Southwest Airlines will open its first airport lounges in Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu and Nashville, with construction already under way and the first openings expected in late 2027. The move puts the carrier into the airport lounge market for the first time and aligns the rollout with a new premium travel offer tied to its credit card strategy.
The initial locations are Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu and Nashville International Airport. Southwest has also outlined plans for at least seven additional lounges over the coming years, widening the network beyond the first four airports.
The lounges are being developed with Chase, and access will be linked to a new premium Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card issued by the bank. The strategy supports Southwest’s broader push into higher-yield products and ancillary revenue, as the airline expands beyond its traditional low-cost, no-frills image.