"In August, United and Delta Air Lines were sued by passengers in two separate but similar suits. Both airlines were accused of unfairly charging extra for some window seats without warning that there wasn't actually a window there.
United filed a motion to dismiss the case on Monday.
"The use of the word 'window' in reference to a particular seat cannot reasonably be interpreted as a promise that the seat will have an exterior window view," the airline's lawyers wrote.
"Rather, the word 'window' identifies the position of the seat—i.e., next to the wall of the main body of the aircraft," they added.
I'll defer any commentary on this absurdity.
War is peace. Wall is window.
ReplyDeleteYeah they pulled this trick on me. I no longer book with them.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised to get one of these “window” seats on a recent Air Transat flight from Scotland. I felt very claustrophobic for the entire 8 hour journey and would never do it again.
ReplyDeleteThe problem here is lawyers.
ReplyDeleteI can see the idea that airlines think in 3 types of seats. Window, middle and isle. We all know that some "window" seats are not right next to a window; this had to do with the fact that window spacing is not identical to seat spacing. No lawsuits is required over common sense.
However, then lawyers come in and write this nonsense. I presume however, that the lawsuit initializing this nonsense also had stupid language.
This lawsuit would also not exist if airlines would not nickel and dime people over their freaking seats. Airlines started that nonsense and asked for this. Once you start being petty, you can reasonable expect the people who you treat with pettiness to be petty back.
Also, did you know airlines are not in the business of flying people around anymore? They just use the flights to get a captive audience for their credit card and airmiles ads.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/09/airlines-banks-mileage-programs/675374/
I'll end with some Terry Pratchett:
"There's no grays, only white that's got grubby. I'm surprised you don't know that. And sin, young man, is when you treat people like things. Including yourself. That's what sin is."
"It's a lot more complicated than that--"
"No. It ain't. When people say things are a lot more complicated than that, they means they're getting worried that they won't like the truth. People as things, that's where it starts."
"Oh, I'm sure there are worse crimes--"
"But they starts with thinking about people as things..."
I've been nailed by the halfway seat before, between two windows.
DeleteBut the issue that they're talking about is seats that don't have a window view at all, just wall of airplane.
Unquestionably misrepresentation, I've seen it, I've been there, it's not pleasant getting charged extra for nothing.
I understand the airlines' position on this. They have three categories of seat positions. Perhaps they should add a fourth.
ReplyDeleteI wish they would link to a service such as AeroLOPA or SeatMaps when you're selecting a seat. (SeatGuru is no more.)
Will the next be "a 'seat' does not mean where will be a seat to sit on : you will have to sit on the floor in the corridor" ?
ReplyDelete