United Airlines is adding an open middle-seat Economy Plus row to all 50 of its incoming Airbus A321XLR jets. The middle space will feature a fixed shared table, giving window and aisle passengers additional elbow room on longer flights.
United Airlines will introduce an Economy Plus row with a guaranteed open middle seat on each of its 50 incoming Airbus A321XLR aircraft, offering selected passengers additional space during longer flights.
The Chicago-based airline announced the cabin feature on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. Instead of being sold to a passenger, the middle-seat area will be covered by a permanently installed shared table.
United Economy Plus Seats Gain More Elbow Room
Each A321XLR will contain one special Economy Plus row where passengers can reserve the window or aisle seat while the middle seat remains unavailable.
A custom table will stretch between the armrests across the middle seat. United said it will have a soft, leather-like surface and two cup indentations for the passengers seated on either side.
The arrangement provides additional elbow room alongside the three inches of extra legroom already planned for Economy Plus seats on the aircraft.
“We’re investing nose-to-tail across our fleet and giving customers choice and value in every cabin,” Andrew Nocella, United’s executive vice president and chief commercial officer, said in the airline’s announcement.
Airbus A321XLR Designed for Premium International Travel
United has described the A321XLR as its most premium narrowbody aircraft. Each jet will include 32 premium seats, including the United Polaris Studio suite and lie-flat Polaris seats with direct aisle access.
Seatback entertainment screens will be available throughout the cabin, ranging from 19-inch displays in Polaris to 13-inch screens in economy. The aircraft will also feature Bluetooth connectivity, larger overhead bins and a self-service snack bar near the rear of the economy cabin.
Sales Expected to Begin Later in 2026
United said the open middle-seat option will become available for purchase later in 2026, with flights using the configuration beginning soon afterward. Pricing has not yet been announced.
The airline plans to operate the A321XLR on domestic flights beginning in fall 2026 before introducing international service in early 2027.
The feature will initially be limited to one row on each A321XLR. Its broader appeal will likely depend on pricing and whether passengers consider the guaranteed empty middle space a worthwhile upgrade over standard Economy Plus seating.
