To kick off our trip to Tulum, we flew on American out of Dallas/Ft. Worth. Though we were in business class, routes to Mexico (outside of Mexico City) don’t qualify for lounge access. Therefore, we spent the time before our flight in the American Express Centurion Lounge.
Location
The DFW Centurion Lounge is located in Terminal D, the international terminal at DFW airport, near gate D12. For those starting their trip in Dallas, it is a short walk from the D18 security checkpoint while others can utilize the SkyLink terminal connector by getting off at the D1-D18 station and taking the escalator down to the concourse level.
The lounge is located one level above the concourse but the entrance and elevator is clearly marked with American Express “The Centurion” branding. Fortunately there was no wait to enter the lounge due to our morning departure. In the past, this was one of the more crowded lounges in the American Express system but a recent expansion added some much needed capacity.
Hours of Operation
The American Express Centurion Lounge at DFW is open from 5:30a-10:00p daily, which covers the vast majority of departures from the airport.
Entry Requirements
Unlike many other airport lounges, Centurion Lounges can only be accessed 3 hours before departure by showing a boarding pass, valid ID and matching American Express Platinum or Centurion card. Delta Reserve cardholders can also access the lounge when traveling on a same-day Delta ticket (Note: The 3 hour rule still applies).
If you have a same day connecting flight, the three hour rule is waived. Also, as of February 2023, you must spend $75,000 on your American Express in order to get 2 free guests into the lounge. Otherwise guests cost $50 each with children 18 and under costing $30 each.
Layout
At the top of the elevator was the reception desk where our information was checked and we were given a small gift, consisting of some sort of UV light. From there, we passed through a short hallway into the lounge.
The DFW Centurion Lounge is essentially one long, narrow lounge broken up into a few sections. As you enter the lounge, there is a seating area to your right, with sets of 2 and 4 high backed chairs. To the left, in the middle of the lounge, is the buffet and bar area that has some high top seating along the windows as well as café tables and booths along the interior wall.
The bar top also has seating, though it was roped off at the time of our visit.
Past the bar, there was another hallway with seating closest to the windows. Though the lounge had large, floor to ceiling, windows, they overlook the international ticketing area instead of the ramp, so views are nonexistent, unless you like to see long check-in lines and carts piled high with bags.
In the rear of the lounge, there was additional seating along with a communal dining table setup in a coworking configuration.
There were also a couple of phone rooms with doors which could be used for meetings or calls.
Food and Beverage
Since our flight was in the morning, breakfast was being served during my visit. The menu for the buffet read as follows.
I had the sausage, eggs and hash browns which were all quite good. I accompanied that with a cup of coffee and a glass of water.
The bar opened during our visit and we decided to sample some of the cocktails. The bar menu is as follows.
First, we tried the white mimosa, followed by a regular mimosa.
Finally, I finished up with a glass of prosecco.
Summary
The American Express Centurion Lounge DFW is a decent size though it still has a propensity to get extremely full, especially in the afternoons during the international departure bank. There are certain times where you will find yourself on the waitlist and the views are less than stellar.
However, the staff is extremely attentive and does their best to keep up with the crowds. They have also added a wine/beer pop-up bar near the lounge entrance to alleviate pressure on the main bar.
It is definitely worth a visit if you find yourself flying out of Terminal D or have a long layover. If the lounge is too full or overcrowded, there are a variety of other options available including The Club at DFW (Located in Terminal D), the Plaza Premium Lounge (Located in Terminal E) and two Minute Suite locations (Terminal A and D) available to Priority Pass holders. Delta also operates a SkyClub in Terminal E for Platinum or Delta Reserve card holders with a same day Delta boarding pass.
