United Airlines has petitioned a federal court to dismiss a class-action lawsuit filed by passengers who claim the airline charged extra fees by selling seats without an actual external window as “window seats.” The motion was taken under review in November 2025 by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
The case emerged after two similar complaints were filed in August 2025 against both United and Delta Air Lines. Passengers allege that millions of “window seats” were sold on aircraft including the Boeing 737, Boeing 757, and Airbus A321, yet many of these seats do not have an actual window. Passengers who paid between $30 and $100 in seat-selection fees expecting a view say they would not have paid had they known the seats lacked windows. The filings argue that this constitutes deceptive business practices and breach of contract.
In its submission, United Airlines stated that the term “window” merely identifies a seat located near the aircraft wall and never guarantees an outside view. The airline maintained that the “window – middle – aisle” labels on booking screens and boarding passes are industry standard and not misleading. Additionally, it argued that federal law limits certain passenger claims regarding ancillary fees, and that the airline’s conditions of carriage contain no explicit guarantee regarding window seats.
Possible Impacts on the Industry
The lawsuits against United and Delta bring renewed attention to the transparency of airline ancillary fee policies and seat-selection systems. As “preferred seat” fees have become a significant revenue source for airlines, the question of what passengers are truly paying for has become more widely debated.
If the court allows the case to proceed, airlines may be required to clearly indicate “window seat” positions that lack an actual window on seat maps. This could establish a new consumer-rights standard across the industry.
How Can Passengers Identify a Real “Window” Seat?
Passengers who want a window view during their flight are advised to check the airline’s seat map during the booking process. On some aircraft types, windows may be blocked or misaligned with the row. Independent seat-map tools such as AeroLOPA clearly mark seats with missing or obstructed windows, helping travellers make informed choices.
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