Overview
- United announced Friday that each A321XLR will include a dedicated Economy Plus row where the middle seat is permanently removed and replaced by a fixed shared table.
- The table spans armrest to armrest, has a soft leather-like surface and cup holders, and provides extra elbow room in addition to Economy Plus’s three inches of extra legroom.
- United said the configuration will be installed on all 50 A321XLRs and that the aircraft will enter domestic service this fall with international routes by early 2027 while pricing and ticket sales will be announced before late 2026.
- Aviation observers say the blocked-middle layout can preserve a 150-seat cabin count, which can reduce the minimum number of flight attendants and change operating costs for the carrier.
- Industry commentators caution that the product depends on reliably keeping the middle seat empty in oversold or rebooked situations, and they warn that enforcement failures could damage customer trust and the value perception of the upgrade.