United Airlines' Newest Economy Plus Upsell Is An Empty Middle Seat Covered By A Table & Cupholders

United Airlines has rebranded a portion of its Airbus A321XLR cabin by blocking two seats and repurposing the space as a feature rather than sellable seats. Specifically, seats 32B and 32E are unavailable for sale, even though the row exists on the aircraft.

Instead of offering those positions for passenger use, United has installed a cocktail table with cupholders in the space adjacent to the blocked seats. The adjacent seats are marketed as "Economy Plus with Extra Elbow Room" for an additional surcharge.

As a result, the aircraft’s official seating capacity is reduced in practice. The plane is described as containing 152 total seats and 36 Economy Plus seats, but the operational counts are effectively 150 total seats and 34 Economy Plus seats due to the blocked positions.

The reporting notes the design choice and pricing strategy, emphasizing the distinction between the physical cabin layout and what is actually available for sale to travelers. No further details about dates, locations, injuries, or flight outcomes are provided in the material.