Two U.S. aviation giants are facing class-action lawsuits over an unexpected blind spot in their premium seat sales. The suits, filed in San Francisco and Brooklyn, claim millions of passengers paid extra for the coveted “window seat” experience, only to find themselves staring at a blank plastic panel.
“Many travelers deliberately book a window seat for the thrill of the view,” the plaintiffs’ attorneys point out. Yet for a surprising number of flyers, the promised panorama at 30,000 feet can all too often turn into a viewless wall.
To be fair, some carriers do disclose the so-called “blind window” seats in advance. Still, industry insiders estimate there are at least a million such seats in circulation. And in a business that sells experiences as much as it sells miles, the difference between clouds and plastic could cost airlines a lot more than a business-class upgrade.
Pamela McCourt Francescone
Executive Editor
