Goodbye middle seat: United Airlines announces new seating option
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CHICAGO - Goodbye middle seats.
On Tuesday, United Airlines announced a new premium economy seating option on its upcoming Airbus A321XLR aircraft, featuring an open middle seat designed to give travelers additional elbow room and shared table space on longer flights.
United gets rid of middle seat in some rows
Big picture view:
The Chicago-based carrier said it expects to be the only U.S. airline offering the seating arrangement, which consists of a window and aisle seat separated by a permanently open middle space. A large fixed table spans the gap between the seats, providing additional room for passengers to spread out while also serving as a shared workspace or dining surface.
United said the seats will also retain the three inches of additional legroom already included in United's Economy Plus cabin.
All 50 of United's new Airbus A321XLR aircraft will include a special row in Economy Plus with open middle seats, repurposed as shared spaces with large custom tables. (Credit: United Airlines)
The airline expects to install the seats on all 50 Airbus A321XLR aircraft it has on order and is evaluating whether to expand the concept to other aircraft in its fleet.
"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 a statement. "The XLR is our newest aircraft and not only offers all-aisle access lie-flat seats in United Polaris but now also includes seats in Economy Plus with extra leg and elbow room. Our customers are going to love all these new options."
When will feature be available?
What's next:
United said Tuesday it plans to begin selling the new Economy Plus configuration later this year.
The airline noted it will announce pricing and additional details about the new Economy Plus seating option before tickets go on sale.
The Airbus A321XLR is expected to become United's flagship narrowbody aircraft for international short- and medium-haul routes.
New seating option follows airline’s ‘Relax Row’
The backstory:
The announcement follows United's recent unveiling of its "Relax Row" concept for Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft, which will allow multiple economy seats to convert into a couch-like configuration beginning in early 2027.
In March, Frontier announced the introduction of UpFront Plus, a new upgraded seating option that offers extra space in the first two rows of the aircraft.
RELATED: Frontier Airlines reveals ‘empty middle seat’ option on flights
According to Frontier, customers will enjoy a window or aisle seat with extra legroom and a guaranteed middle seat.
"Many consumers strongly prefer a seating option that offers extra space when flying," said Barry Biffle, the airline’s CEO. "Frontier is all about choice and giving consumers the flexibility to customize their travel to suit their individual needs and preferences. UpFront Plus is a great option for those who want expanded personal space and extra comfort."
The Source: The information for this story was provided by United Airlines. This story was reported from Los Angeles. Previous FOX Local reporting contributed.