Top airlines face major lawsuits over window seats

[Marisa Laudadio]

Fares can be higher for window seats on most major airlines. By: Royce Fonseca on Unsplash

Airline passengers often pay extra to reserve a preferred seat. For many travelers, that means shelling out a premium to reserve a window seat. Now, two major airlines are facing lawsuits for allegedly failing to deliver what passengers paid for.

Delta and United under fire​

Two new lawsuits claim Delta and United have knowingly sold window seats that don’t actually have windows for years. By: Simon Ray on Unsplash

Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are being sued in proposed class action cases over allegations they mislead customers by charging extra for seats marketed as having windows, even though some of those seats actually lack openings and views. The Delta case, which alleges breach of contract, was filed in New York. The United case, which was filed in California, accuses the airline of breaching a self-imposed obligation, breaching both express and implied contracts, and violating California’s Unfair Competition Law and Consumer Legal Remedies Act.

Where did the windows go?​

The placement of internal components on some planes means windows are removed. By: Henry Siismets on Unsplash

According to the plaintiffs, as detailed by Top Class Actions, certain configurations of Delta and United’s Boeing 737 and Airbus A321 aircraft include at least one seat that, in a typical layout, should have a window but does not. This is due to the placement of internal components like air conditioning systems and electrical wiring.

Window seats cost extra​

Two top airlines, Delta and United, have been accused of deceptive advertising in lawsuits filed in New York and California. By: Alexander Grey on Unsplash

Delta passengers purchasing basic economy fares may pay more than $40 to upgrade to a higher fare class, followed by an additional $30 or more to reserve a specific window seat, Top Class Actions reported. Meanwhile, United seat selection fees on domestic flights can surpass $50, with international travelers sometimes paying more than $100 in extra charges per seat.

Other airlines disclose windowless seats​

American Airlines and Alaska Airlines inform passengers when a window seat doesn’t have a window. By: Ross Sokolovski on Unsplash

The lawsuits against Delta and United claim the airlines misled passengers by promoting certain seats as having windows — unlike Alaska Airlines and American Airlines, which explicitly inform travelers when a window seat lacks an actual window. “We’re seeking to hold United and Delta accountable for an unfair and misleading business practice they could fix overnight,” attorney Casey Olbrantz at GO Law told the NBC Bay Area affiliate.


The post Top airlines face major lawsuits over window seats appeared first on Knewz.

Continue reading...

 

Join 𝕋𝕄𝕋 on Telegram
Channel PREVIEW: