United Airlines Faces Class-Action Lawsuit Over 'Windowless' Window Seats

United Airlines must face a proposed class-action lawsuit alleging the carrier charged passengers for window seats that did not have windows, a federal judge ruled Monday.

U.S. District Judge James Donato refused to dismiss the case, finding that the plaintiffs had plausibly alleged that United breached its contractual obligations. The lawsuit claims United sold seats designated as window seats that were positioned next to solid cabin walls instead of windows.

Donato wrote that the terms of sale plausibly establish that United agreed to provide a seat with a window to passengers who paid for one, noting that the airline's reservation screens and boarding passes indicated customers had purchased window seats. "No more is needed at this stage for the breach claims to go forward," the judge stated.

The plaintiffs allege that United knowingly charged passengers a premium for certain window seats on aircraft, including Boeing 737s, Boeing 757s, and Airbus A321s, even when these seats lacked adjacent windows due to aircraft design. The suit contends that passengers often pay extra for window seats to enjoy the view or to mitigate anxiety, claustrophobia, or motion sickness.

United had argued that the lawsuit should be dismissed, asserting that "window seat" refers to a seat's location relative to the aisle and does not guarantee an actual window. The airline also contended that federal law preempts the claims. Judge Donato rejected these arguments for the current stage of litigation.

A United Airlines spokesperson stated that the airline is enhancing its seat selection process. "As part of our regular review of united.com and the United App to enhance the customer experience, in 2025 we added more detail to our seat selection process, so customers can have more information about what to expect when they choose a seat," the spokesperson said.

The plaintiffs seek to represent a nationwide class of passengers who paid additional fees for window seats but allegedly did not receive seats with windows. The case will now proceed in federal court.