Southwest Airlines To Open Airport Lounges With Chase, 11+ Locations Planned

Southwest Airlines has undergone a major transformation in recent times. The company has started charging for checked bags, introduced assigned and extra legroom seating, etc. It’s not stopping there, though. For a long time now, we’ve had reason to believe that the airline would start opening airport lounges. Well, that’s no longer just speculation — the airline has today announced that it will open lounges before the end of 2027, in partnership with Chase, and the first locations have just been revealed. Southwest plans to open lounges starting in late 2027Who will have access to Southwest airport lounges?Bottom line Southwest plans to open lounges starting in late 2027 Southwest Airlines has today unveiled plans for its first-ever airport lounge network, marking a new chapter for the Southwest travel experience. The airline is “partnering with Chase to bring together Southwest’s signature Hospitality and the success of the Chase Sapphire Reserve Lounge Network to create a premium and welcoming airport experience.” As it’s described, each lounge “will combine the warmth and friendliness Customers expect from Southwest with sophisticated design, locally-inspired dining, high-quality amenities, and valuable travel benefits that are offered today in the Chase Sapphire Reserve Lounge Network.” Construction has already started on the first four lounge locations, which are expected to open in late 2027. These locations include: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) Daniel K. Inouye Honolulu International Airport (HNL) Nashville International Airport (BNA) The airline claims this is only the beginning of a broader lounge footprint across the Southwest system, with at least seven more lounges planned to open over the next several years across high-demand business and leisure markets. So far, no renderings or additional guest experience details about the lounge network have been released. Here’s what Tony Roach, Southwest’s Chief Customer & Brand Officer, had to say about this: “Southwest Airlines has built one of the most trusted brands in travel1 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. The introduction of a lounge network represents a strategic investment in Rapid Rewards and deepens our 30-year partnership with Chase.” Southwest will be opening its own lounge network Who will have access to Southwest airport lounges? Southwest seems to be finding success just increasingly matching the competition, rather than trying to differentiate itself. So it’s also not surprising to see the airline open a lounge network, especially as part of a larger credit card strategy. So, who will be able to access these lounges? As of now, all we know is that a new, premium Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card will launch in 2027, and that will provide access to the new Southwest lounge network. So it sounds like Southwest lounges won’t generically be open to Priority Pass members, though who knows how things will evolve. I do think it’s interesting how there’s mention of the excellent Chase Sapphire Lounge network. I can’t help but wonder if we also see those with the Chase Sapphire Reserve get access to Southwest’s lounge network, with this essentially becoming an extension of the Sapphire Lounge network. Conversely, could this premium credit card also offer access to Chase Sapphire Lounges? This is all speculation at this point, but I think there could be something creative here. That’s especially true when you consider Southwest also has a presence at several airports with Chase Sapphire Lounges, and I can’t imagine they’ll want to replicate networks. Chase is very familiar with monetizing lounges Bottom line While there have been a lot of hints about Southwest possibly opening lounges, it’s now officially, formally confirmed. Southwest has announced it plans to open its first airport lounge in late 2027, and it will be accessible via a new premium credit card, which will also launch in 2027. The airline plans to open at least 11 lounges, and the first four locations have been revealed, and will be in Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu, and Nashville. Beyond that, we have very few details, so we’ll still have to mark this as “developing.” What do you make of Southwest’s plans to open lounges?