “is in the millions.”