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United Airlines is introducing another industry-first seating concept, this time for Economy Class travelers. The airline announced that all 50 of its new Airbus A321XLR aircraft will feature a unique Economy Plus® row where the middle seat has been replaced with a shared table to give passengers in the window and aisle seats significantly more personal space on long-haul flights.
The new seating option will be available for purchase later this year, with flights expected to begin shortly afterward. United says it expects to be the only US airline offering this type of Economy Plus® seating (which is like intra-Europe Business Class).
Instead of a traditional middle seat, the special row features a large, fixed table spanning the width of the row. Covered in a soft leather-like material, the table includes built-in cup holders and provides travelers with extra room to work, dine, or simply stretch out. The additional space comes on top of the three extra inches of legroom already included with Economy Plus® on the A321XLR.
The announcement follows United’s recent unveiling of its United Relax Row, an innovative seating option on select Boeing 787 and Boeing 777 aircraft that transforms multiple economy seats into a couch-like, lie-flat surface. That product is expected to debut in early 2027.
The Airbus A321XLR represents United’s most premium narrowbody aircraft to date. Configured for international routes, it features 32 premium seats, including the airline’s new United Polaris® Studio suites with privacy doors and all-aisle access. Every seat throughout the aircraft will include a 4K OLED entertainment screen, Bluetooth connectivity, larger overhead bins, and access to a self-service snack bar in the rear of the cabin. United plans to begin operating the A321XLR on domestic routes later this year before introducing international service in early 2027.
Andrew Nocella, United’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, said:
We’re investing nose-to-tail across our fleet and giving customers choice and value in every cabin. 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.”
Anthony’s Take: I have to give United credit. With innovations like the open-middle-seat Economy Plus® row and the upcoming Relax Row, United is continuing to experiment with new ways to enhance the passenger experience across all cabins.
(Featured Image Credit: United Airlines.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
1 comment
Spirit did this. Some aircraft had it until the end.