Southwest airport lounges planned for four cities in late 2027
Southwest plans its first airport lounges in Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu and Nashville, with access tied to a new Chase card.
By Maya Lindqvist · Senior Technology Correspondent
2 min read
Southwest airport lounges are planned for Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu and Nashville, with the airline expecting to welcome its first guests in late 2027. The move gives Southwest a new premium travel offering as it continues to change policies that long set it apart from larger rivals.
Southwest said construction has started at all four initial sites. The opening schedule, total number of lounges and later locations remain plans and could change, the company said in its forward-looking statement.
Which airports will get Southwest airport lounges?
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas
- Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport in Maryland
- Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu
- Nashville International Airport in Tennessee
The carrier announced the network Sept. 2 and said it intends to add at least seven lounges over the following several years in high-demand business and leisure markets. It has not identified those markets or given a timetable for the later openings, according to Southwest’s announcement.
How will travelers get access to Southwest lounges?
Southwest is working with Chase on the lounge network. The airline said a new premium Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card issued by Chase is due to launch in 2027 and will provide access to the lounges.
That leaves several practical details unresolved. Southwest has not disclosed the card’s price, the full rules for entry or whether there will be other ways to access the spaces. USA Today reported that Southwest also did not provide specific details about what the lounges would offer.
Southwest said it expects its lounges to include refined design, dining influenced by each location, amenities and travel benefits. Those are company descriptions of the planned experience rather than a confirmed list of services for each airport.
What does the lounge plan mean for Southwest?
Airport lounges generally give eligible passengers a dedicated place to wait before flights, often with food, drinks, seating and work areas. Southwest’s planned network would make that kind of benefit available through its own loyalty-card offering for the first time.
CNBC reported that the project follows broader changes to Southwest’s commercial model over the past year and a half, including its shift from open seating to assigned seats and the introduction of checked-bag charges. Southwest executive Tony Roach said the lounges represent an investment in the Rapid Rewards program and the airline’s three-decade relationship with Chase.
This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.