United Airlines announced Tuesday that it will sell access to rows with open middle seats as a paid Economy Plus option on its new Airbus A321XLR aircraft.
Every one of the 50 A321XLRs in United's order will feature a designated row in which the middle seat stays vacant and is equipped with a fixed shared table that spans the width of the empty seat, the company said. The table, which both the window and aisle passengers can use, features a leather-like surface and a pair of molded cup holders. The seating option will also include the three inches of additional legroom already included in Economy Plus on the A321XLR.
United said the option will go on sale later this year for flights beginning soon after, and that it will release pricing details before sales open. The airline said it expects to be the only U.S. carrier offering this type of seat.
"We're investing nose-to-tail across our fleet and giving customers choice and value in every cabin," United Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella said in a statement. "Our customers are going to love all these new options."
The A321XLR was built for international short- to medium-haul routes and also features all-aisle access lie-flat seats in United Polaris, 4K OLED screens at every seat, and larger overhead bins, the company said. United plans to begin domestic flights on the aircraft this fall, with international service starting in early 2027. United is also exploring adding the open middle-seat configuration to other aircraft types beyond the A321XLR.
The announcement is one of several recent moves by United to add paid seating tiers. The company also announced a product called the Relax Row — economy seats on its Boeing $BA 787 and Boeing 777 widebody aircraft that convert into a lie-flat surface — which will be available for purchase in early 2027.
Airlines more broadly have been expanding paid upsell options in coach cabins, according to CNBC. Delta Air Lines last week began offering discounted long-haul business-class tickets that omit benefits like Delta One lounge entry and advance seat selection, according to CNBC.