A first glimpse into The Club MDW: Chicago Midway's inaugural airport lounge

For the first time in its 96-year existence, Midway International Airport (MDW) in Chicago will feature an airport lounge.

On Wednesday, Airport Dimensions will launch The Club MDW, a spacious 3,265-square-foot lounge, expanding The Club's network.

The lounge will operate daily from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m., accessible to all travelers departing from MDW.

With a Priority Pass, travelers can access The Club MDW for free. Additionally, day passes are available for $50 to all Midway passengers holding a valid departing boarding pass.

Chris Gwilliam, vice president of global business development for Airport Dimensions, expressed pride in being the first shared-use lounge in Midway's 96-year history, stating, "This is a significant milestone for us and a special achievement."

The lounge is situated at MDW's Central Market, where Concourses A and B meet. Its design pays homage to Chicago's art deco and midcentury modern architecture, featuring striking design elements like monochromatic tones and arched walls.

Beyond its aesthetic, the lounge showcases photography by esteemed local artists Mark Hersch and Angie McMonigal, capturing the essence of Chicago's urban landscape and enhancing the local flavor of The Club's ambiance.

"This space has been uniquely crafted; it's an exclusive design that you won't find anywhere else," Gwilliam remarked.

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Additional features include a range of seating styles, from relaxing chairs to workstations designed for productivity. The Club boasts that 90% of the seating in the new lounge has power outlets available.

The Club collaborated with several local food and beverage vendors to enhance the dining experience, including craft beers from Revolution Brewing and Two Brothers Brewing Company, as well as spirits from Koval Distillery, with a lounge menu that showcases the city's dynamic culinary landscape in the buffet.

The centerpiece of the lounge will be the bar, offering travelers complimentary signature cocktails like the Chicago Fizz and the Southside.

At approximately 3,300 square feet, it's likely the space will become quite crowded. With only 76 seats available and the high demand for the Priority Pass, I anticipate that lines to enter the lounge will grow lengthy, particularly during busy departure times and irregular flight schedules.

Additionally, Midway mainly serves Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines, neither of which has its own lounges.

"We would have preferred more space, and who knows, perhaps we'll have the opportunity to expand in the future," Gwilliam shared.

While it's certainly thrilling for MDW to unveil its first airport lounge, don't expect to easily access it on your next visit unless you're fortunate enough to arrive during a quieter time.

To streamline the waitlist process, Airport Dimensions is investing in advanced technology.

"We've implemented a system called WaitWhile, which enables guests to manage their wait digitally when capacity is full. We can then text them while they explore the concourse," Gwilliam noted.