PASSENGERS SUE UNITED AND DELTA OVER ‘WINDOW’ SEATS NEXT TO BLANK WALLS. (PHOTO)

 Passengers sue United and Delta over ‘window’ seats next to blank walls

Federal lawsuits filed this week in San Francisco and New York accuse Delta Air Lines and United Airlines of misleading passengers by charging extra for “window” seats that are actually next to blank walls.

The cases, filed as proposed class actions, aim to represent passengers who say they would not have selected or paid more for these seats if they had known they lacked a view. “We have received a flood of interest from passengers who feel they have been harmed by this practice and who wish to join the lawsuits,” said the Greenbaum Olbrantz law firm. “Many Americans fly on these airlines and expect a window when paying a premium.”

Delta and United have not commented, citing ongoing litigation. According to the Delta lawsuit, New York resident Nicholas Meyer discovered his seat, 23F, on a flight to California, was next to a blank wall despite being sold as a window seat. The lawsuit says Delta did not disclose this during seat selection. By contrast, Alaska Airlines and American Airlines provide clear disclosure about similar seats.

Both lawsuits claim the airlines were aware of complaints on social media about windowless “window” seats, but continued charging extra. The Delta filing includes screenshots of posts from dissatisfied customers, including one noting, “Your seat map should not consider this premium, nor should it call it a window seat … There is actually LESS leg room and no perks.”

The proposed class actions are seeking millions in damages from each airline.