“Passengers across the country report paying extra for specific seats that airlines advertise as having a window, only to find themselves next to a blank wall,” said Greenbaum Olbrantz LLP (GO), a law firm that recently filed two suits over windowless “window” seats.
One of the lawsuits filed against Atlanta, Ga.-based Delta Air Lines was filed in New York by plaintiff Nicholas Meyer of Brooklyn. The other was filed against Chicago, Ill.-United Airlines in California by plaintiffs Marc Brenman of San Francisco and Aviva Copaken of Los Angeles.
According to NBC News, Copaken said United refunded fees for her windowless seats on two flights, but not a third. That complaint against United alleges that the airlines Boeing 737 and Airbus A321 models were built with seats that would traditionally have a window but lack them due to conditioning ducts, electrical conduits and other components. It includes a photo of a seat, 11A, on the United mobile app depicted with a window and another showing a windowless 11A on a plane.
Per the United suit, the airline has “likely sold over a million windowless ‘window’ seats.” Through both class action suits, more than 1 million passengers at each carrier are seeking millions of dollars in damages.
GO law firm explained that many airlines allow passengers to select their seats in advance for a fee, with window seats typically priced higher than middle seats. It said that airlines continue to advertise seats they know do not have windows, such as that 11A example, as window seats and charge fees for them.
“When consumers purchase a window seat on United or Delta Airlines, they reasonably expect that the seat will have a window,” Carter Greenbaum, an attorney at GO Law, shared in a statement with People magazine. “Instead, for years United and Delta have sold seats that they have described as ‘windows,’ only to leave customers disappointed when they find a blank wall.”
Furthermore, Greenbaum said: “Meanwhile many of United and Delta’s competitors disclose to their customers that a seat next to a wall has ‘no window view.’ United and Delta could easily do the same, but they have chosen to accept extra fees for the privilege of sitting next to a window, only to sit customers next to a blank wall.”
As part of an investigation into the windowless window seats, GO said it is looking into both economy and premium cabins and tickets purchased through website, mobile apps and third-party platforms. Its website said others might be affected if they purchased or selected a seat labeled as a “window” seat, paid a fee, redeemed airline miles, or used a credit card benefit to secure that seat and found upon boarding that there was no window next to the seat.
“If you fit this description, you may have legal rights or potential claims,” said the firm. “Even if you are unsure whether your purchase qualifies, we encourage you to contact us to discuss your situation.”
NBC News said that neither Delta nor United immediately responded to requests for comment.