It's official! Southwest's newest perk will be airport lounges

Lounges are officially coming to Southwest Airlines.Construction is already underway on four locations, with outposts in Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu and Nashville expected to open late next year.And there are more on the way.More from TPG: When to buy holiday, spring break and summer flights for the best fares in 2026-27"This is just the beginning of a broader footprint across the Southwest system, with at least seven more lounges planned to open over the next several years across high-demand business and leisure markets," the carrier said in a Wednesday statement.Southwest Airlines plane. SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUYNews of Southwest's lounges comes without much surprise, as CEO Bob Jordan and other executives have openly discussed the possibility for more than a year.Still, Wednesday's confirmation of those plans represents another milestone in a radical transformation of what was once the largest no-frills carrier in the U.S.More: The true Southwest Airlines reboot is almost here — and it may be just the beginningSouthwest still doesn't offer all the same amenities as full-service rivals American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, but its makeover during recent years h...