Southwest Airlines plans first airport lounges by mid-2027

Southwest Airlines appears to be moving forward with plans to open its own airport lounges, departing from a longstanding policy of not offering the amenity. Construction records reviewed by industry observers indicate that facilities tied to the carrier at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Nashville International Airport could be finished during the first half of 2027.

The development follows comments from Southwest chief executive Bob Jordan, who acknowledged roughly six weeks earlier that work was already underway on the lounge concept. Jordan did not detail timing or locations at the time.

Southwest has historically distinguished itself from larger US competitors such as Delta, American and United by skipping premium lounges, open seating, and other traditional full-service features. The airline has in recent years introduced assigned seating and other changes as it seeks new revenue streams and competes more directly with legacy carriers.

No official confirmation of lounge locations, size, or amenities has been issued by Southwest itself, according to the available information. The Austin and Nashville sites are airports where Southwest maintains a significant presence, making them plausible candidates for early lounge rollouts.

Details on membership models, access rules, or investment costs have not been disclosed. It remains unclear whether the lounges would be exclusive to certain fare classes or loyalty tiers, or open more broadly to passengers.

If completed as suggested by the construction timeline, the lounges would mark one of the more significant changes to Southwest's customer experience strategy in years, aligning it more closely with the airport amenities offered by its major US rivals.