On the way to Paris for our trip I planned a scheduled stop at Dallas Fort-Worth Airport (DFW). The reason for the stop was to hop on and experience American’s new Premium Economy on the 789 aircraft, but it also gave us some time to visit my favorite airport lounge, the American Express Centurion Lounge.
Our original itinerary included a 1.5 hour stop in Dallas before boarding our flight to Paris, but we decided to try to get an earlier flight to Dallas due to Chicago weather. Luckily when we arrived at Chicago O’Hare airport the American Airlines gate agent informed us that our originally scheduled flight was delayed due to a maintenance issue. We were lucky to have left early to make our connecting flight, but it also gave us even more time to explore the Centurion Lounge in Dallas.
DFW Centurion Lounge Location
The American Express Centurion Lounge at DFW airport is located in Terminal D. Getting to the lounge is fairly easy from any terminal thanks to the SkyLink. Just watch out for dog poop! Keep in mind it takes about 15 minutes to get anywhere at DFW airport. If arriving/departing from other terminals it’s best to assume the entire trip to Terminal D takes 30 minutes. Once you’re in Terminal D the lounge is located near Gate D17 and is access via an escalator.
How To Access The Centurion Lounge
American Express Centurion Lounges are free to existing American Express Platinum and Centurion card holders. All other American Express card holders can access the Centurion lounge by purchasing a $50 day pass. Eligible card holders can also bring guest into the lounge. Amex limits the number of guests to two per eligible card holder. The guest policy was more generous to families, but due to overwhelming demand and limited space the card issuer recently ‘enhanced’ the guest policy.
DFW Centurion Lounge Amenities
As with nearly all airport lounges the American Express Centurion Lounge offers plenty of seating (sometimes), complimentary WiFi, complimentary beverages, complimentary food, and an overall enhanced airport experience. One major difference between traditional domestic airline lounges and the Amex Centurion Lounge is the food/beverage offerings.
Each Centurion lounge features regionally inspired food from signature chefs. On the day of our visit the buffet featured spicy creamed corn, breaded seasoned chicken, jelly glazed pork, and a strawberry shortcake dessert. The buffet also maintains a consistent salad bar which varies slightly from visit to visit. Located throughout the lounge are various beverage stations. Most offers ice water, tea, and a rotating beverage. During our visit the rotating beverage was a grapefruit infused water which was delicious. In fact, I opted to fill my water bottle with the infused water for the flight. Also, the Centurion Lounge offers a complimentary full-service bar with a wide variety of wines, beers, and mixed drinks. There is a drink menu, but the bartender is happy to make any custom drink per your request.
Surprisingly the DFW Centurion Lounge also features showers. I’ve never had a long enough layover to take advantage of this amenity, but it is good to know the lounges offers showers if needed.
DFW Centurion Lounge Exhale Spa
The DFW Centurion Lounge offers the Exhale Spa. Guests must schedule a spa visit upon checking into the Centurion Lounge and availability is very limited. For longer layovers the receptionists offer an available spa time, but I’ve rarely been offered an appointment for layovers less than 2 hours. If you are lucky enough to receive an appointment you receive a complimentary 15-minute spa treatment of your choosing. The spa is complimentary, but tips are definitely appreciated.
Final Thoughts
The DFW American Express Centurion Lounge is an excellent space to relax before a flight, especially a long international flight. I love having access to the Centurion Lounge from my Platinum card. Using the lounge definitely helps justify the annual fee considering how much you are saving in food/drink at the airport. For our trip we failed to eat prior to taking our flight to Dallas so it was nice to get a full meal at the lounge for free. If you are a current American Express Platinum or Centurion card holder I definitely recommend visiting a Centurion Lounge. Just keep in mind they are currently only located at select airports.
