Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are both the defendants in two different nationwide class-action lawsuits. These lawsuits have targeted their seat designs — specifically, their windowless window seats. The legal complaints allege that the airlines misled consumers by selling millions of seats marketed as having a window. Because of design constraints, those seats only look out onto blank walls.
The lead plaintiff for Delta is Nicholas Meyer, a Brooklyn, New York resident and frequent traveler. On August 5, 2025, Meyer reserved a flight departing from LaGuardia Airport to Orange County, California. The trip had a brief stop in Atlanta. He was determined to take in the beauty around him on his trip. To experience them himself, he took a window-loving premium seeker fare – paying a premium fare of $45.99 to $169.99.
Once on board Meyer was dismayed to find that his seat didn’t have a window. He described his experience:
“the ensuing four-and-a-half hour flight next to a blank wall.” – Nicholas Meyer
Afterward Meyer was refunded 7,500 frequent flyer miles, which Meyer called “inadequate under the circumstances.” His case highlights a broader issue affecting many passengers who expect a view but instead find themselves facing solid walls.
In the other lawsuit against United Airlines, plaintiff Aviva Copaken faced disappointment after purchasing three window seats for her flight. Shortly after this announcement, it was discovered that all three of these seats were windowless. Copaken has been outspoken about what it’s like to fly now. She has extreme claustrophobia, and it is very important to her to be able to have a view while flying.
The lawsuits address specific aircraft types, such as Boeing 737s, Boeing 757s, and Airbus A321s. Unlike most of these models, they do not arrive with window-dressing. Due to some design features, it’s been impossible to get in real windows on certain runs. The plaintiffs claim that the failure to disclose or misrepresentation resulted in significant financial harm to customers. These customers were expecting a real window seat experience, not a simulacrum.
Additional charges for window seats on international flights can jump over $100. Instead, many passengers have recently been relegated to staring at drooping walls rather than taking in scenic panoramas. Consumer justice The legal complaints accuse Delta and United of misleading and duplicitous behavior. They sold these seats as window seats but you can’t really give them the experience they advertised.
Neither Delta nor United Airlines responded to multiple requests for comment when asked about the ongoing lawsuits. The airline industry has long been contentious among consumers, and as these cases proceed they are likely to inspire more widespread conversations about transparency and consumer rights.
