Delta and United sued for selling 'window seats' without windows

Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are facing lawsuits from passengers who claim they paid extra for window seats but ended up sitting next to a blank wall instead of a window. These lawsuits, which were filed separately against each airline, are seeking millions of dollars in damages for more than a million customers from each company. The main complaint is that Delta and United do not tell customers during the booking process that some seats labeled as 'window seats' do not actually have windows, even though they charge a premium for these seats. United Airlines has declined to comment on the lawsuits because the legal process is still ongoing, and the BBC has reached out to Delta for their response.

The lawsuits were filed by the legal firm Greenbaum Olbrantz and are very similar in wording. They demand refunds of the extra fees paid by passengers who thought they were getting window seats but ended up with windowless ones. According to the complaints, some Boeing and Airbus planes have seats without windows because of the placement of air conditioning ducts, wiring, or other equipment. These seats are not marked as windowless when customers book their tickets, which means people can pay more for a seat expecting a window, only to be disappointed when they board the plane.

The lawsuits explain that people choose window seats for many reasons. Some passengers have a fear of flying and feel calmer if they can look outside. Others suffer from motion sickness and need to see the horizon to feel better. Parents often pick window seats to keep their children entertained during the flight, and many travelers simply want to enjoy the view. The complaints say that if customers had known their seat did not have a window, they would not have paid extra for it or chosen it at all. The documents also state that both airlines describe every seat along the sides of their planes as a 'window seat', even when they know some seats are not next to a window. Passengers are often charged more to select these seats compared to standard seats. The lawyers representing the passengers call this practice 'deceptive' and 'unlawful'.

Other airlines, such as American Airlines and Alaska Airlines, operate similar planes but are more transparent during the booking process. They let customers know if a seat does not have a window, so people can make an informed choice. The lawsuits argue that Delta and United should do the same and refund the extra money to passengers who did not get a real window seat.

This situation has made many travelers upset because they feel they did not get what they paid for. They trusted the airlines to provide a window seat, but instead, they got a seat next to a wall. Some passengers say they would have chosen a different seat or not paid extra if they had known the truth. The lawyers believe the airlines should be honest and clear with their customers when selling seats.

The outcome of these lawsuits is still unknown, but they could force Delta and United to change how they label and sell their seats. The airlines might have to start telling customers which seats do not have windows and refund money to those who were misled. This case highlights the importance of transparency and honesty in business, especially when customers are paying extra for a specific experience.