United airlines middle seat. Uniteds website provides further reassurance demonstrating blocked seats on a 3 3 aircraft. United airlines planes are parked at gates at newark liberty international airport in newark nj wednesday july 1 2020. Starting today united airlines and american airlines say they will resume selling middle seats on flights.
Mileageplus members seated in united economy may be able to purchase a seat in economy plus take advantage of premium cabin seating offers or request a mileageplus travel award or mileageplus upgrade awardthe availability of these options varies based on whether youre booking travel have already booked travel or are eligible for check in. Keeping middle seats open might be a form of theater rather than something that makes a difference according to josh earnest uniteds chief communications officer. And on a plane with a 1 2 configuration.
American airlines and united airlines have resumed selling potentially packed flights now that theyve reversed their temporary coronavirus inspired policy of blocking middle seats. Middle seats in other words will not be kept open. Unfortunately thats not at all what some customers are finding onboard in many cases middle seats are indeed being assigned despite reassurance from uniteds chief customer officer just days ago.
In reality neither aa or united ever really blocked middle seats. United airlines recently announced that it was making some middle seats unavailable for passengers to select. According to the current policy outlined on uniteds website the airline has limited passengers from booking middle seats where available.
United isnt the only airline that cant guarantee social distancing on flights. The airline is blocking middle seats on larger aircraft and most aisle seats on smaller planes. American airlines is making headlines this week after it announced that it will be joining united in filling flights to capacity as the number of travelers choosing to fly continues to rise.
Theyre just doing the math and betting that there are few enough people who care that.