https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/united-s-c-e-o-says-it-should-cost-more-not-to-sit-in-the-middle-seatContinuously updated, source-cited coverage. https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/united-s-c-e-o-says-it-should-cost-more-not-to-sit-in-the-middle-seathttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/united-s-c-e-o-says-it-should-cost-more-not-to-sit-in-the-middle-seat#u146597Thu, 22 Oct 2026 11:10:26 +0000United Airlines Chief Executive Officer Scott Kirby argues that passengers should pay a premium to avoid sitting in a middle seat, reinforcing the carrier unbundled pricing strategy and defending higher airfares and seat fees as operating costs rise. Kirby defended charging non-frequent flyers for middle seat avoidance, maintaining that skipping the middle position should come at an extra price. Beyond airline pricing, Kirby discussed his past firing from American Airlines, describing the termination as a betrayal that ultimately helped him build a stronger rival carrier after taking a payout.