Photo: Shutterstock One of the low-cost airlines most identified with the simple flight model in the US is taking another step into the premium world.
Southwest Airlines has announced the establishment of its first-ever lounge network, a move that marks another shift in the company's product strategy.
The first four lounges are scheduled to open in late 2027 at Austin, Baltimore/Washington, Honolulu and Nashville airports. Construction has already begun on all four locations.
Southwest doesn't intend to stop there: the company announced that at least seven more lounges are planned to open in the following years, in markets with high business and leisure passenger traffic.
The move was made in collaboration with Chase, which also operates the Chase Sapphire Reserve Lounge network.
A new Southwest Rapid Rewards premium credit card is also expected to launch in 2027, issued by Chase and giving holders access to the new lounge network.
In doing so, the company is adopting a model that has already become very significant in the American airline industry: a connection between the airline, the loyalty club, the credit cards, and the lounge experience.
The lounges themselves are expected to offer locally inspired food, work and rest areas, and services typically associated with full-service airlines rather than low-cost carriers.
For Southwest, this is more than just adding lounges. The company is unifying its airline product, Rapid Rewards club, and credit cards in one move, further deepening its shift toward premium travelers.
The opening of the lounges is part of a broader process Southwest has been undergoing in recent years. The company, which for decades has been one of the most prominent symbols of the American low-cost model, is now trying to expand its revenue sources and offer more products and services to passengers willing to pay for an upgraded travel experience.
Southwest currently operates in 120 airports in 12 countries, and in 2025, it will fly more than 134 million passengers.
The new move underscores the growing importance of Rapid Rewards, Southwest's frequent flyer club, and its financial partnership with Chase. The company describes the lounge network as a strategic investment in the loyalty club and a deepening of its 30-year partnership with the credit card company.
At the same time, Southwest is beginning to open its network to the world through partnerships with foreign airlines. During 2026, the company expanded its collaborations with companies including ANA, Singapore Airlines, China Airlines and Air Premia, allowing passengers to connect through major U.S. airports to destinations in Asia and beyond.
The company itself operates more than 100 destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Hawaii.
In that sense, the first four lounges in Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu, and Nashville are not just a new airport service. They signal a deeper shift in Southwest’s business model: more premium, more loyalty, more international partnerships—and a much greater weight in the credit card world.