2026-07-14T10:57:00-0400 / 哥伦比亚广播公司新闻网
作者：梅根·塞鲁洛 记者，MoneyWatch专栏
梅根·塞鲁洛是驻纽约的CBS MoneyWatch记者，报道小企业、职场、医疗保健、消费者支出和个人理财话题。她定期亮相CBS新闻24/7频道讨论相关报道。
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更新时间：2026年7月14日 / 美国东部时间上午11:11 / 哥伦比亚广播公司新闻网
美联航即将让旅客为航空旅行中最奢侈的体验之一买单：中间座位空置。该航空公司周二宣布，这项全新的经济舱优选服务将于今年晚些时候在其全新空客A321XLR机型上推出。
这项全新经济舱优选服务将于今年晚些时候上线开售，适用于随后起飞的航班。美联航表示，这是美国首家推出此类座位选择的航空公司，具体定价和更多细节将在临近发布时公布。
美联航的50架空客A321XLR机队每架都将设有一个特殊座位排，中间座位保持空置，据航空公司介绍，这些区域将“被改造为带有大型定制桌子的共享空间”。
该航空公司称自己是美国首家提供此类座位选择的航司。 美联航
虽然乘客将获得额外的肘靠空间，但他们仍需共享横跨空置中间座位的固定桌子。
美联航全新的空客A321XLR客机预计将于今年秋季开始执飞国内航线，国际航线计划于2027年初开通。
在拥挤的机舱内，扶手空间一直是旅客间容易引发争执的问题，目前尚无正式规定明确哪一方有权使用座椅两侧的扶手。一些旅行专家表示，靠窗和靠过道座位的乘客应将扶手让给中间座位乘客，因为中间座位乘客的个人空间最少。
美联航的定制桌子将横跨空置的中间座位，从一侧扶手延伸至另一侧扶手，航空公司表示，“这将为靠窗或靠过道座位的乘客在更长的国际航班上提供额外伸展空间”。“桌子为永久固定款，表面带有仿软皮材质，还设有两个杯架凹槽。”
美联航近期还宣布了另一项座椅创新：其经济舱的美联航放松排座椅可向后放倒至平躺状态，该座椅将于2027年初开放购买。
“我们正对整个机队进行全方位投资，为旅客在每个客舱等级提供更多选择与性价比。”美联航执行副总裁兼首席商务官安德鲁·诺塞拉在一份声明中表示。
编辑：艾梅·皮奇
United’s newest premium upgrade guarantees an empty middle seat in economy
2026-07-14T10:57:00-0400 / CBS News
By Megan Cerullo Reporter, MoneyWatch
Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News 24/7 to discuss her reporting.
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Updated on: July 14, 2026 / 11:11 AM EDT / CBS News
United Airlines will soon let travelers pay for one of air travel’s biggest luxuries: an empty middle seat. The new Economy Plus option will debut later this year on the carrier’s new Airbus A321XLR aircraft, the airline said Tuesday.
The new Economy Plus option will go on sale later this year for flights departing soon afterward. United said it is the only U.S. airline offering the seating option and will release pricing and additional details closer to launch.
United’s fleet of 50 Airbus A321XLR aircraft will each include a special seating row with open middle seats, which will be “repurposed as shared spaces with large custom tables,” according to the airline.
The carrier claims to be the first U.S. airline to offer such a seating option. United Airlines
While passengers will gain additional elbow room, they’ll still share the fixed table spanning the empty middle seat.
United’s new Airbus A321XLR aircraft are expected to start flying domestic routes this fall, with international service slated to begin in early 2027.
Armrest space can be a contentious issue among airline passengers packed into cramped spaces, with no formal guidance on which passenger is entitled to the armrests on either side of their seat. Some travel experts say passengers in window and aisle seats should yield them to the person in the middle seat, who has the least personal space.
United’s custom tables will reach from armrest to armrest across the unoccupied middle seats, “giving customers sitting in the window or aisle seat extra space to stretch out on longer international flights,” the airline said. “The table is permanently fixed, with a soft leather-like covering, and two indentations for cups.”
United recently announced another seating innovation: its United Relax Row seats in economy class can recline into a lie-flat surface, and will become available for purchase in early 2027.
“We’re investing nose-to-tail across our fleet and giving customers choice and value in every cabin,” Andrew Nocella, United executive vice president and chief commercial officer said in a statement.
Edited by Aimee Picchi
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