Gayle King, a celebrated journalist and television host, recently expressed her dissatisfaction on Instagram regarding an experience with United Airlines. On January 4, 2026, King uploaded a video conveying her discontent about a window seat that did not feature an actual window. She was traveling in business class on United’s flight UA441 from Maui to Newark, operated by a Boeing 767-300ER. Although she chose a seat she thought would have a window, King ended up in the back row of the business class section, which lacked a window due to the aircraft’s design.
King’s post, which reached her 1.2 million followers, contained a caption questioning when a window seat is not genuinely a window seat. She noted that even the flight attendant recognized the problem but was unable to help because the flight was full. The video depicted King attempting to find a window view, only to be obstructed by a wall or a closed shade from the passenger seated in front.
The incident elicited mixed responses, with some criticizing King for what they saw as a “first world” issue. Nonetheless, it also brought to light a common dilemma in air travel where window seats may not always come with windows, particularly in premium sections. A member of United’s Global Services, King might have sidestepped the issue by checking seating websites like aeroLOPA, which offer detailed seating charts.
This event echoes a previous class action lawsuit against United for marketing window seats that lack windows, although that case involved passengers who had paid extra for their seat selections. Conversely, United’s premium cabin seating does not charge additional fees for seat choices.
King’s ordeal serves as a reminder for travelers to confirm seat specifics before a flight and to be careful about sharing boarding pass information online. Despite the criticism, the tale emphasizes the necessity of setting realistic expectations and being aware of airline seating arrangements.