The Catch Behind United's Empty Middle Seat.

Because the news isn’t really about the seat, but more about how United plans to use the plane. The row is going onto the A321XLR — a single-aisle plane it plans to use for flights across the Atlantic. That’s the news: United is now assuming a tiny single-aisle jet is a comfortable option for flying across the ocean. So the empty middle seat isn’t so much a gift as it is a way to cover up the fact that it’s going to start using small planes for really long flights.

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The extra range of the XLR lets United fly a small plane on long routes that never justified a widebody, like Porto, Edinburgh, or some secondary city in Scandinavia with one flight a day. On a spreadsheet, it’s great, as larger planes to these cities may be half empty. But as a flyer, it’s not so great. There’s one bathroom, one aisle that gets fully blocked during meal or drink service, and far fewer places for people to stand when their legs and butts start going numb. So the table row is a bit of a façade to make it seem like United cares about comfort, letting people pay to opt out of what will likely become a more common experience, as United has 50 of these planes on order. Only one row on each plane has the empty middle seat, by the way. And also: What will it cost? Does the other person get to use some of the table if I’m the one who paid extra to have it? What if it’s broken? Can I fold it up if I want to stretch out? So many questions.

Here’s the rub: I’d probably pay for it. Begrudgingly, of course. But long flights on tiny planes are worse, and this is a way to make the experience a little less painful — and United knows people will do anything to make flying less absolutely terrible than it’s become. Even if that means paying for the “privilege” of breathing room.

Come find me in economy if you want to chat it over.

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