Key Points

• A wave of new credit card and airline lounges is under construction across major U.S. airports, with roughly 70 openings and expansions in the pipeline over the next few years.
• Southwest is preparing to open its first-ever airport clubs, Chase is building a members-only lounge at LAX with private tarmac transfers, and United's new Houston club will be the largest in North America.
• If you're chasing lounge access, this is the moment to make sure your current cards still qualify, since new locations often come with tighter entry rules.

Airport lounges are having a moment. After years of overcrowded Sky Clubs and Priority Pass locations that feel more like a subway platform than a place to relax, airlines and credit card issuers are finally building. New airport lounges opening in 2026 and 2027 span everything from a brand-new Southwest club concept to a Chase lounge promising private tarmac escorts. If you hold a premium travel card or rely on lounge access credit cards to make long layovers bearable, here's what's coming and what it means for your strategy.

The Scale of the Buildout

Industry trackers estimate around 70 new or expanded lounges are currently in development across U.S. airports. That's a direct response to years of complaints about overcrowding, thin food spreads, and long waits just to get through the door. Six projects stand out because of how much they'll change the experience for points and miles travelers, not necessarily because they'll be the flashiest.

Southwest's First-Ever Clubs

Southwest has never operated an airport lounge, but that's about to change. The airline has at least six locations in the pipeline, including Austin, Nashville, Honolulu, Denver, Washington National, and Dallas Love Field, with Austin and Nashville expected to open first. This launch will pair with Southwest's new premium credit card from Chase, so expect access rules tied to that card once details firm up.

Chase Sapphire Lounge at LAX

Chase's LAX lounge, tied to the Sapphire Reserve's ecosystem, is notable for promising private tarmac transfer service for travelers who want a more discreet path through the terminal. A companion Sapphire lounge is also in development for Miami, reportedly with a Cuban coffee window and rum bar.

Capital One's Biggest Lounge Yet

Capital One is building a roughly 14,000-square-foot lounge in Charlotte, making it the issuer's largest to date, on par with its JFK location. It's currently the only new Capital One lounge confirmed in the pipeline, which is worth watching if you carry a Capital One Venture X for the lounge perk.

Charlotte's Overdue American Airlines Overhaul

Charlotte is American's second-largest hub, yet it has lacked a true premium lounge experience. That's changing with a new Flagship Lounge and Admirals Club, addressing years of overcrowded, dated space at one of the airline's busiest connection points.

The Largest Lounge in North America

United is set to open a 55,000-square-foot club in Houston, making it the largest lounge in North America and one of the biggest in the world. For United loyalists, this single project could meaningfully improve the connection experience through one of the airline's core hubs.

American's First Outdoor Terrace

Rounding out the list, American's new Austin Admirals Club will be the airline's first lounge with an outdoor terrace, part of a broader redesign rolling out across hubs like Denver, Newark, and Philadelphia.

What This Means for Your Points Strategy

New lounges are exciting, but they also tend to arrive with stricter access rules. Issuers have been trimming who qualifies for entry as their lounges get more crowded, so don't assume your current card guarantees a seat once these open. Before you plan a trip around one of these locations, double check which airport lounges you can actually access with your specific cards.

If you don't already have a card that unlocks lounge access, this buildout is a good reason to compare your options now rather than after the crowds arrive. A Priority Pass membership remains one of the simplest ways to get broad lounge coverage, and cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Capital One Venture X bundle it in alongside their own branded lounges.

FAQ

When will the Southwest lounges open?
Austin and Nashville are the frontrunners, with the airline targeting an opening as early as next year, though Southwest hasn't formally confirmed dates.

Will these new lounges require a specific credit card?
Most will. Southwest's clubs will likely tie to its new premium Chase card, and Chase's Sapphire lounges are generally reserved for Sapphire Reserve cardholders and their guests.

Is Charlotte worth connecting through once the new lounges open?
It should be. Between American's new Flagship Lounge and Admirals Club, plus Capital One's expanded footprint, Charlotte is shifting from an airport many flyers avoid to one with real premium options.

The lounge arms race is good news for anyone who flies more than a couple times a year, but it only pays off if your cards line up with where you're actually flying. Take a few minutes to check your current lounge access before one of these openings lands on your itinerary. This article contains affiliate links. If you apply through our links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you, which helps us continue sharing points and miles strategies with the community.