- Some airplane window seats lack windows due to seat configurations that don’t align with the fixed window placements built into the aircraft fuselage.
- Airlines often adjust seat pitch to add more rows, which can result in misaligned rows and windowless “window seats.”
- While some airlines now label these seats clearly during booking, it’s still possible to end up without a view unless you check seat maps in advance.
Have you ever booked a window seat only to board and find that you’re not looking out at the clear blue skies but rather at a white wall? While it’s not a common occurrence, it’s still a frustrating surprise.
But why don’t those seats have windows? It’s because sometimes airlines customize the aircraft and add more rows than it was initially designed for. Fundamentally, the issue arises because windows are permanent structural elements, whereas seat layouts can change based on airline preferences.
Structural Requirements vs. Seating Flexibility
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“Airlines configure seating based on maximum seating alignment. Seat rows are spaced according to seat pitch (legroom), which varies by airline and aircraft type,” says Corry Lane, director of safety at Cirrus Aviation Services, a private jet charter company. “Windows, however, are fixed into the aircraft’s fuselage at standard intervals that don’t always match seat spacing.”
Aircraft manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus typically install windows around every 20 inches. Airlines then customize interiors according to their own requirements. If you’ve felt like you’re getting less and less legroom on flights over the years, that’s that “customization” in action. Generally, budget carriers may install seats with a reduced pitch to fit more rows in, while full-service airlines may have fewer rows but more legroom.
Since windows are already installed when seat configurations are established, they can’t be adjusted, and misalignments happen.
Window Seats Without a View
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The alignment issue has led to instances where airlines designate seats as “window seats” despite the absence of actual windows—but is that legally okay? There are no hard guidelines yet, and class-action lawsuits have been filed against major companies as recently as Aug. 2025, alleging misleading business practices.
“There’s currently no specific FAA rule about selling windowless ‘window’ seats. However, broad consumer-protection laws—both federal and state—apply,” says Eric Napoli, chief legal officer at AirHelp, a company that works to promote air passenger rights. “The Department of Transportation prohibits airlines from misleading consumers in advertising. Moreover, at the state level, false representations about what is purchased could be actionable.”
While there are currently no formal standards, industry practices are evolving toward greater transparency, and current legal proceedings may establish precedent for disclosure requirements. Some airlines, including Alaska Airlines and American Airlines, already say when windowless seats are available, using terms such as “no window” or “wall seat” during the booking process.
So what can you do if you get a dreaded wall seat?
“Passengers may have several legal avenues, such as a refund or compensation. If the seat vastly differed from the promised product (i.e., lacking a window), the purchase could be considered void or deceptive,” says Napoli. “Also, they could go down the avenue of false advertising or misrepresentation claim, where paying extra for a ‘window’ seat when no window exists may constitute breach of contract or unjust enrichment. Finally, passengers could go down the route of a class-action suit.”
