Gayle King, co-host of CBS Morning, recently expressed her dissatisfaction with United Airlines after experiencing a 9. 5-hour flight from Maui to New York City without a window in her business class seat. On January 3, 2026, King flew on a Boeing 767-300 and upon boarding, discovered that her seat, labeled as a window seat, did not actually have a window next to it. She took to social media to share her disappointment, posting a video with the caption, “When is a window seat not a window seat? C’mon @united! ” She also shared that the flight attendant acknowledged the issue and advised her to file a complaint, as he had never seen anything like it before.

King’s return flight to Newark was on time, arriving 18 minutes ahead of schedule, according to FlightAware. However, her experience begs the question, does she have a valid complaint? United’s Boeing 767-300s have Polaris business class seats in a 1-1-1 configuration, with some window-side seats being offset from the actual windows. This means that even though a seat may be labeled as a window seat, it may not have a window next to it. A website called AeroLOPA displays specific seat configurations and clearly shows where windows may be missing. This information would have been beneficial for King, as she was flying on the “premium” 767-300 with 46 business class seats.

While some may dismiss King’s complaint as a “first-world problem,” it is important to note that the seating information is not easily accessible or intuitive for passengers. Calling a seat a “window” seat when the window is not at eye level can lead to disappointment, especially on flights marketed as premium leisure experiences. In fact, United is currently facing a class action lawsuit for a similar issue in economy class.

It is worth mentioning that King, along with other members of the media, often receive special perks and discounts from airlines like United. In this case, King’s boarding pass showed that she has Global Services status, which is United’s top-tier, invite-only status for VIPs and big spenders. Media members also receive special treatment for bookings and upgrades.

In conclusion, King’s frustration with her lack of a window in her business class seat is valid and relatable to many passengers. It serves as a reminder that not all business class seats are created equal, even on the same aircraft. Whether flying on United’s 767-300 or any other aircraft, it is important for travelers to double-check seat maps and verify the presence of a window if it is important to them. AeroLOPA is a helpful resource for this information.