Honolulu Airport is fast heading toward more than 23,000 square feet of major new lounges divided between two airline loyalty systems across the airport. Southwest’s Chase-backed project will sit in Terminal 2, while Hawaiian and Alaska are planning a 10,600-square-foot flagship lounge at the entrance to the Mauka Concourse in Terminal 1.
Reader Mel told us Honolulu had “felt frozen in time since the 70s,” while another reader called HNL’s lounges substandard compared with those at most other airports. The new spaces will be larger, but getting inside looks to be increasingly complicated, and will depend on the airline, cabin, status, or credit card tied to visitors’ trips.
HNL has long been out of step, given the premium airfares associated with travel to Hawaii. We’ve seen that ourselves, and BOH readers have been blunter. But while big square footage is finally arriving, neither door will open simply because a traveler has an airline ticket.
Southwest confirms Honolulu with new footprint and one less floor.
Southwest has now confirmed Honolulu, alongside Austin, Baltimore, and Nashville, as the first four locations in its new lounge network. The airline says construction has begun on those projects and that the first guests are expected in late 2027, but it has not said which lounge will open first or given HNL its own opening date.
For BOH readers, Honolulu isn’t new. In October 2025, we reported Southwest’s first Honolulu VIP lounge and its unusual Cultural Gardens location after finding the project in Hawaii state records, nearly a year before Southwest put HNL on its official lounge map.
The original approval showed 12,241 square feet on two levels, a five-year lease, and at least $20 million in improvements. A January 2026 amendment increased the footprint to about 12,650 square feet but eliminated Southwest’s 2,664-square-foot waiting lobby on HNL’s second level, leaving the approved lounge entirely on the ground level of the garden area.
That changes more than the square footage. Passengers will have to descend from the terminal concourse and return upstairs for their flights, while the state filing does not say whether Southwest will build its own vertical access or use HNL’s existing old elevators and stairs.
Helen, who worked in the old Garden Conference Center during the 1990s, fondly remembered the fragrance of “jet fuel and ginger flowers at the same time.” Trish said she and her husband still stop in the garden before flying home, and it’s “the decompression zone.”
Hawaiian and Alaska push the total square footage.
Hawaiian and Alaska’s new lounge will occupy 10,600 square feet at the entrance to the Mauka Concourse, as pictured above. Added to Southwest’s amended footprint, the two projects total about 23,250 square feet.
When we first covered Hawaiian and Alaska’s Honolulu flagship lounge, the opening was expected by the end of 2027. Alaska’s newer official updates put the Honolulu lounge in early 2028, which is the date we are now expecting.
The new space will be about five times the size of today’s Plumeria Lounge. When we visited the Plumeria Lounge ourselves, we liked its calm atmosphere, service, and somewhat improved food, but it remained a small, aging room rather than a flagship facility. Reader Kuda’s benchmark after visiting Alaska’s newer SFO lounge was more practical: “Full breakfast buffet and not just bags of pretzel bits and POG like what we’ve had forever at HNL.”
The Alaska-Hawaiian/Southwest loyalty duel is still taking shape.
Southwest has confirmed one path to get inside its future lounges. A new premium Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card issued by Chase is scheduled for 2027 and will include lounge access. Southwest has not announced the annual fee, guest privileges, day passes, paid memberships, status access, or whether existing Chase or Priority Pass customers may also qualify.
Hawaiian and Alaska passengers already encounter two very different lounge experiences at HNL. Plumeria is the substantially better room upstairs and is available to qualifying Business Class flyers on international flights or first class guests on mainland routes. A day pass for other guests is available for $40 each. The bare-bones Premier Club downstairs serves Atmos Rewards Elite Members and any first/business class guest regardless of flight distance. Priority Pass also includes the Premier Club
What Hawaiian and Alaska haven’t said is what happens to either existing lounge when the new 10,600-square-foot flagship opens, or exactly who will get inside the new one. We don’t yet know whether Plumeria, Premier Club, or both will remain, how Alaska and Hawaiian passengers will be divided between them, and which of today’s access rules will carry over to the new flagship.
Reader MKN pointed out in our earlier story that most flyers aren’t eligible for lounge access and asked what the larger airport upgrade would do for everyone else. Neither project has answered that question yet.
HNL’s layout may decide if either is useful.
The two lounges will sit in different terminals. Southwest’s space surrounds the former Garden Conference Center and extends into the Central Concourse area of Terminal 2, while Hawaiian and Alaska’s lounge will be at the Mauka Concourse entrance in Terminal 1.
HNL’s own guidance suggests the walk between the two terminals is 10 to 15 minutes, with buses, trams, and carts available during specified hours. We’d peg the typical walk time at about 20 minutes. A qualifying passenger could cross over, but the full lounge-to-gate detour may be considerably longer once the departure gate and the required boarding time are factored in.
How do you feel about HNL’s current lounges, and which of the new ones are you most excited about?
Lead Photo shows future site of Alaska/Hawaiian lounge at HNL. © Beat of Hawaii.
By Rob and Jeff, Beat of Hawaii.
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Delta lounge at HNL is outdated compared with mainland lounges. It is not made for modern day travelers (and does not consider physically challenged customers). Delta spends their $$ on mainland clubs with new lounges and Delta One clubs while ignoring HNL. Delta’s head of Skyclub apparently does not understand the importance of a showcase HNL club and now will have to try to compete a losing battle against a shiny new Alaska lounge. Delta did make one upgrade with a dole whip machine in the HNL Sky club .. petty indeed.
Very sad situation
When the crowded and somewhat beat up Lameria lounge booted Priority Pass members it was unfortunate but not a real miss. As I’m generally jumping to the mainland on United I enjoy that lounge dramatically more even though the food is has taken a dive. I currently have both United Explorer visa and Hawaiian Barclay Mastercard. I’m still waiting for the ladder to be bounced in favor of the Alaska Bank of America card which I do not want. Time will tell which card will be a benefit for lounge access.
As an Alaska Lounge member I have access to the Plumeria Lounge, but I found out that the Atmos Lounge pass from the Summit credit card is not accepted. I heard that is because of Hawaiian’s current credit card bank agreement is different from the bank that the Atmos Summit uses. I would think the new Alaska Lounge access will be the same as all of their other locations – lounge members and Atmos Summit passes.
Getting real about HNL here. Two huge new lounges are definitely nice. But I’d rather HNL fix the antique elevators and sometimes working moving walkways first. Among other priority issues.
We fly First Class on Hawaiian when we can and have always found the Honolulu lounge situation very disappointing compared with the price of the ticket. I’m curious about the new Alaska lounge, and what happens to the existing lounges afterward.
This could get interesting, I want to know how people are supposed to get downstairs to the Southwest lounge and then back upstairs for their flight. Those very old elevators at HNL aren’t exactly something I would be willing to bet my boarding time on.
The Cultural Gardens are one of my favorite things about HNL, so I’m torn about Southwest taking over so much of that space down there. I hope the gardens don’t lose what makes them special in the process.
Aloha Carol. I’d like to know where the Cultural Garden is located since I haven’t had time to look for it in the past. I might have an opportunity to visit the garden on my next trip through HNL so would love to know before I go. Also, I understand that there might be two gardens at HNL. Just wondering. Mahalo.
We last we used Priority Pass at the Premier Club we were honestly shocked at how basic it was. I’m glad we didn’t pay separately to get in. Hopefully these new lounges raise the bar at HNL since it’s sorely needed.
I actually kind of still like the Premier Club because it’s usually quiet when I’m there. No fancy anything – that’s for sure. Give me a chair and someplace away from the gate crowds and I’m easily made happy.
As an Alaska frequent flyer, I’m somewhat interested in the new Hawaiian/Alaska lounge. If it’s anything close to Alaska’s newer lounges on the mainland, this is long overdue. Now let’s wait to see how the access rules shake out.
23,000 square feet sounds impressive until I realize most passengers including me will never see any of it. How about something new along the lines of more modern and comfortable seating for everybody?
I’m actually pretty happy about this. We fly through Honolulu several times a year and I’ve never understood why an airport this important to Hawaii and the Pacific has such underwhelming lounges. The Plumeria is okay, but nothing like what we find at other major airports domestically or internationally. Looks like that’s about to change.
American Airlines “Admirals Club” is missing, Yes, I know that Admirals Club members are allowed the use of the Japan Airlines Sakura Club at HNL. The Sakura Club is spacious and sparse. What’s most annoying about the Sakura Club is that it is very difficult to find it. Everytime I try to locate it, I have to search diligently. The signage is poor and it’s location is very poorly marked.
The AA the mainland to the Islands traffic is obviously driven by tourism and lacks any focus in its lounge philosophy for its Hawaiian travelers.