In August 2025, two nearly identical lawsuits were filed: one against United (in San Francisco federal court) and one against Delta Air Lines (in Brooklyn federal court). They claim that each airline sold more than one million “window seats” on aircraft such as the Boeing 737, Boeing 757, and Airbus A321, many of which are next to blank fuselage walls rather than windows.
Passengers say they paid seat-selection fees (commonly $30 to $100+) expecting a view, sunlight, or the comfort of a genuine window seat — and say they would not have booked or paid extra had they known the seat lacked a window.
As reported by Reuters, United’s filing argues that it never promised a view when it used the label “window” for a seat. According to the airline, “window” refers only to the seat’s location next to the aircraft wall, not a guarantee of an exterior view.
I prefer window seats specifically because they are up against a wall, and I know I have an armrest to myself. If that’s where I end up, I am more likely to just close the window shade, particularly if I am jetlagged and need sleep.
However, I had status on United for a while and throughout that whole time did not have to pay any extra fees for that “window” seat. If the airlines are up-charging for window seats, then they better have windows, otherwise they should call them something else.