First-ever Southwest lounge coming to BWI Airport

Over a year after it started assigning seats on flights and ended its free checked bags program, Southwest Airlines announced a new change for travelers: a lounge.

The airline announced Wednesday that its first-ever lounges are coming to four airports in late 2027 — and Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is among them. A spokesperson for BWI said the new lounge will be near Security Checkpoint C.

“We appreciate this continued investment from Southwest Airlines in our airport and in our market,” said Shannetta Griffin, the executive director and CEO of the Maryland Aviation Administration. “The new lounge will benefit our shared passengers and provide comfort, convenience and exciting new services.”

Construction of the lounges, which Southwest officials said in a news release will offer “high-quality amenities” and “locally-inspired dining,” has begun at BWI and the other three piloting airports: Austin-Bergstrom International, Daniel K. Inouye International in Honolulu and Nashville International.

“BWI is a world-class airport and economic hub connecting business leaders, families, and visitors across the globe,” Gov. Wes Moore wrote in a statement. “We’re excited to see Southwest Airlines’ investment, and we look forward to our continued partnership as we continue welcoming travelers from all around the world.”

About 70% of flights in and out of BWI are piloted by Southwest. BWI is the Texas-based carrier’s East Coast hub.

“We have a strong existing customer base in Baltimore and it is of strategic relevance to our overall flight network with our high number of daily trips, international flights, and airline partnership connections,” wrote Chris Perry, a spokesperson for Southwest Airlines, in an email.

The new lounges are the latest change to come to the more than 50-year-old airline. The lounges will be a partnership between Southwest and Chase, where those with a Rapid Rewards Credit Card from the banking company will have access to the lounges — and not those with the airline’s three other credit cards. The new credit card will be added to the company’s portfolio next year, and access details and benefits will be shared later, Perry said.

Construction of the lounge comes nearly a year after $500 million worth of renovations at BWI.

It also seems to be happening concurrently with BWI’s closure of a major runway for the milling and repaving of a roughly 2-mile strip of the tarmac, among other improvements. The $84 million project has been underway for six weeks, and airport officials expect it will wrap by Oct. 8.