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United argues 'window seat' does not mean 'seat with a window' (aerospaceglobalnews.com)

submitted 2 days ago by bytesonbike@discuss.online to c/nottheonion@lemmy.world

190 comments fedilink hide all child comments

In August 2025, two nearly identical lawsuits were filed: one against United (in San Francisco federal court) and one against Delta Air Lines (in Brooklyn federal court). They claim that each airline sold more than one million “window seats” on aircraft such as the Boeing 737, Boeing 757, and Airbus A321, many of which are next to blank fuselage walls rather than windows.

Passengers say they paid seat-selection fees (commonly $30 to $100+) expecting a view, sunlight, or the comfort of a genuine window seat — and say they would not have booked or paid extra had they known the seat lacked a window.

As reported by Reuters, United’s filing argues that it never promised a view when it used the label “window” for a seat. According to the airline, “window” refers only to the seat’s location next to the aircraft wall, not a guarantee of an exterior view.

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[–] 13igTyme@piefed.social 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

I just booked two flights for my wife, who doesn't have status and thus she is limited to economy without paying for an upgrade.

One is a round trip in December and the other is a round trip next October. Each had a connection. That's a total of 8 individual planes and each one had the same price for every economy seat.

[–] BassTurd@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I've got a flight booked for a snowboarding trip next February into Denver. If I go to pick my seat right now, it's $47.99 for the aisle or window and $36.99 for a middle seat in the preferred section. In economy it's $19.99 and $17.99 respectively.

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[–] 13igTyme@piefed.social 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

You selected the basic economy option, not Economy. Select Economy for the ticket and all the economy seats are the same. Basic economy makes you pay to select a seat, only get one carry one or personal item, and board in group 6. Basic economy is cheaper that that is literally why.

Go through the process of booking it again and select economy and you'll see.

I'm having issues posting a picture. I'll update in a few. I had to do imgur.

https://imgur.com/a/bXIg8ZH

[–] BassTurd@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

That clears it up. Apples and oranges.

[–] XeroxCool@lemmy.world 0 points 2 days ago (1 children)

So your proof that "this lawsuit is bullshit" is that... If you pick a higher class at the start, it hides the window upcharge as a flat fee? I mean yeah, if I click Premium economy at the start, I get the near-wing seats for free, and I can even grab a rear row steerage seat for free, no discount applied.

You are wrong that there's NO upcharge for different seats in a row. That's it.

[–] 13igTyme@piefed.social 0 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Hey fuck head. That picture is an Economy ticket not Preferred Economy. You can see that with each seat in economy the price is the same. I know you want to make up some bullshit, but at least fucking read the proof right in front of you.

You don't know the difference between basic economy, economy, and preferred economy. You're argument is dead and you are WRONG. Period.

[–] XeroxCool@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

You asked where, we showed you where. Imagine arguing that a la carte chocolate mousse doesn't cost more than vanilla ice cream because you could have chosen all-you-can-eat at the start

[–] 13igTyme@piefed.social 0 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Image arguing about paying more to pick a seat, when just getting the higher ticket is cheaper than the added price of the seat plus base ticket, not even factoring the $40 to turn your carry on into a checked bag.

[–] XeroxCool@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

So you changed your argument? You originally said the seats don't cost more, but now you're saying everyone is a moron for not choosing the package that flatten seat cost? Even though you checked every flight from both airlines in every country they operate to ensure that, by undeniable fact, seats in a particular row are a flat cost?

[–] 13igTyme@piefed.social 1 points 2 days ago

My argument never changed If you intend to pick your seat, get the ticket that lets you. If you don't care about your seat then get the ticket that gives you the OPTION to pay more to pick. The reason I didn't consider basic economy is because we are talking about picking a seat. Basic exists for people that don't care and don't have two bags or their second bag is a checked size anyway. Sure you can save money, but once you start adding on to the restrictions, then there is no point in basic.

Do me a favor. Read about the restrictions for basic economy, then book a ticket with basic, picking a seat, a checked bag (that is the size of a carry on), then get priority boarding. Check how much that costs vs just getting the economy ticket and having that part of it. Priority boarding because United boards window, middle, aisle. So a basic is group 6 and a chosen window is group 3. Priority is 2, but hardly makes a difference.