Lawsuit Filed Against United Airlines for Windowless Window Seats

In recent news, a passenger has filed a proposed class action lawsuit against United Airlines for not providing a window seat with an actual window. United’s attorneys have responded by filing a motion to dismiss the suit. This is not the first time such a complaint has been made, as similar lawsuits were filed against both United and Delta Air Lines in California and New York last month.

According to the motion to dismiss, the use of the word “window” in reference to a seat does not guarantee an exterior view. The airline argues that the word merely indicates the position of the seat next to the wall of the aircraft’s main body, rather than next to the aisle. This is a well-known issue on some aircraft models such as the Boeing 737, where certain rows are manufactured without a window, specifically row 11.

The airline’s lawyers also referred to United’s contract of carriage, which does not explicitly promise that window seats will have exterior views. This was also highlighted in a report by Business Insider.

However, the plaintiffs, represented by law firm Carter Greenbaum, argue that passengers typically choose window seats to alleviate fear of flying, motion sickness, entertain children, enjoy more light, or watch the scenery as they fly. They claim they would have chosen different seats and not paid extra had they known they would be seated next to a blank wall.

The lawsuit seeks millions in damages and estimates that over 1 million customers per airline have been affected. According to Simple Flying, the two named plaintiffs experienced windowless window seats on United flights departing from airports in California. One was refunded the cost of her purchase, while the other received a refund in miles, which the lawyers argue is insufficient.

This is an ongoing issue that has been brought to the attention of various news sources. However, it is important to note that the facts presented are not dependent on any specific news outlet but are independently known. The lack of a window in a window seat is a valid concern for passengers, and it is understandable that they would expect a view when paying for a window seat. The outcome of this lawsuit will have an impact on airline policies and the expectations of passengers in the future.