Southwest Airlines Requests Feedback on Possible New Lounge Card
The idea of Southwest Airlines opening lounges is now one step closer to reality. This news began with several people reporting that Southwest has sent out surveys asking customers which credit card features would interest them most, and one very notable option was Southwest Airlines will be opening Premium Airport Lounges in multiple Southwest hubs. Access "Southwest Premium Airport Lounge (up to $700 in value). Complimentary and unlimited access for primary cardmember to Southwest's premium airport lounges offering complimentary food and drinks, Wi-Fi, and places to charge your device".
This is exciting news considering they use the words "will be opening Premium Airport Lounges". The wording does not mention anything about guests, which to me is important. The ability to bring immediate family or two guests, with the option to pay for additional guests, is (I think) required to make this a success.
When they mention "hubs," I wonder what they mean. I could see many airports with dominant Southwest operations qualify as hubs, including the following locations:
- Austin (AUS) has three lounges, but does not have a USO
- Baltimore (BWI) has two lounges and a USO
- Chicago-Midway (MDW) has one lounge, a Gameway, and a USO
- Dallas-Love Field (DAL) only has a USO
- Denver (DEN) has eight lounges and a USO
- Houston-Hobby (HOU) has no lounges, but does have a USO
- Las Vegas (LAS) has five lounges and a USO
- Los Angeles (LAX) has eighteen lounges and a USO
- Nashville (BNA) has two lounges and a USO
- Phoenix (PHX) has nine lounges and a USO
- St. Louis (STL) has two lounges and a USO
If I had to guess based on existing lounge saturation and overall ease of launch, I would pick DAL, BNA, and HOU as three great first-location candidates, but that is a guess based on my opinion. I could also imagine the lounge being in Austin (AUS). I might have some bias since I am based in Austin, but I could also see it happening.
The survey asks the user which card pricing and benefits they would be most interested in, with an annual fee ranging from $395 to $695, with different tiers of benefits across those price ranges in the survey.
Some notable benefits they are surveying include:
- Southwest Lounges with unlimited complimentary access. ♥
- 80,000 welcome points (Nerdwallet values at 1.3 cents) valued at $1,040 ♥
- Priority Pass membership, including one guest.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit every four years.
- Free First Checked Bag ♥
- Free round-trip ticket up to $400 in value after $25,000 annual card spend.
- 8 Confirmed Extra Legroom upgrades, after $15,000 annual card spend. ♥
- Preferred Seat and Upgrade to Extra Legroom within 48 hours of departure.
- $200 CLEAR Credit ♥
- $100 Southwest Travel Credit ♥
- Rideshare credit ($50 every six months) ♥
- Dining credit ($50 each quarter) ♥
- Sports and Music Credit ($75 per year) ♥
- Wellness App ($10 per month)
♥ are items I would love to see in a card and would likely move me to get this card.
Hat Tip:Â View from The Wing (October 10, 2025)
Related
Closing Thoughts
I am very excited about this news and the possible addition of a Southwest Lounge, as well as a JetBlue lounge planned to open sometime this year at New York (JFK). The addition of these new airline lounges would be a plus for consumers and also a nice source of revenue for the airline. Will these Southwest Lounges be part of the Priority Pass network? If so, that would be awesome.