Millions Sought in Compensation for Deceptive Window Seats on Delta and United Airlines
When purchasing airline tickets, travelers are often charged extra fees for various amenities such as baggage, seat selection, and legroom. However, it can be frustrating for passengers when they do not receive the amenities they have already paid for. In response, class-action lawsuits have been filed against Delta Air Lines and United Airlines for misleading customers by charging a premium for window seats that do not actually have a window.
One of the lawsuits was filed by Nicholas Meyer after he found himself in a windowless window seat on a Delta flight. Despite paying for seat 23F, a window seat, Meyer found himself next to a blank wall for the entire 4. 5-hour flight. His attorneys are now seeking legal action on behalf of all passengers who have experienced similar issues. The lawsuit has been filed in New York, and a separate suit against United has been filed by the same firm in San Francisco.
Both Delta and United use aircraft such as the Boeing 737, Airbus 321, and Boeing 757, which have either an electrical conduit or air conditioning duct in place of a window on one side. Despite this, the airlines continue to advertise and sell these seats as window seats. The lawsuits accuse them of intentional misconduct and seek punitive damages and compensation for affected passengers.
According to Meyer’s attorney, Casey Olbrantz, many other airlines disclose to customers that these particular seats have no window view. However, United and Delta conveniently omit this fact and continue to charge extra fees. Olbrantz stated that the firm has received numerous requests to join the lawsuits from other passengers who have also been misled.
For basic economy tickets, both airlines require passengers to pay for seat selection. United charges at least $15 per flight, per person, while Delta’s window seats can cost up to $30. The lawsuits also point out that passengers often choose window seats due to reasons such as flying anxiety or to keep children entertained, making the lack of information about the seats even more deceptive.
The Biden administration has recently cracked down on “junk fees,” including extra charges from airlines. A Senate report from last year revealed that five major U. S. carriers, including United and Delta, earned a total of $12. 4 billion from seat selection fees between 2019 and 2023. These fees include charges for preferred seats, extra legroom, and window or aisle seats. However, airlines argue that these fees allow passengers to customize their trips and only pay for the services they want.
Some travelers use third-party websites like SeatGuru to read reviews of specific seats and make informed decisions. However, the attorneys in these lawsuits emphasize that this does not excuse the airlines from their responsibility. As lawyer Carter Greenbaum stated, a company cannot lie about the nature of its products and then rely on third-party reviews to absolve them of their deception.
It should also be noted that United and American are not the only airlines to offer