United's A321XLR Is Blocking the Middle Seat
United is replacing the middle seat in one Economy Plus row on each A321XLR with a fixed shared table. Here's how it works — and why it's not a new idea at all.
United announced a new Economy Plus row on the A321XLR with a fixed table replacing the middle seat. It's an idea that European carriers and at least one US ultra-low-cost carrier have been running for years.
United Airlines announced Tuesday that its new Airbus A321XLRs will feature an Economy Plus row with a blocked middle seat. The middle seat replaced by a permanently fixed table with a soft leather covering and two cup holders. Window and aisle seat passengers will share the table and most importantly, a guaranteed empty middle seat.
United is framing this as the first offering of its kind from a US airline. The real story is a bit more interesting.
What It Actually Is
Each of United's 50 A321XLR aircraft will have one row configured this way in Economy Plus. You're buying a window or aisle seat in that row and getting the elbow room and table space that comes from nobody sitting next to you.
Pricing hasn't been announced but United says bookings will open later this year
This Isn't a New Concept
United is claiming first-mover status among US carriers, which may be technically accurate. But the blocked middle seat as a short-haul business class product has been standard across European carriers for decades. If you've flown intra-European business class on British Airways, Iberia, Air France, or any number of others, you've experienced this exact setup. In fact, it takes many people by surprise, especially if used to traditional US airline premium products.
Closer to home, Frontier has offered a "Stretch" seating option that includes a blocked middle seat on select rows. Spirit experimented with a similar concept too.
What United is doing differently is building a proper fixed table into the row. It'll be interesting to see it in practice.
The Staffing Angle Nobody's Talking About
Here's the detail that didn't make most headlines. Blocking two middle seats across that row reduces the total seated passenger count below the FAA for five flight attendants. Thee means that United can operate the A321XLR with four flight attendants. United gets extra revenue from passengers willing to pay for guaranteed space, and reduces operating costs on crew staffing.
Worth Booking?
On a transatlantic flight of six or more hours, a guaranteed empty seat next to you with a shared table is a real upgrade. The question is what United charges for it. If it prices as a significant premium over Economy Plus - perhaps closer to Premium Plus territory - the math gets difficult.
Pricing announcement to follow when United opens bookings.
Source: United Airlines Newsroom
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