Southwest's first lounges will open in Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu and Nashville in late 2027

News and analysis · Sources checked October 5, 2026.

Southwest Airlines has never had an airport lounge. That changes in late 2027, when the airline plans to open its first four, in Austin, Baltimore/Washington, Honolulu and Nashville. It says at least seven more will follow "over the next several years." The lounges are being built with Chase, and access is tied to a credit card that does not exist yet.

What Southwest announced

In its September 2 press release, Southwest said construction has started at AUS, BWI, HNL and BNA, and that it expects to welcome the first guests in late 2027. Other high-demand markets will follow. The airline is working with Chase to combine "Southwest's signature Hospitality" with "the success of the Chase Sapphire Reserve Lounge Network," and it promises locally inspired dining and "high-quality amenities."

Tony Roach, Southwest's chief customer and brand officer, called the lounges "a natural extension" of the Southwest experience.

The access question

The one clear detail on access is that a new premium Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card from Chase, launching in 2027, will include lounge entry. The release does not say anything about A-List elites, premium fares, day passes or guests. Those details decide whether this is a perk for Southwest's frequent flyers or mainly a reason to sign up for a new card.

Our read: lounges built around a card follow the model Chase already uses with Sapphire. They pay for themselves through annual fees, and access tends to stay narrow so the rooms do not fill up. That is not a bad thing for travelers who will carry the card. But loyal Southwest customers who do not want another premium card should not assume they will get in. Wait for the card's terms before planning around it.

Austin: two lounges, and a possible Sapphire twist

Austin is the most interesting of the four. View from the Wing, citing records obtained through public-records requests, reports that the first Southwest lounge will sit in the "West Infill" space above the new security checkpoint. A second is planned at the entrance to a new concourse due in the 2030s, where Southwest's gates will move.

Gary Leff speculates that once Southwest moves, the first lounge, built to Sapphire Lounge standards, "simply becomes a Chase Sapphire Lounge." That is his analysis, not an announcement. Neither Southwest nor Chase has said so.

What to use until 2027

For now, Southwest flyers at these airports need another way in:

• BWI: The Club BWI near Gate D10 takes Priority Pass and sells day passes when space allows. The Chesapeake Club is the oneworld option.
• AUS: The Admirals Club and Delta Sky Club serve their own airlines' members and eligible passengers, so they are not an option on a Southwest ticket.
• BNA: The same applies to the Admirals Club and Delta Sky Club.
• HNL: Most lounges are tied to an airline, an alliance or an international premium ticket. A few smaller spaces list Priority Pass, so check current rules before you go.

In Austin and Nashville especially, a Southwest passenger without outside lounge access has very few options today. That is exactly the gap Southwest wants to fill.

Related lounge guides

The Club BWI (BWI) · Chesapeake Club (BWI) · American Airlines Admirals Club (AUS) · Delta Sky Club (AUS) · American Airlines Admirals Club (BNA) · Delta Sky Club (BNA)