If you fly Southwest out of Florida, your odds of getting a real lounge just improved, and that changes how you might think about a future Southwest card. The list of southwest airlines lounge locations now looks like four airports under construction, one fresh Orlando report and a handful of strong maybes, with nothing open until late 2027.
The short version: Southwest has confirmed Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu and Nashville, promised at least seven more, and tied entry to a premium Chase card that has not launched yet. No Southwest lounge will welcome guests before late 2027.
The four confirmed southwest airlines lounge locations
On September 2, 2026, the airline said in its official lounge announcement that work had started at four airports. Sizes for these southwest airlines lounge locations come from lease and permit records, not from the airline.
| Airport | Status | What we know |
|---|---|---|
| Austin-Bergstrom (AUS) | Under construction | Space over the new checkpoint in the West Infill area, about 20,000 sq ft |
| Baltimore/Washington (BWI) | Under construction | Size not confirmed by Southwest; likely tied to the new A/B connector |
| Honolulu (HNL) | Under construction | 12,241 sq ft on two levels in the former Garden Conference Center |
| Nashville (BNA) | Under construction | About 30,000 sq ft above the Marketplace, with a kids’ area and a bar |
Southwest has not said which of the four opens first. Its only timing promise is first guests in late 2027.
Orlando and the other likely next stops
Orlando is the newest name among likely southwest airlines lounge locations. As first reported by View from the Wing, a Southwest source says a club is planned for the Airside 2 wing expansion at MCO, and airport planning papers describe airline club space on Level 3 with an optional outdoor terrace. Southwest has not announced Orlando, so treat it as reported, not confirmed.
The Orlando airport’s Airside 2 project page lists the expansion at $374 million and at least 7 new gates, while a later planning document reportedly lifts the budget to $681.9 million with a premium lounge folded into the scope. No size or opening year has surfaced.
- Denver: CEO Bob Jordan has said the airline is leasing lounge space there, with no size or date attached.
- Dallas Love Field: airport redevelopment plans include lounge space, and Southwest runs 19 of the 20 gates.
- Washington National: a 10,000 sq ft lounge is part of the Terminal 1 rebuild, though that work runs into the 2030s.
That puts the confirmed and likely southwest airlines lounge locations at eight of the eleven or more Southwest has promised. Logical candidates such as Phoenix, Las Vegas, Houston Hobby, Chicago Midway and St. Louis have no lounge space tied to them yet.
How southwest lounge access is expected to work
The one confirmed way in is a new premium Southwest Rapid Rewards card from Chase, due in 2027. Southwest has not published its name, annual fee, guest policy or the rest of its benefits.
Everything else is open. The airline has not said whether day passes, memberships, fare type or elite status will get you in, and the guest policy will matter for an airline full of family travelers.
The introduction of a lounge network represents a strategic investment in Rapid Rewards.
Tony Roach, Southwest Executive Vice President and Chief Customer and Brand Officer
The spaces are being built with Chase and modeled on its Sapphire Reserve Lounge Network, so expect locally inspired dining, upscale amenities and a similar overall feel. Our look at Chase’s earlier lounge openings offers a preview.
What it means for your Rapid Rewards points and cards
For now, nothing changes in your wallet. Lounge entry is tied to a premium card that has not launched, and the first doors are more than a year from opening.
Where it gets interesting is home airport. Someone based in Nashville, Austin or Baltimore could get frequent use from the new card, while a flyer who starts trips in Phoenix or Las Vegas may wait longer for a nearby lounge. Check the southwest airlines lounge locations against your own departure airports before you put weight on this perk.
If you are weighing a Southwest card now, judge it on current benefits. Our breakdown of whether the Southwest Premier card is worth it walks through that math without any lounge promise attached.
Common misconceptions about the new lounges
A Sapphire Reserve gets you in. Southwest has not said that, and it has not said Southwest cardholders can use Chase Sapphire Lounges either. The design link does not equal shared access.
Orlando is official. It is a strong report backed by airport documents, but it is not on Southwest’s own list of southwest airlines lounge locations yet.
They open next year. Some permits carry early 2027 targets, but Southwest’s public timing is late 2027 for first guests, and construction dates often slip.
Frequently asked questions about Southwest lounges
Does Southwest have airport lounges right now?
No. Southwest has no open lounges today, and it expects the first guests at its new lounges in late 2027.
Will there be a Southwest lounge pass?
Southwest has not said. The only confirmed access route is a new premium Chase card launching in 2027, and day passes or memberships have not been announced or ruled out.
Is there a Southwest lounge in Denver?
Not yet. The CEO has said the airline is leasing lounge space in Denver, but Southwest has not announced it as an official location or given a date.
Should your home airport change your Southwest card plans?
If you regularly depart from Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu, Nashville or possibly Orlando, keep an eye on the premium card’s terms when Chase releases them, because the southwest airlines lounge locations favor you first. Everyone else can wait for the fee and guest rules. A lounge only earns its keep if it sits on your side of the security line.
