Southwest Plans Lounges and Premium Chase Card

Southwest Airlines announced on September 2, 2026 that it is opening the

first airport lounges in its history, and that a new premium Southwest

Rapid Rewards credit card from Chase will provide access to them. The

airline says the card launches in 2027.

Construction has already begun on the first four lounges:

The first guests are expected in late 2027. Southwest says at least

seven more lounges will follow in the years after that, in markets it

has not yet named.

What Chase brings

Southwest is building the lounges with Chase, and the press release points

to the Chase Sapphire Reserve Lounge Network as the model. Southwest

describes locally inspired dining, high quality amenities and travel

benefits along the lines of what the Sapphire Reserve lounges offer today.

Southwest has not published an annual fee, an earning structure, a welcome

offer, or guest access rules for the new card, and it has not said how the

card will sit alongside the existing Southwest Rapid Rewards lineup that

Chase already issues. Details circulating on message boards about pricing

and benefits are not confirmed by the airline.

For current Southwest cardholders, nothing changes today. The Plus, Premier,

Priority and business cards keep their existing fees and benefits, and the

lounges are more than a year from opening.