Dallas Fort Worth Airport (DFW) is the fourth-busiest airport in America with five terminals. All have airport lounges, but which is best if you are flying in Business Class or have a Priority. Pass or relevant credit card?
Terminal A, B, and C are mainly American Airlines terminals. Terminals D & E are mainly International Terminals. American Airlines is the largest operator at Dallas Fort Worth, with flights leaving all five of the airport’s terminals. American has a lounge in every one of DFW’s terminals. American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Airlines all have lounges at DFW.
Free Airport Lounge Access
If you have not paid for Business Class or First Class, you can access airport lounges for a fee or for free if you have a Priority Pass or an Amex Platinum card. To get extra bonus referral points and advice on the Platinum American Express and other free-lounge-access credit cards, have a read of our best credit cards for luxury travel.
1. American Express Centurion Lounge, Terminal D
The American Express Centurion Lounge near gate D12 in Terminal D is probably the best airport lounge in DFW, although it can be crowded. If you have The Platinum Card® from American Express, you can access this lounge for free, plus two free guests.
This lounge in Dallas is particularly noteworthy as it offers complimentary 15-minute spa treatments on arrival, alongside a luxury shower suite. Expect the usual perks; high-speed Wi-Fi, a premium bar, 2 dedicated workspaces, and, of course, unlimited Tex-Mex cuisine designed by award-winning chef Dean Fearing.
The menu is fairly delicious; Breakfast;
- Vanilla French Toast | Seasonal Mixed Berries, Brown Sugar Creme Fraiche
- Egg Frittata | Roasted Tomatoes, Mushrooms, Asparagus, Asiago Cheese
- Texas Migas | Chorizo, Tortilla Strips, Sweet Onions, Tomatoes, Brazos Valley White Cheddar
- Home-Fried Potatoes | Red Chili Sauce
- Additional breakfast items, include yogurt, cereals, breads, and fresh fruit, will also be available in the Lounge
Lunch & Dinner:
- Texas Mole | Chicken with Jalapeno Cream Corn
- Roasted Chicken | Sage, Caramelized Shallot Brown Butter, Mashed Sweet Potato
- Wild Kale Arugula Salad | Texas Goat Cheese, Watermelon Radish, Sundried Cherries, Pine Nuts, Apple Sherry Vinaigrette
- Blackberry Buckle | Brown Sugar Crème Fraîche
2. American Airlines Admirals Club Lounge DFW, Terminal D
You can access the American Airlines Admirals Club Lounges if you’re a member of American Airlines Admirals Club and have a same-day boarding pass for American, Alaska, or other Oneworld partners. There are five Admirals Clubs at DFW Airport in Terminals A, B, C, D, and E.
The best American Airlines Admirals Club Lounge at Dallas International is the brand new American Airlines Flagship Admirals Club in Terminal D, complete with Flagship First Dining. The look is similar to other Admirals Clubs across the country, but the design is long and thin with floor-to-ceiling windows located above the gates, so it gives really great views of the tarmac, planes, and runways.
There is a good food buffet located close to the bathroom in this lounge, with international foods, and at breakfast, chefs prepared omelets and pancakes. During the rest of the day, there are plates of delicious salads and marinated meats. This really extensive and impressive spread is both hot and cold. There are plenty of spirits, beers, and wine to enjoy in this lounge too.
If you get access to the Flagship First dining, your experience in this lounge will be further enhanced. Flagship First Dining is in an exclusive section. It offers complimentary table-service dining with delicious Texas food, and there are some incredible food/beverage options, including specially designed cocktails, exclusive to Flagship First Dining.
The Centurion Lounge is better than the best American Airlines Admirals Club Lounge at Dallas Fort Worth, in our opinion, unless you get access to the Flagship First dining, which is outstanding.
3. Plaza Premium Lounge, Terminal E
Plaza Premium Group was due to open its first independent U.S. Plaza Premium Lounge in DFW Airport’s Terminal E in either late March or early April 2020. The lounge will encompass 1,400 ft² and can accommodate up to 59. The company is also opening another lounge in Terminal D later in 2020.
The lounge will accept “walk-ups” on a dynamic pricing model, varying depending on traffic within the terminal. Expect prices at around $60 USD as an example of a price point flyers will pay to get in the lounge.
Plaza Premium Lounges are usually accessible to Platinum American Express cardholders for free, so I would expect Amex Platinum and Centurions to have access to this lounge.
Our experience with Plaza Premium lounges is very good. They are usually stylish and fun, with a decent menu included. This lounge is expected to be one of the best at DFW when it opens.
4. Plaza Premium Lounge, Terminal D
Another Plaza Premium lounge at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is the Plaza Premium Lounge, Terminal D. This lounge is also expected to be great but is not yet open. It will be open soon.
5. American Airlines Admirals Club Lounge DFW, Terminal A
The Terminal A lounge reopened in April 2018 after a renovation. The new lounge is big and has everything you could need. This lounge is large and smart, with lots of artwork. It has a unique look, which is a little different from other AA lounges. The main bar area is also where a unique guacamole bar can be found where a lounge attendant makes guacamole on request.
6. American Airlines Admirals Club Lounge DFW, Terminal B
The location of American Airlines Admirals Club Lounge DFW, Terminal B is at the end of the terminal near gate B4 and not far from gates D36 – D40 in Terminal D. The Terminal B Admirals Club Lounge is one of the smallest of all the Admirals Clubs in DFW.
There is a bar next to some windows that are rather nice as the sun streams in through them. House wine, certain spirits, and beers, including Bud Light, are on draft and free, and you can see the departures board from the bar, which is useful.
The seating area also has views of the planes as the lounge is at the gate level. The decor is pleasant but nothing special with pine walls. The buffet area has two different types of soup, plus the usual rather uninteresting light bites; cheese, vegetables, chips, hummus, apples, bananas, cookies, and brownies.
7. American Airlines Admirals Club Lounge DFW, Terminal C
American Airlines Admirals Club Lounge DFW, Terminal C has lots of natural light but no views of the tarmac. Food is snacks or “paid for” more substantial food bought at the bar. International flyers get a ticket for one free premium alcoholic drink. Otherwise, the free drinks are soft or house beer and wine, plus there’s a coffee machine. There’s also a kid’s room, a TV area, and shower facilities.
8. American Airlines Admirals Club Lounge DFW, Terminal E
Although Terminal E is one of the oldest at DFW, the Admiral’s Club wasn’t added until its satellite was built. The new lounge was added along with extra gates, which began operations in May. It primarily serves flights operated by American’s regional affiliates.
9. United Club lounge in Terminal E
United has a newly-renovated Club lounge in Terminal E. Get access via the United Club Card, the United Club Business Card, or the United Explorer Card‘s two annual United Club one-time passes. This lounge is also open to Star Alliance premium passengers traveling on Air Canada (Terminal E), Lufthansa daily departures out of Terminal D, or Avianca’s four weekly flights from Terminal D.
Refurbished in 2018, the DFW United Club offers 6,000 ft² of space, capable of hosting up to 180 flyers. The lounge is open daily from 4:30 am – 7:30 pm, except on Saturdays when the lounge closes at 7:00 pm.
There are plenty of power supplies in this lounge with two USB ports and one AC power plug per seat, and the lounge is bright with nice views of the planes through floor-to-ceiling windows.
In terms of food, there is plenty, although the dishes are cold. There are mainly light bites; salad, chipotle hummus and crudites, cheese and veggies, as well as crisps, cookies, fruit, and a soup of the day.
For drinks, there is an Illy-branded coffee machine and a Coke soda machine, plus there’s a drink stand with flavored waters; cucumber lime, rosemary lime, etc.
The bar has lighting, which reminds me of a British Airways lounge, and there are plenty of complimentary drinks to choose from. Unusually the bathroom is “all-gender”.
10. Delta also has a Sky Club in Terminal E
Delta also has a Sky Club in Terminal E, which is located near gates E10 and E11. Amex Platinum Card cardholders get access to this club when flying on a Delta-operated flight. Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express cardholders get free access but have to pay $29 USD per person to take an extra person into the lounge.
11. The Club DFW
There is only one Priority Pass lounge that we know of at Dallas Fort Worth DFW, The Club DFW, with a seating capacity of around 60. This lounge tends to be packed, and the food options here are pretty poor, with a few pastries and yogurt for breakfast. Lunch is poor as well, with flavored popcorn and not much else. The alcohol on offer is better, with a staffed bar offering a wide selection of beers, wine, sparkling wine, and spirits. This lounge also has bottled water that you can take away.
Priority Pass members can also get a free hour at each of two Minute Suite locations in DFW (Terminal A near gate A38 and Terminal D near gate D23). These are private box rooms for sleeping. If you can sleep to order, they might be worth a go, but they are rather depressing to sit in if you don’t plan to sleep.
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