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A big change has taken flight for the busiest airline at Long Island MacArthur Airport.
Southwest Airlines has officially ended its 53-year-old open-seating policy, replacing it with assigned seating for passengers.
Under the new system, travelers are given a specific seat either at the time of booking or during check-in. Customers can choose from several seating options, including standard seats, preferred locations and extra-legroom seating, with some selections carrying additional fees.
The airline has also eliminated its familiar A, B and C boarding groups, rolling out an eight-group boarding system instead. Boarding order is now based on factors such as seat location, fare type, loyalty status and credit card benefits, rather than the timing of check-in.
Southwest has said internal research showed many travelers prefer knowing their seat in advance, and that some customers had avoided the airline because of its open-seating model.
“Our customers want more choice and greater control over their travel experience,” a Southwest executive vice president said in a statement last year. “Assigned seating unlocks new opportunities for our customers — including the ability to select Extra Legroom seats — and removes the uncertainty of not knowing where they will sit in the cabin.”
The seating overhaul is part of a broader shift for the airline. Last year, Southwest ended its long-running policy allowing passengers to check bags for free.
The airline has also changed its policies for passengers who require additional space, now requiring some travelers to purchase an extra seat in advance rather than making arrangements at the airport.
Southwest has served Long Island MacArthur Airport since 1999, offering multiple daily nonstop flights to destinations including Tampa, Orlando, West Palm Beach and Baltimore.
Southwest also operates flights locally out of LaGuardia Airport.
Top: A Southwest Airlines plane taxis as a traveler walks through Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport in Baltimore, Monday, Nov. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
