United Airlines has announced it will be adding a new seating option to its Economy Plus cabin. One row aboard the carrier’s new Airbus A321XLR aircraft will feature a blocked middle seat, the roll-out of which is expected to start at the end of 2026.
Blocked middle seats are a common sight on many European airlines’ short- and medium-haul business class cabins. However, in the U.S., the option can only be found at Frontier Airlines, which has been offering a blocked middle seat option called UpFront Plus since the spring of 2024.
Starting from the fall of 2026, travellers will be able to find the same feature aboard United Airlines’ new Airbus A321XLR aircraft. In one row of the Economy Plus cabin, the middle seats will be replaced with an armrest-to-armrest shared table with cup holders, offering more room to both passengers than a normal setup.
“We’re investing nose-to-tail across our fleet and giving customers choice and value in every cabin. The XLR is our newest aircraft and not only offers all-aisle access lie-flat seats in United Polaris but now also includes seats in Economy Plus with extra leg and elbow room. Our customers are going to love all these new options,” Andrew Nocella, United’s executive vice president and CCO, said in a statement.
When the new option is launched, United Airlines will be offering six distinct seating options: Polaris business class, Premium Plus premium economy, blocked middle set Economy Plus, Preferred Seating at the front of the United Economy cabin, and United Economy.
At the moment of writing, United Airlines has not yet shared an exact launch date for the new aircraft nor details about how much passengers will need to pay extra in order to enjoy the option. However, the Airbus A321XLR is expected to join United Airlines’ fleet in the fall of 2026.
Overall, United has ordered 50 Airbus A321XLRs, some of which will serve new routes, while others will replace the airline’s Boeing 757s. The aircraft will initially be used exclusively on domestic flights before extending to short- and medium-haul international routes at the start of 2027. By 2028, about 25 of the new planes should be in service.
Aside from the blocked middle seat option in Economy Plus, other details have been unveiled about United Airlines’ new Airbus A321XLR. Not only will the plane feature the United Polaris lie-flat seats with privacy doors, but it will also boast 4K OLED entertainment screens with Bluetooth connectivity throughout the aircraft, as well as a self-service snack station in the economy cabin and larger overhead bins.
The news of the new blocked middle seat option comes months after United Airlines announced the addition of yet another seating possibility, called Relax Row. The feature should be launched aboard the airline’s Boeing 787 and 777 in 2027, allowing travellers to purchase a row of three seats located between Economy and Premium Plus. Using adjustable leg rests, it will also be able to transform into a couch.
