Southwest Airlines is getting into the lounge game. The carrier announced plans for its first airport lounges, developed in partnership with Chase, with construction already underway at four airports: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Daniel K. Inouye (Honolulu) International Airport, and Nashville International Airport. The first of them is slated to welcome guests in late 2027, and Southwest says at least seven more are planned across major business and leisure markets in the years that follow.
The move is the latest step in a sweeping premium overhaul at the Dallas-based airline, which ended its five-decade open seating policy on January 27, 2026, and now sells Extra Legroom, Preferred, and Standard seat types across a new set of fare bundles. A lounge network—long the territory of legacy rivals like Delta, United, and American—closes one of the last gaps between Southwest and the full-service carriers it increasingly resembles.
The lounges will pair Southwest's service culture with the design sensibility, locally inspired dining, and amenities found in the Chase Sapphire Reserve Lounge Network, the airline said.
"Southwest Airlines has built one of the most trusted brands in travel by delivering authentic Hospitality that Customers value. Our lounges will be a natural extension of that experience, offering customers a place to relax and experience the Southwest brand in a new way," said Tony Roach, executive vice president, chief customer and brand officer at Southwest Airlines. "The introduction of a lounge network represents a strategic investment in Rapid Rewards and deepens our 30-year partnership with Chase."
As for getting in the door: Access will come via a new premium Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card from Chase, also launching in 2027.
Related Articles
United and JetBlue Lean Into Luxury with New Planes, Lounges
American Airlines Expands Flagship Dining Access
JetBlue's New First Class Will Follow the Unbundling Playbook