Southwest to Open 4 First-Ever Airport Lounges by Late 2027 With Chase

Q: Will your current elite status unlock Southwest's massive new lounges, or is their upcoming premium credit card the only way inside?

No—based on what Southwest has announced so far, current elite status alone does not appear to be enough to get into the new lounges. Southwest has said access will come through a new premium Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card issued by Chase, launching in 2027. In its announcement and related FAQ, the airline specifically tied lounge entry to that upcoming card and did not say that A-List, A-List Preferred, or Companion Pass holders would receive automatic access. That leaves open the possibility that Southwest could later add other entry options, such as elite-status access, guest passes, memberships, or day passes. But none of that has been confirmed. Right now, the only clearly stated path inside is the premium Chase-issued Southwest card. The timing also matters. Southwest’s first lounges in Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu, and Nashville are expected to begin opening in late 2027, with at least seven more planned later. So even frequent Southwest flyers with existing status will likely need to wait for the full access rules to be published closer to launch. In short, if you are asking whether your current Southwest elite status will unlock these lounges today or under the currently announced plan, the answer is no. The only confirmed access method so far is the new premium Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card.

Q: As Southwest partners with Chase for its 2027 lounge rollout, will existing Sapphire Reserve cardholders secretly gain access to these exclusive spaces?

No. Based on what Southwest and Chase have publicly said, access is set to come through a new premium Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card launching in 2027, not automatically through existing Chase Sapphire Reserve cards. Southwest’s own FAQ and announcement are explicit: “A new, premium, Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card issued by Chase will be launching in 2027 and will provide access to the new Southwest lounge network.” That is the only confirmed access path so far. The confusion comes from Southwest saying the lounges will draw on the “success of the Chase Sapphire Reserve Lounge Network” and offer similar amenities. That language points to design, service model, and the broader Chase partnership, not confirmed reciprocal entry for Sapphire Reserve cardholders. As of now, neither Southwest nor Chase has announced that Sapphire Reserve holders will be able to walk into Southwest-branded lounges just by holding that card. It is still possible Chase could later add some crossover benefit, guest policy, or limited access arrangement, but there is no public evidence of that yet. So for travelers planning ahead, the practical answer is simple: do not assume existing Sapphire Reserve access will extend to Southwest lounges. Unless Chase later changes the rules, the expected way in will be Southwest’s new premium co-branded card when the first lounges begin opening in late 2027 in Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu, and Nashville.

3 articles · Updated · CNN · Sep 2

Four Southwest lounges are slated to open in late 2027 at airports in Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu and Nashville, marking the carrier’s first dedicated airport lounges.
Chase will partner on the rollout, and access will come through a new premium Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card launching next year, with amenities modeled on the Chase Sapphire Reserve lounge network.
At least seven more lounges are planned over the following several years as Southwest pushes further into premium offerings.
The move extends a broader overhaul after an activist investor campaign, with Southwest already dropping open seating and its long-standing free checked-bag policy to improve profitability.

Sources

Left38%

Center13%

Right50%

CNN2h ago

Southwest Airlines to Open First Airport Lounges with Chase Partnership by Late 2027

The New York Times2h ago

Southwest Airlines Begins Construction on First Premium Airport Lounges

The Wall Street Journal2h ago

Exclusive | Southwest Airlines Jumps Into the Airport Lounge Competition - WSJ

15 Sources

Will your current elite status unlock Southwest's massive new lounges, or is their upcoming premium credit card the only way inside?

As Southwest partners with Chase for its 2027 lounge rollout, will existing Sapphire Reserve cardholders secretly gain access to these exclusive spaces?

Can Southwest successfully transform into a premium airline without alienating the budget-conscious travelers who built its massive empire?