United Introduces Economy Plus Row With Open Middle Seats

The layout will give customers more room to stretch out, the carrier said.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, July 14, 2026 at 10:19 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A rendering of United's A321XLR. (Credit: Airbus)

Key Takeaways:

United Airlines is introducing a new Economy Plus seating arrangement on its Airbus A321XLR aircraft, featuring a single row with open middle seats.
These permanently open middle seats will be replaced by a fixed table, providing customers with more elbow room and a convenient surface for personal items.
Tickets for these extra-room seats are expected to be available later this year, coinciding with the A321XLRs' domestic service launch this fall.

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United is rolling out a new seating arrangement designed to give some Economy Plus customers more elbow room.

The carrier announced Tuesday that a single row of Economy Plus on its new Airbus A321XLRs will have open middle seats, with a shared table positioned across the empty seats. The new feature will give passengers more room to stretch out, and a convenient place to sit small personal items, United officials said.

The middle seat table is permanently fixed, with a soft, leather-like covering and two indentations for cups.

United’s extra-room Economy Plus row on the A321XLR. (Photo: United Airlines)

“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 news release.

Tickets for seats in the extra-room rows are expected to become available for purchase later this year.

United took delivery of its first A321XLR in June. The type is expected to enter domestic service with the airline this fall, officials said, with international flights planned for early 2027.