Stuck in a middle seat? United's app will help you find a better one
Nearly everyone hates being stuck in the dreaded middle seat, and United is doing its part to help upgrade your onboard experience.
As part of the airline's latest mobile app update (version 4.1.36), the airline will now send you a push notification if you're stuck in the middle and a better seat becomes available. The latest update is now available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Once you receive the push notification, you can log in to your existing booking and change your seat in just a few taps. We reached out to United to learn more about how the new functionality works, and we'll update the story if we hear back.
This is the latest flyer-friendly feature that United has added to its mobile app. The airline recently debuted a new group shopping experience that lets you share itineraries and preferred flights with a group of friends or family members who are all traveling together.
Late last year, United released a major new version of its app, focused on enhanced day-of-travel updates, a refreshed MileagePlus member account page, accessibility improvements and more.
While United is leading the charge on mobile technology, any traveler — regardless of airline — can use ExpertFlyer to snag a better seat. One of the key features of ExpertFlyer — which is owned by TPG parent company Red Ventures — is the ability to set seat alerts for any type of seat, including an aisle, window, bulkhead or exit row.
Related: How to boost your chances of getting a better seat by 91% or more
You can choose to include premium, paid or blocked seats, which are available sometimes to elites and other frequent flyers. After setting an alert, you'll be immediately notified via email (or text, if you prefer) should your preferred seat become available.
Personally, I've used ExpertFlyer countless times to snag a better seat — and I'm excited that United is deploying a similar feature to its mobile app.
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