In September 2023, we learned that Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) would be getting an airport lounge, for the first time in its 96-year history. There’s now an exciting update, as this lounge will be opening tomorrow.
The Club MDW opens September 26, 2024
The Club MDW is opening on Thursday, September 26, 2024, and is the first and only lounge at Chicago Midway Airport. The 3,300 square foot lounge has seating for just 76 people, so it’s on the small side.
The lounge is located between Concourse A and Concourse B, so has a central location. Once you clear security, the lounge is located on the right, opposite the food court, right before the entrance to Concourse B. It’s open daily from 4AM until 10PM.
As far as access goes, there are two primary ways to visit this lounge:
- It’s accessible through Priority Pass, which is available through several premium credit cards
- Any passenger can purchase access to the lounge at a cost of $50
The Club MDW features a selection of complimentary food and drinks, and a variety of seating, including workspaces.
However, 3,300 square feet isn’t exactly a huge lounge, given the number of passengers who pass through the airport. Midway Airport is a massive hub for Southwest Airlines, but also has limited service from Allegiant, Delta, Frontier, Porter, and Volaris. I have to imagine crowding will be a serious issue, and that there will frequently be a waitlist to get in.
The funny thing about Southwest hubs & lounges
Here’s an interesting tidbit. Prior to this lounge opening, the three airports in the United States with the most traffic that didn’t have lounges were Chicago Midway (MDW), Dallas Love Field (DAL), and Houston Hobby (HOU).
These are three of Southwest’s biggest hubs, and Southwest doesn’t operate its own lounges. Still, that doesn’t mean that some Southwest passengers wouldn’t appreciate lounges, so it’s a bit surprising that no lounge operator has bid on a lounge like this, at least until now.
I’m curious if there’s more to this. Does Southwest control a lot of the terminal space in these airports in a way that prevents lounge operators from setting up shop, or…?
I know Southwest is very much about offering all passengers a civilized experience (well, or at least has been historically… things are changing). But still, you’d think Southwest would benefit in general from there being third party lounge operators, since it could make flying with the airline more attractive.
I doubt it’ll happen, but I’m curious if Southwest has at least considered the concept of opening its own lounges at hubs. These could be independently profitable (by admitting Priority Pass members), and the airline could maybe also offer access as part of certain fare bundles.
I doubt it’ll happen, but more radical things have happened, and I think the concept could make sense. Then again, this probably isn’t the time, given the turmoil at the company.
Bottom line
The Club MDW is opening tomorrow, and is the first lounge in the history of Chicago Midway Airport. It’s open to Priority Pass members, and access can also be purchased for $50 per person. It’s nice to see one of Southwest’s three biggest hubs getting a lounge, as this seems long overdue.
What do you make of The Club MDW opening at Chicago Midway Airport?
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