Southwest Goes All In on Being an Ordinary Airline

Are these 11 lounges open only to premium members, or can you pay for entry like with other airlines? Can you share which airports they'll be located in?

I think this is a risky move for Southwest. The airline has always relied on point-to-point efficiency and low-cost operations, and lounges are a heavy asset investment with significant maintenance and staffing costs. On top of that, its frequent flyers are mostly short-haul leisure travelers, so demand for lounges may not be that strong—this could end up undermining the turnaround advantage it has always had.

Don't jump to conclusions just yet—it's safer to wait until the specific access rules and the list of covered airports are released before making an assessment.