Delta and United Airlines Sued Over Deceptive Window Seat Charges
Published 21 August 2025
Highlights
- Delta and United Airlines face lawsuits for allegedly charging extra for window seats that lack windows.
- The lawsuits, filed in federal courts, seek millions in damages for over a million passengers per airline.
- Complaints highlight that certain Boeing and Airbus planes have windowless seats due to technical components.
- Other airlines, like American and Alaska, disclose windowless seats during booking, unlike Delta and United.
- The legal firm Greenbaum Olbrantz describes the practice as "deceptive" and "unlawful".
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Rewritten Article
Headline: Delta and United Airlines Sued Over Deceptive Window Seat Charges
Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are embroiled in legal battles as passengers accuse them of charging premiums for window seats that do not actually have windows. The lawsuits, filed in federal courts in San Francisco and Brooklyn, seek millions of dollars in damages for over a million passengers at each airline.
Allegations of Deceptive Practices
The complaints, lodged by the legal firm Greenbaum Olbrantz, claim that certain seats on Boeing 737, Boeing 757, and Airbus A321 aircraft are marketed as window seats despite being adjacent to blank walls. This situation arises due to the placement of air conditioning ducts, electrical conduits, or other components, which the airlines allegedly fail to disclose during the booking process.
Consumer Protection Concerns
Passengers argue that they would not have opted for these seats, nor paid extra for them, had they known about the lack of windows. The lawsuits highlight that other airlines, such as American Airlines and Alaska Airlines, provide transparency by flagging windowless seats during booking, a practice Delta and United are accused of neglecting.
Legal and Industry Reactions
Carter Greenbaum, an attorney at Greenbaum Olbrantz, emphasized the need to hold Delta and United accountable for what he described as misrepresentation and failure to deliver promised services. Neither airline has commented on the ongoing legal proceedings, maintaining silence amid growing scrutiny.
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Scenario Analysis
The outcome of these lawsuits could set a precedent for how airlines disclose seat information, potentially leading to industry-wide changes in booking transparency. If the courts rule against Delta and United, it may prompt airlines to revise their seating policies and improve consumer protection measures. Legal experts suggest that this case could encourage more passengers to scrutinize airline practices, potentially leading to further legal challenges in the aviation sector.
Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are embroiled in legal battles as passengers accuse them of charging premiums for window seats that do not actually have windows. The lawsuits, filed in federal courts in San Francisco and Brooklyn, seek millions of dollars in damages for over a million passengers at each airline.
Allegations of Deceptive Practices
The complaints, lodged by the legal firm Greenbaum Olbrantz, claim that certain seats on Boeing 737, Boeing 757, and Airbus A321 aircraft are marketed as window seats despite being adjacent to blank walls. This situation arises due to the placement of air conditioning ducts, electrical conduits, or other components, which the airlines allegedly fail to disclose during the booking process.
Consumer Protection Concerns
Passengers argue that they would not have opted for these seats, nor paid extra for them, had they known about the lack of windows. The lawsuits highlight that other airlines, such as American Airlines and Alaska Airlines, provide transparency by flagging windowless seats during booking, a practice Delta and United are accused of neglecting.
Legal and Industry Reactions
Carter Greenbaum, an attorney at Greenbaum Olbrantz, emphasized the need to hold Delta and United accountable for what he described as misrepresentation and failure to deliver promised services. Neither airline has commented on the ongoing legal proceedings, maintaining silence amid growing scrutiny.
What this might mean
The outcome of these lawsuits could set a precedent for how airlines disclose seat information, potentially leading to industry-wide changes in booking transparency. If the courts rule against Delta and United, it may prompt airlines to revise their seating policies and improve consumer protection measures. Legal experts suggest that this case could encourage more passengers to scrutinize airline practices, potentially leading to further legal challenges in the aviation sector.
