Key facts
- A federal judge ruled that United Airlines must face a lawsuit from passengers who paid for window seats but found they had no actual windows.
- The judge rejected United's argument that 'window seat' referred only to the seat's location next to the cabin wall.
- Passengers claimed the airline failed to clearly disclose the absence of windows during the booking process.
- The lawsuits, filed by passengers on Boeing 737, Boeing 757, and Airbus A321 planes, seek millions in damages.
- Delta Air Lines is also facing a similar lawsuit in a Brooklyn federal court.
U.S. District Judge James Donato in San Francisco has ruled that United Airlines must face a class-action lawsuit brought by passengers who paid for window seats but discovered their seats lacked actual windows. The judge rejected the airline's defense that 'window' merely indicated a seat's position relative to the cabin wall and aisle, and that no contractual promise of an outside view was made.
Passengers filed proposed class actions against United and Delta Air Lines last August, alleging they were seated next to walls on Boeing 737, Boeing 757, and Airbus A321 aircraft. They contend that the carriers failed to clearly disclose the missing windows during the booking process, noting that walls sometimes align with aircraft components like air conditioning ducts. United, based in Chicago, declined to comment but stated it has enhanced its seat selection process to provide customers with more information.
Donato also dismissed United's argument that federal law preempted the passengers' claims. He noted that United's ticketing terms, boarding passes, and reservation screens explicitly state the carrier would provide window seats to those who paid for them. The judge indicated that this was sufficient for the breach of contract claims to proceed.
Plaintiffs typically purchase window seats for reasons such as managing fear of flying, motion sickness, occupying children, or enjoying the view. Both lawsuits are seeking millions of dollars in damages, with each carrier potentially liable for claims from over 1 million passengers.