United adds middle-seat-free Economy Plus row on A321XLR

United Airlines announced on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, a new premium economy seating option that eliminates the middle seat on its upcoming fleet of Airbus A321XLR aircraft. The offering, part of the airline's Economy Plus cabin, features a designated row where the middle seat remains vacant and is instead equipped with a large, permanently fixed table for the adjacent window and aisle passengers.

The airline stated that all 50 of its ordered A321XLR jets will include one row with this configuration. The custom-designed table spans the empty seat from armrest to armrest, providing a shared workspace or dining surface with a soft leather-like covering and two cup indentations. Passengers in these seats will also receive the three additional inches of legroom standard in United's Economy Plus, along with the extra elbow room from the open space.

Andrew Nocella, United's executive vice president and chief commercial officer, said the move is part of a broader investment in fleet upgrades aimed at providing customers with more choice. He noted that the XLR is the airline's newest aircraft, featuring all-aisle-access lie-flat seats in its United Polaris business class in addition to...