Airline Lawsuit Over Windowless ‘Window’ Seats Moves Forward

Image: Plane cabin. (Photo Credit: Adobe/tonefotografia)
Image: Plane cabin. (Photo Credit: Adobe/tonefotografia)
Jessica Puckett
by Jessica Puckett
Last updated: 12:50 PM ET, Wed July 8, 2026

A class-action lawsuit brought against a United States airline by passengers who purchased window seats without an actual window has been allowed to proceed.

A California judge has denied United Airlines’ request to dismiss the lawsuit that was filed in 2025, according to ABC News.

United said in a court filing that it defines a window seat as a place relative to the aisle instead of actually offering a window. 

However, the judge ruled that passengers’ claims of the carrier knowingly selling a seat without a window could be plausible due to the airline’s contract of carriage, which includes “terms and conditions printed on or in any ticket.”

“The ticket that entitles the passenger to fly on United is a boarding pass that expressly states a window seat was purchased,” the judge’s ruling stated. 

United told ABC News that last year it changed its seat selection process to provide more information to passengers on what they can expect at their seat as “part of our regular review of united.com and the United App to enhance the customer experience.”

Delta Air Lines is also facing a similar lawsuit from fliers over its seats farthest from the aisle.

The windowless “window” seats exist because aircraft design sometimes prohibit airlines from adding a window in the fuselage due to interior components like wiring. 


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Jessica Puckett

Jessica Puckett

Jessica Puckett is an Emmy Award-winning journalist who covers transportation and travel news. She has reported for ABC News, The Points Guy, Condé Nast Traveler, and several other publications.

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