Fly This Airline and Avoid Middle-Seat Neighbors

United's latest pitch to fliers who hate the middle seat: Pay to make sure it remains unoccupied. The airline said on Tuesday that a select Economy Plus row on its upcoming Airbus A321XLR jets will feature an intentionally empty middle seat fitted with a shared tray table for the window and aisle passengers, reports CNBC. The row will sit in United's extra-legroom section, with pricing to be announced when sales start later this year. The carrier may later expand the concept to other aircraft.

The small "mini-desk" shared between the window and aisle passengers will feature "two shallow holders for beverages and enough space for a small snack or travel-size board game," as described by the Washington Post. (Check out a pic here of what the setup will look like.) The move is part of a broader industry push to carve out new paid tiers and perks. Delta recently rolled out "basic" versions of business and premium economy tickets that strip out benefits like lounge access and advance seat selection, while United is also planning "Relax Row" economy seats that convert into a bed on some wide-body planes. "We're investing nose-to-tail across our fleet and giving customers choice and value in every cabin," Andrew Nocella, United's chief commercial officer, says in a release.