Gayle King isn’t afraid to call things out—and her latest target was United Airlines after a flight experience she says made absolutely no sense. The longtime CBS News anchor took to Instagram to vent her frustration after booking what was labeled a “window seat,” only to discover there was no window anywhere near her seat.
In a now-deleted post shared on January 4, King walked followers through the situation while seated in business class. Holding up her boarding pass clearly marked “window,” she explained that she always chooses that seat specifically to enjoy the view. Instead, she was met with blank walls on both sides.
Panning her camera around, King joked about trying to peek at a window across the aisle before realizing she was completely boxed in. She described speaking with a flight attendant, who she said sympathized with her frustration and admitted they hadn’t encountered that setup before. With the flight fully booked, King was advised to file a complaint—something she made clear she intended to do.
In her caption, King directly called out United, questioning how a seat could be sold as a window seat without an actual window. “A window seat… minus the window?!” she wrote, tagging the airline and urging it to step up.
The moment quickly resonated online, especially as it comes amid a broader controversy facing United. In August 2025, a class-action lawsuit was filed against the airline by passengers who claim they were charged extra for window seats that lacked any window view. United later moved to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that the term “window seat” refers to the seat’s position next to the aircraft’s outer wall—not a guaranteed view outside.
King’s travel mishap occurred as she was heading back to New York following a Hawaiian getaway celebrating the holidays and her 71st birthday with Oprah Winfrey. Shortly after the flight, she shared photos and videos from the trip, including scenic hikes, New Year’s festivities, and a birthday moment blowing out candles on a bright yellow cake alongside Winfrey.
Despite the frustrating flight, King appeared in good spirits as she reflected on the trip, calling it the kind of vacation without schedules or plans—just time spent with people she loves. Still, her airline gripe struck a nerve, tapping into a growing debate over transparency, pricing, and what travelers should reasonably expect when booking a “window” seat.
