Why some airline window seats don't have windows

Why some airline window seats don't have windows highlights a dispute over how carriers define “window seats” when aircraft cabins include positions without a physical window. Two U.S. airlines—United Airlines and Delta Air Lines—are facing civil lawsuits filed in August 2025 over seat disclosures and pricing. The suits claim passengers were charged extra for window seats despite being seated next to an area of the fuselage with no window; one plaintiff against United, Aviva Copaken, said she paid up to $170. United argued in a November motion to dismiss that “window seat” means a seat by the aircraft wall, not necessarily a guaranteed view. A U.S. district judge in San Francisco rejected United’s motion on Monday, while Delta’s dismissal request remains pending. The article notes that seat locations vary by aircraft design and that some airlines, including United, have adjusted booking to flag no-window selections.