Southwest's 33,000-square-foot BWI lounge may replace the airport's public viewing gallery

Southwest's first lounge at Baltimore/Washington International may be taking over one of the airport's best-loved free spaces. A View from the Wing report on October 13 says signs point to the lounge being built in BWI's former public observation gallery, between Concourses B and C.

The location is not confirmed by Southwest or the airport. But the size is. BWI has said on LinkedIn that the new lounge will cover nearly 33,000 square feet, about 15 times the size of the airport's current Priority Pass lounge.

What we know for sure#

Southwest announced on September 2 that its first four lounges will open in Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu and Nashville, with first guests expected in late 2027. The release said construction had begun and that at least seven more lounges are planned.

The network is called the Southwest Icon Lounge. Southwest says it is being developed with Chase and will draw on amenities from the Chase Sapphire lounge network. Access will come through a new premium Southwest credit card from Chase that launches in 2027.

Baltimore is a natural first choice. It is Southwest's biggest East Coast station, and most of its flights use Concourses A, B and C.

What the report adds#

View from the Wing pieced together the likely location from several clues:

• A reader saw the glass below the observation deck papered over, the gallery stripped bare and what looked like temporary fencing near a window.
• An anonymous Reddit commenter who says they work for Southwest at BWI described a two-story space of nearly 33,000 square feet near the Concourse C checkpoint, including the old gallery. The same post said the lease is signed and demolition is underway.
• The report has also heard that the lounge would have a new entrance from inside security.

None of these points is official, and the report is clear about that. Still, the pieces fit. The gallery sits right where Southwest's passengers already are.

Why it matters for travelers#

Today BWI is thin on lounges for most flyers. The Club BWI, the Priority Pass option, is about 2,200 square feet and sits in Concourse D, past a different checkpoint from Southwest's A, B and C gates. The Chesapeake Club serves British Airways and oneworld passengers. A 33,000-square-foot lounge near Southwest's own gates would be a big change for frequent Southwest flyers.

There is a cost, though. The observation gallery was a free spot where local families could watch planes without a ticket. If the report is right, that space goes behind a paywall. View from the Wing notes it is not clear whether any public viewing area will remain elsewhere in the terminal.

What is still unknown#

Southwest has not shared the card's annual fee, guest rules, day passes or whether Sapphire Reserve cardholders will get in. It has also not said whether its new Platinum status tier, coming in 2027, will include any lounge access. Until those rules are out, it is too early to know who will actually use this space.

My take#

A big lounge right by Southwest's gates would be a real upgrade at BWI, and Baltimore needs one. I would still like to see the airport keep some public place to watch planes. Kids who grow up at the window often become the frequent flyers who later pay for the lounge.

Related reading#

• Southwest's first lounges will open in Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu and Nashville in late 2027
• Southwest plans a lounge in Orlando's Airside 2, its eighth location

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