Starting next year, some passengers flying internationally on a new United Airlines aircraft will have the option to book a seat with extra space after the airline custom-designed seats to block some middle seats in its Economy Plus section.
“For some customers that want to pay a little bit more -- not as much as sitting up front -- but pay a little bit more to get more space, it's a great opportunity,” United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said Tuesday in an interview with ABC News.
United first teased the new seating option in July and formally unveiled it Tuesday, as part of its announcement of 10 new routes to destinations across Europe and Asia. Some of the flights will operate on United's new single aisle A321XLR aircraft. The airline is touting it as the largest expansion in United’s history.
"On each XLR, one row will have large, custom-designed tables stretching from armrest to armrest across the open middle seats, giving customers sitting in the window or aisle seat extra space to stretch out on longer international flights," United said in a press release in July. "The table is permanently fixed, with a soft leather-like covering, and two indentations for cups."
Travelers can book their tickets starting Tuesday for non-stop United flights to these 10 new destinations: Okinawa, Japan; Toulouse, France; Luxembourg City, Luxembourg; Marseille, France; Ibiza, Spain; Valencia, Spain; Terceira, Portugal; Ljubljana, Slovenia; Olbia (Sardinia), Italy; and Catania (Sicily), Italy.
United is not the sole U.S. carrier which offers the blocked middle seat option. Frontier Airlines also currently offers the option for a blocked middle seat in the first two rows of the aircraft flying on certain routes for extra comfort and legroom. The option is gradually expected to be replaced by the First Class seating options on Frontier flights, according to the airline’s website.
Kirby also told ABC News that airfares are expected to remain elevated as airlines face increased fuel costs stemming from the ongoing conflict in Iran, but insisted fares still continue to remain below pre-pandemic prices.
United anticipates spending nearly $6 billion in added fuel costs for 2026, according to an SEC filing.
“COVID sort of drove airfares to an artificial low that just wasn't sustainable,” Kirby said. “So I don't think airfares are going to go down. They're still a great value compared to the rest of your trip ... airfares are just kind of recovering to a little more normalized part of the travel pie.”
For those looking to travel in the remainder of 2026, Kirby’s tip for travel is simple: choose a destination you like and go when it’s convenient for you.
“The reality is there is no secret sauce. Sometimes a Tuesday's best. Sometimes Saturday's best," Kirby said of choosing travel days. "There is no secret sauce. It really is driven by, you know, what's happening with demand at any given time."
He continued, "My advice to people is, you're going on vacation. Like pick somewhere that you want to go. Pick the time that works for you, and just go and have a great time.”