In my last article, I covered the American Airlines Lounge options at DFW – which includes American Airlines Admirals Club, Flagship Lounge, and Flagship First dining. If you aren’t an American Airlines loyalist, you likely won’t have access to most of those lounges.

The exception is if you have Oneworld status or are flying in a premium cabin on American or its Oneworld partners. You can pay for Admirals Club access, but if you have other options, I’d choose another lounge.

(Read with a serious Texas drawl…)

DFW ain’t half bad for killin’ some time. Y’oughta snag a longer layover so ya don’t go rarin’ around like a spooked steer.

I ain’t interested in sweatin’ over a measly fifteen-minute delay, yellin’ “Git outta my way, ya varmints!” at folks as I run through the terminal. Much better to mosey on down, take a slow stroll, watch the herd movin’ about, and soak up the scenery ‘fore hittin’ that fancy waitin’ room they call a lounge.

Read on to find out which lounges are the best and which one is right for you, pardner!

Minute Suites

There are two Minute Suites locations at DFW – one in Terminal A near gate A39, and one in Terminal D near gate D23. The D terminal location has showers available, while the A terminal location does not.

Minute suites are not typical lounges. Instead, small rooms are provided for napping, watching TV, or a quiet workspace. Vending machine-type snacks are available for purchase.

Each suite consists of a daybed and a smart TV, where you can log into your own Netflix, Hulu, etc. and watch your favorite shows. You may have to ask for bedding at the front desk, if you plan to try and catch some zzzs. Each room has a thermostat and a noise masking system.

Most locations only have one type of suite; however, Dallas offers a few larger options and adjoining rooms, which cannot be booked online. You have to actually place a phone call!

You can access Minute Suites in one of two ways.

You can pay what seems to me like a very high price for what you get – $55 for the first hour and $13.75 per 15 minutes after that. An 8-hour overnight stay is $175, and a shower will set you back an additional $20.

You can stop by and shower without renting a room for $30. These prices are per suite, not per person.

Priority Pass members get the first hour free and subsequent hours for $34. Interestingly, you can bring up to 3 guests with you… the rooms seem a bit small for four people, but this might work if you are traveling with kids or very close friends.

Of note, if your Priority Pass membership came with your Capital One Venture X or your Amex Platinum (personal or business), it does not include this benefit.

There are a couple of nice perks they offer – nursing mothers can use a suite for 30 minutes for free. Military members and flight crew with valid IDs get a 20% discount.

For me, Minute Suites do not make a lot of sense. The prices seem awfully high for what you get, and there are so many other options at DFW, I can’t see myself making use of this facility.

If I want to relax, I’ll use one of the other lounges. If I need to stay overnight at DFW, I’ll book the Grand Hyatt in Terminal D (this gorgeous hotel is adjacent to the airport and is super convenient!) and either earn or use valuable World of Hyatt points!

Gameway

Gameway is a unique concept in lounges. There are two locations at DFW, one by gate B42 and one near gate E16.

They consist of several gaming stations, each equipped with a PlayStation 4 Pro (loaded with games), a comfy chair, charging stations, and a place to store your luggage.

The lounges are open from 6 am to 8 pm, and you can access two ways:

1. Pay $15 for 30 minutes, $25 for an hour, and $45 for an unlimited amount of time. Military members get 10% off.

2. Priority pass will get you an hour for free and 10% off each subsequent hour, but not if you got your membership through Amex Platinum or Capital One Venture X. PP also gets you a free snack and drink.

USO Lounge

DFW has a 6,000 square foot USO Lounge located near gate B47 that is open to active duty US military members and their dependents. Retirees can gain access as well, if space is available.

You must have your military ID card, and VA issued ID cards or driver’s licenses that indicate veteran status will not gain you entry.

The lounge is comfortable and has cafe seating as well as poofy leather recliners for movie viewing. A children’s play area is provided, and board games are available to pass the time.

The selection of snacks varies, and it is pretty basic; but everything is donated, and military members greatly appreciate this. The lounge is also staffed by volunteers.

Centurion Lounge

Amex opened its first Centurion Lounge in the Las Vegas airport back in 2013. DFW was the second airport to host this club, and it became so popular that they had to change locations to allow for a larger footprint.

The new Centurion Lounge at DFW opened in 2019, and it is more spacious and has a more logical layout. You can check in ahead of time on the app to save a few seconds at the check-in desk, but you’ll still have to show your ID and boarding pass for a flight leaving that day.

If your flight originates in Dallas, you will only be admitted 3 hours in advance of that flight. For layovers, the 3-hour rule does not apply.

The lounge is open from 5:30 am to 10:00 pm. Continental breakfast is served from 5:30 am till 6:30 am and a full breakfast buffet from 6:00 till 11:00 am, when the buffet is switched over to lunch/dinner.

These dishes are available until 9:30 pm. Bar service is available from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Access

Amex Platinum Cardholders

Unless you spend $75,000 per year on your Platinum card, guests will cost you $50 each, with authorized users being an exception. At the time of writing, each authorized user has an annual fee of $175.

These are relatively new changes implemented to reduce overcrowding. We have still had to put our names on waiting lists several times, but it seems like the desk agents are admitting less people to keep the lounge less crowded.

Centurion Members

For those of you holding the invitation-only black Centurion card, all bets are off. You can bring guests, and you’ll have reserved seating.

Rumor has it that only big spenders are invited to apply, and they must pay a $10,000 initiation fee and a $5,000 annual fee. No thanks!

Delta SkyMiles Reserve Cardholders

You can access the lounge when flying the same day on Delta or Delta-operated flights.

I love the DFW Centurion and am happy to book longer layovers, so I have time to dine here. When you check in, you continue into the oblong, L-shaped lounge. Turning right will take you to the spa and shower rooms, and to the left is everything else.

You’ll find a coffee station and a variety of seating areas in the corridor, eventually making your way to the dining room/bar area.

Past that is another set of bathrooms, another coffee station, and more seating. The back of the lounge opens up and has loungers, cubbies, and a coworking table, along with telephone rooms and a children’s’ area.

The last few times I’ve visited, there have been long lines for the buffet and bar. The buffet usually consists of good food, typically with regional flavor and chef inspired.

You’ll typically find a salad, two or three protein choices, several sides, and two or three dessert options. We never leave hungry.

All beer, wine, and spirits are included, so no upcharges.

Capital One Lounge

Looking for the cool kids? You’ll find them here. I was super excited to find out that Capital One lounges were coming to our hub.

The first Capital One Lounge opened in Dallas in November of 2021. At the time, I only had the Capital One Venture card, which gets you 2 annual passes. After our first visit, we knew we had to upgrade to the Venture X.

We debated for a while, since we already had access to the Centurion Lounge. Was the $395 annual fee worth it?

A few factors went into our decision…

No Guests For Free With Amex

The first was that Amex took away the guest benefit for Centurion lounges (unless you spend $75K on the card per year, which I don’t). So, unless you’re traveling companion had their own card or was an authorized user on your card ($175 per user), they would be subject to a $50 fee.

Capital One Venture X Travel Credit

Capital One Venture X has a $300 travel credit which can be used when booking travel through their travel portal. I don’t usually recommend booking through a credit card travel portal, but for rental cars, I don’t see a problem.

So, I book my rental cars through their portal and, in addition to using travel credit for a discount, I get 10X points.

Capital One Miles

Capital One miles are pretty valuable and transfer to an ever-increasing number of partners.

Less Crowded Lounges

The lounges are less crowded than Centurion (at the time of writing). Over the past couple of years, Centurion Lounges have become more and more popular and more crowded.

I have had to wait to be granted entry several times, only to have to wander aimlessly through the lounge for several minutes to find seats. As I mentioned, Amex is implementing changes to reduce overcrowding, so this could change.

Great Atomosphere

Honestly, I love the vibe. The Capital One Lounge just feels hip and trendy, and tends to be populated with young professionals.

The food selections are interesting and tapas-sized. The decor is clean, modern, and sophisticated.

Access

For unlimited use of the Capital One Lounges (Now at DFW, Denver International Airport, and Dulles in Washington DC), you must have the Capital One Venture X Personal or Business card. You can bring up to 2 guests for free, and additional guests must pay $45.

Until January 1, 2025, the regular Venture card as well as the Spark Miles for Business card get you two visits. Any more visits than that will cost you $45, and after Jan. 1, 2025, any visit will cost you $45.

Anyone can pay $65 to access the lounge.

The Capital One Lounge is located near gate D22 and shares an entryway and elevators with the American Airlines Flagship Lounge. Up the elevators, break left and you will enter the spacious, smartly designed space.

You will need to show the attendant your boarding pass for a flight departing that day and Capital One Venture X card.

The guidelines say that your flight must depart within 3 hours, but we haven’t been denied entry when ours left later. If the lounge becomes more crowded, the rules may become stricter.

Continuing into the main part of the lounge, there is a central hub around which food stations are arranged. I love the way this is set up – it avoids the long buffet lines, and you can just grab a little metal tray and seek out the dishes you want.

The dishes are on small plates, in ramekin bowls, or cute little pots, and consist of regional, chef-inspired dishes like bibimbap, mac and cheese with bacon, chicken adobo, mini-caprese salad, etc. We have found the food to be very good!

In addition to the main dishes, there are pastry stations with croissants and pastries in the morning, and cookies and brownies in the afternoon and evening. There’s a coffee station and self-serve beverage stations.

One of the coolest features is their grab and go section, where you can get salads, sandwiches, beverages, and all sorts of other snacks to take with you.

Around the periphery of the lounge are numerous partitioned sections with a variety of seating areas. There are dining tables, conversation sets of couches and/or chairs, and chairs facing the floor-to-ceiling windows where you can watch activity on the runway.

Toward the back is a full service bar with a great selection of wine, beer, and spirits.

Other Lounges In Terminal D

The Club

The Club is on the mezzanine level near gate D27. You can access The Club with your priority pass or by paying $50. I rarely visit The Club, because if I go all the way to Terminal D, I’m going to Centurion or Capital One… but I needed to check it out.

The verdict? It was fine. Definitely better than sitting at the gate, but not worth a hike to Terminal D if you are departing from another terminal.

The Club can be accessed through Priority Pass or by paying a $50 per visit fee. You can enter the lounge 3 hours before your flight, but if your flight is delayed you can stay longer.

Children under 2 are free, and kids aged 2-17 must pay full price and be accompanied by an adult 18 or older.

There are several seating areas, some overlooking the concourse below. The food was good enough to fill your belly, and the buffet changes over from breakfast to lunch/dinner/all-day dining at 11:00 am. When we visited, they were serving enchiladas, soup, salad, a variety of fruit, and small desserts.

There is a full bar serving a limited variety of beer, wine, and spirits. High-speed Wi-Fi is available, and showers are complimentary – just book at the front desk.

KAL Korean Air Lounge

This lounge has closed permanently. Business and First Class passengers flying Korean Airlines can use the Capital One Lounge.

Drew Pearson’s Sport 88

This sports bar, which serves breakfast in addition to typical bar food, is located near gate E5 and is open from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm. If your Priority Pass membership comes with the restaurant benefit, you can take $28 credit per person.

The benefit includes a guest, so you and one travel companion can save $56 on your meal by presenting your Priority Pass card and a boarding pass. Again, PP memberships obtained through Amex Platinum or Capital One Venture X do not include this benefit.

Other Lounges In Terminal E

If you are departing from Terminal E, be sure to check which gates you are departing from, because this will greatly influence the amount of time it takes you to get to your gate.

Gates E22-30 are actually located in Satellite Terminal E, and you should allow an extra 5-10 minutes to walk to these gates. If you arrive in another terminal, take the SkyLink train to Terminal E, then you’ll have to walk down the corridor next to gate E21 to get to the satellite.

Plaza Premium Lounge

Located near gate E31 and open from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm is one of two Plaza Premium Lounges in the US. The other is in Orlando (MCO).

After years of traveling, the founder of Plaza Premium decided to open a chain of lounges available to anyone, regardless of class of travel. He developed the first Plaza Premium Lounge in Hong Kong in 1998, and they can now be found all over the world.

The majority of these lounges is in Asia, focusing on China, but they can be found on every continent in many major airports. In the past, you could access these lounges with Priority Pass, but that partnership ended in 2021.

Now, you can access these lounges through your Amex Platinum (personal or business) credit card, Capital One Venture X card, or by purchasing a membership or one-time pass.

When accessing via your Amex Platinum or Capital One card, you are entitled to two guests, free of charge.

If you want to pay outright for your visit, it will cost $50 per person for a 3-hour visit, or $25 for one hour (no free guests), and you can pay at the lounge or book ahead online up to one year in advance. The question is, should you?

The lounge is nicely decorated and comfortable, but can get crowded. The food selection is nothing special, but if you have access through a credit card and need a quick bite, it is not a bad option for a balanced meal. I personally would not pay for entry.

United Club

The DFW United Club is located between gates E6 and E7. This is a basic option that is convenient if you are a United Airlines loyalist or have access with a credit card or boarding pass.

It is not the nicest United Club, but it can provide a quiet place and a free snack if you need it. With the wealth of choices, I would not hang out here unless it was my only option.

Delta Sky Club

Ditto for Delta in Dallas… this lounge, located between gates E10 and E11. reminds me of a doctor’s office waiting room with a view of the tarmac.

Again, if you have access as a Delta loyalist or credit card holder, it will meet your basic needs, but I would not seek it out.

Verdict

If you have a wallet full of metal credit cards, DFW will spoil you for choice! In my opinion, the Capital One Lounge is choice #1, Centurion is choice #2, and the American Airlines Flagship Lounge #3.

If I am traveling from Terminal E with a less than 2-hour layover, I’ll visit the Admirals Club or Plaza Premium Lounge.

If you don’t have Amex Platinum or Capital One Venture X but travel from or through DFW often, you should consider one of these cards. If you just look at the cost of airport food and drink, this will likely offset the annual fee. Add in the travel credits, and you can at least break even, but most likely come out ahead.

I personally would not choose Minute Suites or Gameway under any circumstance I can think of (but I am not a gamer). I’d prefer an Admiral’s Club or Airport hotel. I might pop into the United Club or Delta SkyClub if necessary to grab a snack and a quick respite from the crowds, if I had a quick layover in Terminal E.

With anything longer than 2 hours, I would hoof it over to Terminal D and have a full meal and beverage at one of the premium lounges in that terminal.