If you’ve ever been stuck in the dreaded middle seat on a flight, United just made flying a bit more pleasant. The airline revealed a new seat setup for its upcoming Airbus A321XLR planes that replaces the middle seat in one Economy Plus row with extra personal space.
Instead of three seats, that row will have two with a wide shared table where the middle seat would be. The table has cup holders and frees up elbow room, so you can eat, work, or just relax without someone squished next to you. You also keep the extra legroom that comes with Economy Plus.
United says these seats go on sale later this year. The first A321XLRs start flying domestic routes this fall and move to international routes in early 2027. All 50 planes will get the new layout, and more than half the fleet should be in service by 2028. Prices haven’t been announced.
For road warriors and band crews who travel between shows, this is welcome news. It’s a simple way to get a little breathing room on longer flights without paying business-class prices. If you’ve been dreaming of an empty middle seat, this might be the next best thing—one that’s actually guaranteed.
