The middle seat is generally considered the worst on the plane. United Airlines has therefore decided to eliminate it — but only for passengers willing to pay a little more.
On the carrier's new Airbus A321XLR, one row in Economy Plus will consist of just two seats: one by the window and one on the aisle. In the middle there will be a shared table, with more room for arms and for stowing personal items. Prices and purchasing details will be announced by the end of the year. Initially the option will be available in a single row per aircraft, but United has not ruled out extending it to other models.
The solution is already used by several European carriers, including Lufthansa and Finnair, primarily in the business class cabins of short-haul flights. United argues, however, that it will be the first major U.S. airline to offer a similar configuration.
The new layout is part of the gradual multiplication of intermediate categories between economy and business. Airlines no longer sell just a seat, but a series of small, separately purchased upgrades: more legroom, priority boarding, extra baggage, lounge access, and greater distance from other passengers.
United recently announced the Relax Rows as well — three-seat rows that, on certain wide-body aircraft, can be converted after takeoff into a surface to lie down on.
The Airbus A321XLR is designed for long-haul flights that can last up to eleven hours, despite having a single-aisle cabin. On routes that long, not having to share an armrest with a stranger can feel like a particularly desirable service. The new luxury of commercial aviation, though, is not having something extra: it's buying the absence of another passenger.