Southwest Airlines announces 11 lounges in partnership with Chase - Here's everything AwardWallet, LLC know so far. 2 hours ago AwardWallet may receive compensation from advertising partners when you visit its site, click on a link, when you are approved for a credit card, or when an account is opened. Terms Apply to the offers listed on this page. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits. The opinions expressed here are its own and have not been reviewed, provided, or approved by any bank advertiser. Here's its complete list of Advertisers. Southwest is a radically different airline than it was a few years ago. The former low-cost carrier has added seat assignments and checked bag fees, a major departure from its old way of doing business. Now, Southwest just unveiled plans to open "at least" 11 lounges across the United States. The biggest surprise? They're partnering with Chase to build them out. Let's dig into all the new details. Southwest Airlines announces first four lounges. * Austin (AUS) * Baltimore (BWI) * Honolulu (HNL) * Nashville (BNA) Southwest expects "first guests are expected to be welcomed in late 2027" - although it's unclear if all four lounges will open by the end of 2027 or just the first one. These first four lounges will be followed by "at least seven more," but Southwest has not yet listed which airports will host them. Each lounge will feature "sophisticated design, locally-inspired dining, high-quality amenities, and valuable travel benefits," and be a part of the Chase Sapphire Reserve Lounge Network. AwardWallet, LLC already knew one of these lounges was in the works. In November 2025, AwardWallet, LLC first reported on interesting planning documents in 2025 leaked from Honolulu airport (HNL) that suggested a two-story lounge in the works. Southwest Rapid Rewards(R) Plus Credit Card Welcome Bonus Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Annual Fee: $99 Why AwardWallet, LLC Like It Highlights Earning Rates How to access the Southwest lounges. In the press release, the only mention of access to these lounges was through a "new, premium Southwest Rapid Rewards(R) Credit Card issued by Chase" that will launch sometime in 2027. That's no surprise, as every airline is vying for more premium credit cardholders as part of its broader business strategy. Since the press release mentions the "Chase Sapphire Reserve Lounge Network," Chase Sapphire Reserve(R) and Sapphire Reserve for Business(SM) may offer access when flying Southwest, similar to how American Express Platinum Card(R) gives Delta flyers access to Sky Clubs. What are the implications of Southwest building airport lounges? As AwardWallet, LLC know at AccuWallet, credit card products are the most important part of the program today; Jordan agrees. He mentioned the importance of airport lounge access for credit card holders on a recent earnings call. Southwest has long been known as a low-cost carrier. Still, with the introduction of new, upgradeable onboard products, international airline partnerships, and now lounges, it's clear the airline is trying to attract higher-end customers. Lounges are a core benefit of some of the highest-end travel credit cards available. Launching a compelling credit card product will require lounges across the U.S. to fill that customer need. If AwardWallet, LLC were to guess, Dallas Love Field (DAL) and Denver (DEN) may be on the shortlist for future lounges. Honolulu is an interesting first pick for Southwest, but it shows how crucial the state has become to its overall strategy. Southwest only began flying to Hawaii in 2019. Since then, AwardWallet, LLC has seen a merger of Hawaii's own Hawaiian Airlines with Alaska Airlines. Nearly 10 million visitors visit the islands each year. Adding a lounge as a premium option for visitors returning home on Southwest Airlines may help the airline compete better against other mainline carriers. Bottom line. Southwest Airlines is finally building an airport lounge network, something that would have been unheard of less than five years ago. The airline is now trying to compete more aggressively than in years past, with a total airline makeover that shocked loyal customers. Will lounges help the airline win more customers, or, more likely, more credit card sign-ups? AwardWallet, LLC'll have to see when the lounges open and what new credit card products Southwest has planned for the future. For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Southwest Rapid Rewards(R) Plus Credit Card (Rates & Fees) Tip of The Day Did you know you can order an AwardWallet OneCard with up to 30 of your loyalty accounts printed on it? The card is only $10 and is shipped free of charge anywhere in the world. Plus, you'll get a bonus Balance Watch credit when paying for your OneCard. The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

Southwest Airlines abandons its budget roots with first-ever airport lounges. September 2, 2026 Southwest Airlines announced its first-ever airport lounges in a JPMorgan Chase partnership, a dramatic pivot for a carrier long defined by no-frills fares and open seating. The airline said Wednesday it will build lounges in four cities, Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu, and Nashville, with construction already underway and doors expected to open in late 2027. A new Chase-issued co-branded credit card, also launching in 2027, will give cardholders access to the lounge network. The announcement marks the clearest signal yet that Southwest is done competing on price alone. For decades, the Dallas-based carrier built its brand on cheap tickets, two free checked bags, and a boarding process that resembled a polite stampede. Now it wants the travelers who spend more, and who currently walk past the Southwest gate on their way to a Delta Sky Club. Elliott Investment Management forced the airline's hand. The shift did not happen in a vacuum. Activist investor Elliott Investment Management pressured Southwest after the pandemic, when the carrier's profit margins weakened. That campaign pushed the airline's leadership to rethink a business model that had gone largely unchanged for half a century. CEO Bob Jordan has been candid about the problem. He has acknowledged that Southwest loses customers to rivals because it does not serve destinations such as London or offer premium amenities, including, until now, airport lounges. In May, Jordan signaled the airline could add more cabin options, including what he called "true first class," and potentially long-haul international flying. He cautioned those were still ideas at the time. Five months later, the lounge plan is concrete. Crews are already building. Four cities get the first lounges, and the credit card ties it together. The choice of Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu, and Nashville as the initial four locations reflects Southwest's existing route strength in leisure and mid-size markets. None of those airports are the mega-hub fortresses of United, Delta, or American. Southwest is planting its flag where it already dominates gates and passenger volume. JPMorgan Chase will issue the new co-branded credit card that serves as the key to the lounges. Details on annual fees, benefits, and tier structure have not been disclosed. But the structure follows a proven playbook: Delta's partnership with American Express and United's deal with Chase itself have turned credit-card revenue into one of the most profitable lines of business in commercial aviation. The New York Post reported that the move is part of a broader strategy to attract premium travelers and compete directly with network carriers. Southwest has not said how many total lounges it plans beyond the first four, or what amenities, food, drink, showers, workspaces, the facilities will include. Those details will matter. A lounge that looks like a rebranded gate area will not pull frequent flyers away from the competition. A lounge that matches or beats the existing premium offerings could change the airline's revenue mix overnight. A 50-year brand identity is being rebuilt from the inside. For conservative travelers who value honest markets and companies that deliver what they promise, the Southwest pivot is worth watching. The old Southwest made a clear deal with customers: you get a low fare, you get no frills, and you get where you're going. That deal worked for decades. But markets change. Fuel costs rose. Rivals invested billions in premium cabins and loyalty ecosystems. Southwest's refusal to adapt became a liability, not a virtue. Elliott Investment Management saw that gap and forced the conversation. Jordan, to his credit, appears to have listened. The open questions are real. Can Southwest charge premium prices without the international route network that justifies them? Will budget-conscious loyalists stick around as the brand drifts upmarket? And will four lounges in mid-tier airports move the needle against carriers that operate dozens of them worldwide? Jordan's mention of "true first class" and long-haul international routes suggests the lounges are just the opening move. If Southwest eventually flies to London, a destination Jordan specifically named as one the airline loses customers over, the entire competitive map shifts. When a company built on doing one thing well decides to do something entirely different, the market finds out fast whether the leadership is serious or just chasing headlines. Late 2027 will provide the answer. Capital digest. Receive information on new articles posted, important topics and tips. Capital Digest won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

Southwest is planning to open airport lounges. Will Las Vegas be on the list? A Southwest Airlines jet takes off from Harry Reid International Airport Thursday, July 30, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Sam Morris/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Las Vegas Review-Journal September 2, 2026 - 12:00 pm Gift this article Southwest Airlines on Wednesday announced plans for its first wave of 11 airport lounges co-branded with Chase bank, but Harry Reid International won't be among the first airports to get one. The Dallas-based airline - the busiest commercial air carrier at Reid - gave a strong indication that Las Vegas would be on the list of airports in line for a Southwest lounge in the future, but an airline representative would not confirm whether Reid would get one anytime soon. In the airline's Wednesday announcement, Southwest said the first lounges are expected to open by late 2027 at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas; Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport in Maryland; Daniel K. Inouye (Honolulu) International Airport in Hawaii; and Nashville International Airport in Tennessee. Southwest said in the next several years it plans seven more lounges "across high-demand business and leisure markets." Reid is the second-busiest Southwest station behind Denver International Airport with more than 260 flights a day to and from more than 70 destinations, qualifying it as both high demand for business travelers to conventions and as a top leisure market. Southwest is partnering with Chase, which sponsors the Chase Sapphire Reserve Lounge Network, which features "sophisticated design, locally inspired dining and high-quality amenities," according to a Southwest release. When lounges open next year, admission will be granted to holders of a new Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card issued by Chase, which also will be introduced in 2027. BUSINESS NEWS YOUR WAY "Southwest Airlines has built one of the most trusted brands in travel by delivering authentic hospitality that customers value," said Tony Roach, executive vice president and chief customer and brand officer at Southwest. "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," he said. "The introduction of a lounge network represents a strategic investment in Rapid Rewards and deepens our 30-year partnership with Chase." This is a developing story. Check back for updates. Contact Richard N. Velotta at [email protected] or 702-477-3893. Follow @RickVelotta on X.