Sonali Tiwary
A California law firm is investigating potential legal action against United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, alleging the carriers charged passengers extra for “window seats” that had no actual window.
Greenbaum Olbrantz (Go Law) is gathering information from California residents who paid premium fees for window seats within the past four years, only to discover their assigned seat had a wall where a window should be.
“We’re seeking to hold United and Delta accountable for an unfair and misleading business practice they could fix overnight,” attorney Casey Olbrantz told NBC Bay Area by email.
As of August 15, 2025, no official complaints have been filed in federal court records, though the firm has stated it intends to file in the Northern District of California, seeking class certification for affected customers.
Why Some “Window Seats” Don’t Have Windows
This isn’t random – aircraft design creates specific rows where windows can’t physically exist due to structural requirements, even though these seats may be positioned along the cabin wall.
Alaska Airlines explained this phenomenon in a 2019 article: “Every aircraft in Alaska’s Boeing fleet has a seat or two, on the left side forward of the wing, with either partial access to a window or no window at all.”
John Melvin, Alaska’s director of fleet engineering, provided the technical explanation: “That’s the spot where Boeing places the air conditioning riser ducts from the belly – where the air conditioners are located – to the cabin ceiling, where the air distribution ducts are at. The vertical ducts are located behind the passenger compartment sidewall panels and they prevent the installation of a window in one row on the left side. This is standard on all Boeing 737 aircraft, not just ours.”
Specifically on Boeing 737 aircraft, these windowless seats are typically found in these locations (though seat numbers can vary by airline and configuration):
- 737-700: Seat 9A (on Alaska Airlines)
- 737-800: Seat 10A (on Alaska Airlines)
- 737-900/900ER: Seat 11A (on Alaska Airlines)
Other common causes for windowless window seats include:
- Seats positioned between window cutouts
- Internal structural components blocking window placement
- Seat maps that don’t clearly indicate windowless positions
What Travelers Can Do Now
If you’re a California resident who paid extra for a window seat in the last four years but got assigned to a seat without a window on United or Delta, the law firm recommends saving:
- E-receipts showing the seat selection fee
- Confirmation emails specifying window seat assignment
- Boarding passes with seat numbers
- Photos of the windowless wall from your seat position
Before your next flight, protect yourself by:
Using third-party platforms like SeatGuru or AeroLopa, which often provide more detailed information about aircraft configurations than airlines’ own booking systems, including whether a seat includes a window. However, the firm contends airlines should provide this information themselves during seat selection.
Some airlines do provide this transparency. Ryanair, for example, has added a warning message during seat selection for its infamous seat 11A on Boeing 737-800 aircraft, informing customers that “this seat has no window.” However, this practice is not yet standard across the industry.
American Airlines has also begun noting some windowless seats in its booking system. A spokesperson for American Airlines confirmed to Newsweek that when customers select seats via aa.com or the American Airlines app, “they are prompted to review any special information prior to confirming their selection,” including notifications about seats with “No window view.”
The Regulatory Framework
The U.S. Department of Transportation enforces regulations against unfair or deceptive practices under 49 U.S.C. § 41712. According to DOT’s rule at 14 CFR 399.79, a practice is “unfair” if it causes or is likely to cause substantial injury, which is not reasonably avoidable, and the harm is not outweighed by benefits to consumers or competition.
The DOT’s Aviation Consumer Protection division handles complaints about airline services and practices, including potentially misleading marketing.
What’s Next for Affected Passengers
If you believe you qualify for the potential class action, you can submit information through Go Law’s intake page. Even if you don’t meet the criteria for the lawsuit, you can still:
- Contact the airline’s customer service directly to request compensation
- File a complaint with the DOT’s Aviation Consumer Protection division
- Be more vigilant about seat selection on future flights
Industry Impact
Preferred seating fees have become a lucrative revenue stream for airlines, with costs often ranging from $15 to $100 depending on the seat’s location. Window seats are among the most sought-after, offering natural light, a sense of space and aerial views.
If successful, this legal action could potentially lead airlines to change how they label and price seats, such as:
- Clearly marking windowless seats on booking diagrams
- Offering refunds or discounts for affected passengers
- Implementing industry-wide standards for seat labeling
The airlines haven’t issued public responses to the allegations. This article will be updated with case numbers and airline statements as they become available.
