United Airlines is introducing Economy Plus with an empty middle seat and shared table on its new Airbus A321XLR aircraft, giving travellers more personal space but for an additional fee.

United Airlines is introducing a new premium economy seating option that gives passengers extra elbow room by replacing the middle seat with a shared table.

The new product will debut on all 50 of the airline's Airbus A321XLR aircraft and will be available for purchase later this year, ahead of flights beginning soon afterwards. United says it expects to be the only US airline offering this type of seating and is also considering rolling it out across other aircraft in its fleet.

Located in Economy Plus, the new configuration replaces the middle seat in a single row with a fixed table shared by the window and aisle passengers. The leather-effect table stretches from armrest to armrest and includes built-in cup holders, creating additional personal space on longer flights. Passengers also retain the three inches of extra legroom already included with Economy Plus seating.

The move follows United's recent announcement of United Relax Row, a separate product launching in early 2027 that allows multiple rows of economy seats on Boeing 787 and Boeing 777 aircraft to convert into a lie-flat surface.

Andrew Nocella, executive vice president and chief commercial officer at United, says: "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."

The Airbus A321XLR has been designed as United's most premium narrowbody aircraft and will replace older Boeing 757s on international short and medium-haul routes. The aircraft features 32 premium seats, including new United Polaris Studio suites with privacy doors and direct aisle access, alongside upgraded in-flight entertainment across every cabin. Screen sizes range from 19 inches in Polaris to 13 inches in economy, while larger overhead bins and a self-service snack bar are also included.

United plans to begin operating domestic A321XLR flights later this autumn, with international services expected to launch in early 2027.

The introduction of the new Economy Plus seating reflects a broader airline trend towards unbundling the passenger experience by creating additional paid seating options between standard economy and premium cabins. Rather than increasing seat pitch alone, United is offering passengers the option to pay for extra personal space without upgrading to a higher class of travel.

The airline says it will announce pricing for the new seats closer to the product's launch later this year.