Southwest’s 33,000-Square-Foot BWI Lounge Appears To Be Replacing The Airport’s Public Observation Gallery

Southwest’s nearly 33,000 square foot Baltimore lounge appears to be taking over the airport’s former public observation gallery. That would turn a space where anyone could watch airplanes into a club tied to the airline’s new premium Chase credit card. Reader George Bizer visited a few weeks ago and reports papered-over glass below the observation deck between Concourses B and C. He also describes the gallery as “stripped bare,” with what might be orange temporary fencing by a window. He’s heard the lounge will have a new entrance from inside security. That fits a report from someone who says indicates they work for Southwest at BWI: Baltimore Lounge Details: The BWI lounge will be nearly 33,000 square feet two-story space near the Concourse C security checkpoint, including the former Observation Gallery. Southwest has signed the lease with the airport for this space and has obtained a demolition permit. Demolition is currently underway. BWI says the new lounge will encompass nearly 33,000 square feet. I’d guessed the lounge would use shell space in the airport’s new Concourse A/B connector. This would be between B and C. This Is An Almost Ideal Space Baltimore is an obvious place for Southwest to build a lounge. It’s their largest East Coast station, with about 230 daily departures and more than 18 million passengers. The airport’s existing The Club BWI is just 2,200 square feet with seating for 50, in Concourse D near gate 10. It’s on the other side of a separate security checkpoint from Southwest’s A, B and C gates. Southwest’s lounge would have roughly 15 times that footprint, and an entrance inside the A/B/C secure area. The observation gallery also offers fantastic views. But there’s a loss here for local families who used to be able to take a child into the terminal to watch planes without buying a ticket. The Network Is Being Built Around Available Airport Space Southwest has announced Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu and Nashville, with the first lounges expected to begin opening in late 2027 and at least seven more planned. My Orlando reporting brings the known pipeline to eight airports. Beyond the first four, there’s Denver, where Bob Jordan has acknowledged leasing space; Dallas Love Field, where airport redevelopment includes lounges; Washington National’s historic Terminal 1 redevelopment; and Orlando’s Airside 2 expansion. Austin: I identified Southwest taking the 20,000 square foot West Infill space that had originally been intended for a bank lounge. They also have lounge space coming with their move to the new concourse. I’ve suggested the initial club could eventually become a Chase Sapphire Lounge. Honolulu: They’re using the former Garden Conference Center beside the airport’s Cultural Gardens, with a lease expanded to 12,241 square feet across two levels. Nashville: The planned 30,000 square foot lounge is above Acme Feed & Seed in the central Marketplace. It includes a bar, buffet and grab-and-go food, plus a mother’s room and a children’s area with a treehouse, climbing wall and interactive floor piano. Orlando: A source at Southwest tells me they’re planning a lounge as part of the terminal expansion, and airport documents include airline club space on level three of the Airside 2 project, with an optional terrace in the design scope. A Chase Premium Card Is The Reason These Lounges Make Financial Sense I’ve been writing about the credit card economics behind this since before Southwest announced a plan for lounges. A better airport experience gives customers a reason to get a more expensive Southwest card, keep it, and put spending on it. Southwest and Chase previously tested card annual fees from $395 to $650, with possible benefits including lounge access and Priority Pass. They’re promising design, dining and amenities informed by Chase’s Sapphire lounge network. That sets a much higher expectation than you’d expect. The new premium Southwest card, due in 2027, will offer access. There’s no information on status, guests, memberships day passes or reciprocal entry for Sapphire Reserve cardmembers. But 33,000 square feet is large enough that they could probably support much of that! Topics on this page