Southwest is opening airport lounges for the first time. Here’s where

Southwest Airlines is getting into the airport lounge game. The airline announced Wednesday that it will open its first-ever network of airport lounges, beginning with locations in Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu, and Nashville. Construction has already started on the first four lounges, though travelers will have to wait a while to get inside: The first locations aren’t expected to welcome passengers until late 2027. And Southwest isn’t stopping at four. The airline says it plans at least seven additional lounges over the next several years in what it describes as “high-demand business and leisure markets.” Those airports haven’t been announced yet. The move is another significant shift for an airline that has spent much of its history deliberately avoiding many of the premium perks offered by its larger rivals. Southwest is teaming up with Chase Southwest is partnering with Chase on the new lounges, tapping into the bank’s experience operating its Chase Sapphire Reserve Lounge Network. The airline says its lounges will combine Southwest’s traditionally casual approach to hospitality with more upscale touches, including locally inspired food, sophisticated design, premium amenities, …