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

For 55 years, Southwest Airlines has done without airport lounges. That is about to change. On September 2, Southwest said it is building its first lounge network, with Chase as its partner. Construction has started on four lounges, and the airline expects to welcome the first guests in late 2027.

The first four will be at:

• Austin-Bergstrom International
• Baltimore/Washington International
• Daniel K. Inouye International in Honolulu
• Nashville International

Southwest says at least seven more lounges will follow over the next several years. It has not named those cities. It says only that they will be in busy business and leisure markets.

How you will get in

Here is the catch for most Southwest flyers. According to the airline, access will come with a new premium Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card from Chase. That card is due to launch in 2027.

Southwest has not said what the card will cost. It also has not said whether A-List or A-List Preferred members will get in, whether holders of today's Rapid Rewards cards will get any access, whether you can pay for a day pass, or how many guests you can bring. We will update this story when those details come out. For now, the only confirmed path is the new card.

So if lounge access is part of why you fly Southwest, plan on a new card in 2027. Premium cards tend to carry higher annual fees, though Southwest has not named a price.

What the lounges will be like

Southwest says the lounges will pair its own brand of hospitality with what Chase has built in its Sapphire lounges. The airline promises "locally-inspired dining," quality amenities and the kinds of travel perks Sapphire lounges offer today. It has not shared renderings, floor plans or sizes.

If the Sapphire model holds, the bar is set high. Chase runs Sapphire lounges at airports such as New York LaGuardia, Boston, Phoenix and Las Vegas. They serve craft cocktails, and several rank among the best-rated lounges in our directory. Phoenix and Las Vegas are both big Southwest airports, so many Southwest flyers can already see what Chase builds.

It is not yet clear whether a Chase Sapphire Reserve card will get you into the new Southwest lounges, or whether the new Southwest card will open Sapphire lounges. Southwest has not said.

Why these four airports

Austin, Baltimore and Nashville are all Southwest operating bases, where the airline bases crews and runs a large schedule. Honolulu is Southwest's main airport in Hawaii, where it flies between the islands and to the West Coast.

Today, Southwest flyers in these cities have few lounge choices unless they hold another airline's status or a card with lounge access:

• In Austin, the options are the Admirals Club, Delta Sky Club and United Club.
• In Baltimore, The Club BWI takes Priority Pass, and the Chesapeake Club serves British Airways and oneworld flyers.
• In Nashville, there is an Admirals Club, a Delta Sky Club and Minute Suites.
• In Honolulu, there are many lounges, but most serve long-haul airlines and their alliances.

Southwest has not said which concourse or terminal each lounge will be in. At large airports, that can decide whether a lounge is worth the walk before a short flight.

A bigger shift at Southwest

The lounges are the latest in a string of changes. Southwest ended open seating in January 2026 and now sells assigned and extra-legroom seats. It offers free Wi-Fi to Rapid Rewards members, including Starlink on some planes. In its announcement, Southwest called the lounges a "strategic investment in Rapid Rewards" and a deeper tie with Chase, its card partner of 30 years.

For travelers, the takeaway is simple. Southwest lounges are coming, but not until late 2027, and you will likely need a new Chase card to use them. Read Southwest's announcement for the full text.