United plans Economy Plus row with no middle passenger
United says a new Airbus A321XLR row will replace the middle passenger with a shared table, adding another paid comfort option in economy.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
3 min read
United Airlines plans to sell an Economy Plus row that leaves the middle seat empty, giving aisle and window passengers more space and a shared table. The plan adds another paid comfort product as large airlines divide cabins into more fare tiers and optional upgrades.
The Chicago-based carrier said this week that the setup will debut on its new Airbus A321XLR aircraft. United said the product will be limited at first to one row on that plane, with prices and sales details due later this year.
Instead of seating a passenger between the aisle and window customers, United will use the middle space for a table shared by the two travelers. The airline also suggested the no-middle-seat row could appear on other aircraft later.
United said Tuesday it expects to be “the only U.S. airline” with rows of this kind. The carrier is positioning the product as part of a broader effort to sell more choice inside each cabin, including economy.
Andrew Nocella, United’s executive vice president and chief commercial officer, said in a statement that the airline is investing “nose-to-tail” across its fleet. Nocella said the new products are meant to give customers more “choice and value in every cabin.”
Airlines add more paid comfort options
United’s plan follows a broader airline push to sell more extras to passengers willing to spend for space, comfort or cabin features. The Associated Press has reported that carriers have been courting premium passengers while adding more products and tiers within the same flight.
Some European airlines already offer a version of the empty-middle-seat concept. Lufthansa and Finnair are among carriers that have made empty middle seats available to business-class passengers, while other airlines have long allowed travelers to pay extra or buy additional tickets to keep nearby seats open.
The middle seat has been a frequent complaint among passengers because it forces three travelers to share limited space in a narrow row. United’s new layout would remove that passenger in one Economy Plus row, though the airline has not yet said how much the extra room will cost.
The product also follows another United economy option announced earlier. United has said its “United Relax Rows” will begin early next year on some wider Boeing aircraft, allowing economy passengers to turn a row of three seats into a couch for sleeping or lounging after takeoff.
Across the industry, passengers on the same plane can have very different experiences depending on the fare or add-ons they buy. The Associated Press has reported that some travelers have raised concerns about a widening gap between lower-cost seats and premium offerings, along with frustration over new fees and more fare categories to compare.
Delta and other large carriers have embraced strategies built around selling higher-end options rather than competing only on the lowest fare, according to the Associated Press. United executives have pushed back on the idea that airlines are focused only on big spenders, saying premium investments fit into a wider effort to improve the trip for all customers.
This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.