Lawsuit: United Is Hawking ‘Windowless Window Seats’
United Airlines is asking a federal judge to throw out a proposed class-action lawsuit that accuses the carrier of misleading customers about “window seats.” In a filing submitted to federal court in San Francisco, the airline argues that the term “window seat” refers only to a seat positioned along the aircraft’s outer wall—not a guarantee that an actual window will be present. “The use of the word ‘window’ in reference to a particular seat cannot reasonably be interpreted as a promise that the seat will have an exterior window view,” United’s attorneys wrote, according to People.
The lawsuit claims United sold certain “window seats” at a premium even though some of those seats had no window at all. Plaintiffs’ attorney Carter Greenbaum argues that travelers pay extra with a clear expectation: “When passengers book and pay more for a window seat, they expect their seat to have a window. Customers deserve more than empty promises and United’s word games.” United counters that its contract of carriage—which all passengers agree to when purchasing a ticket—contains no such promise. The airline also points to federal law that broadly shields carriers from lawsuits related to fees and seat surcharges, including charges for preferred seating.
An amended complaint filed in October says many customers pay more for a window because it can ease anxiety, claustrophobia, motion sickness, or fear of flying. “Whatever the motivation for buying a window, had plaintiffs and the putative class members known that they were buying windowless window seats, they would not have selected them at all—let alone paid extra,” the filing states. The suit accuses United of breach of contract, breach of implied contract, and promissory estoppel. A similar case has also been brought against Delta Air Lines in federal court in New York, Reuters reports.
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