Delta Fares

Why is it that some planes have windows missing?

Aircraft such as the 757 (seen at this link:http://www.airliners.net/photo/Delta-Air-Lines/Boeing-757-232/1337580/L/) Have windows missing. I know there might be toilets or closets there, but not always. I'm booking a flight with Delta to New York from Edinburgh on the B757-200. I like sitting just in front of the wing. But it just happens that them seats don't have windows. Any sensible answers are much appreciated.

Public Comments

1. I think it has something to do with emergency exits.
2. Structural supports and also areas where the fuselage is put together as well as areas near doors are areas that will not have windows. The fuselage is not a single piece on larger aircraft and are built separately then attached.......
3. They won't have seats where there aren't any windows. IIRC the area to the left of the front door and to the right of the second door (as viewed) are storage areas. The ones immediately above the engine are toilets.
4. Some of the aircraft have modification from operator / owner of the aircraft and all of a sudden they change their mind while they are in the process of their work... the reason are these they want to reduce the maintenance cost, time, and paper works that’s why they allow it like that / closed besides it will not affect the airworthiness of the aircraft.
5. Many Boeing aircraft have that same lack of windows just forward of the wing. On your Delta 757s it is rows 22 and 23, in 737s it is often row 6. 767s and 747s, depending on the model also can have that problem. The missing window is not due to faulty planning, it is a trade off that the Boeing engineers made in order to lighten and simplify the aircraft's systems. Behind the wall panel in those rows can be found an Air Conditioning riser duct. This duct brings fresh air up from the air conditioning packs under the floor and into the distribution vents above the seats. On early Boeing models (such as the 707, and early 737 models) these riser ducts were smaller and ran between the windows. Starting on the 737-300 series, the smaller ducts were combined into a single large duct which happened to obstruct the view of one unlucky row of seats. Since the riser ducts do not always line up with the same rows of seats (depending on the airline) it is always good to check SeatGuru.com before you book your seats, to ensure that you won't be stuck at a windowless wall.
6. Most commercial aircraft have lavs and galleys that the customer can order located almost where they want, depending on configuration. In those areas, a plug is installed instead of a window glass. The plug is quite a bit cheaper than the glass, and it'd be too expensive to make a different skin panel for every configuration depending on galley and lav location.
7. Kevin P hit the nail on the head. The air conditioning units are on the belly ahead of the gear and send the air to a manifold in front of the wing just behind the forward cargo hold. Then the riser ducts take the air from the manifold up the sides of the fuselage where the windows are missing to a collection of ducts that run the length of the cabin on the centerline. These then force air into the cabin through a long duct on the ceiling centerline and through the gasper vents. If you look on most planes, the missing windows coincide with the front of the wings. There are some windows blanked off for galleys and lavs, but these ones are usually near the service and entrance doors.