United Airlines adds open middle seat rows to A321XLR Economy Plus

United Airlines announced a new Economy Plus seating configuration for its Airbus A321XLR aircraft that features an open middle seat repurposed as a shared space with a custom table, providing window and aisle seat passengers additional elbow room.

According to a company statement, all 50 of United's ordered A321XLR aircraft will include one row with this configuration. The seats will go on sale later in 2026, with flights expected to begin shortly after. United (NASDAQ: UAL) said it expects to be the only U.S. airline offering this seating option.

The table in each row is permanently fixed with a soft leather-like covering and two cup indentations, stretching from armrest to armrest across the open middle seat. The configuration adds elbow room on top of the three inches of extra legroom already included in Economy Plus on the A321XLR.

The announcement follows United's earlier disclosure of the United Relax Row, a product on Boeing 787 and Boeing 777 aircraft where economy seats transform into a lie-flat surface, expected to be available in early 2027.

"We're investing nose-to-tail across our fleet and giving customers choice and value in every cabin," said Andrew Nocella, United's Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer.

United plans to begin domestic flights on the A321XLR later in fall 2026, with international service expected by early 2027. The airline said pricing details for the new Economy Plus configuration will be released before tickets go on sale. United is also exploring offering similar seating on other aircraft types.

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