American Express recently opened their new Centurion Lounge at DFW Airport. In the past I would fly through Dallas almost weekly, but it has been nearly six months since I’ve transited DFW, so I haven’t had the opportunity to review the new Centurion Lounge.
I finally had the chance to check out the Amex Centurion Lounge this past week, and all I can say is WOW!
This is hands down one of the top lounges in the US, and in my opinion is in the same league as the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse New York JFK, which is otherwise my favorite airport lounge in the US.
AmEx Centurion Lounge DFW Airport
American Express Centurion Lounge DFW Airport Access Policy
The easiest way to access the lounge is through a rewards card with lounge access, like the American Express Platinum Card®.
American Express Centurion Lounge DFW Airport Hours
The lounge is open daily from 5:30AM till 10PM. The spa, however, closes at 8PM.
How To Get To The American Express Centurion Lounge DFW Airport
The Centurion Lounge is located in the D Concourse at DFW, across from gate D17.
The D Concourse is the nicest one in Dallas, and Aeromexico, British Airways, Cayman Airways, Emirates, KLM, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Qantas, Sun Country, and TACA operate out of this pier, along with some American and American Eagle flights.
Note that only a limited number of American flights operate out of the D Concourse, as the American operation is spread throughout multiple concourses. Therefore chances are that if you’re flying American you’ll be arriving at or departing from another concourse. That being said, the Skylink provides convenient transfers between all terminals, so no matter which airline you’re flying, it shouldn’t take more than 10-15 minutes to get to the Centurion Lounge.
Once you exit the Skylink for the D Concourse, take the escalator to the lower level.
DFW Airport Skylink escalator
Turn right and follow the signage towards “Airline Clubs.”
DFW Airport terminal
You’ll then see a sign for “The Centurion Lounge” in the center area of the terminal, leading you to an escalator.
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge signage
Take the escalator to the upper level, and you’ll find yourself at the entrance of the lounge.
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge escalator
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge entrance
American Centurion Lounge DFW Airport Features
At the entrance I was greeted by a friendly associate that scanned my American Express Platinum Card®.
She briefly explained some of the features of the lounge and asked if I wanted to make a spa appointment, which are available on a first come first serve basis.
While the lounge is open until 10PM, the spa closes at 8PM, and despite my only being in the lounge from about 7PM till 9PM I just about had my choice of time slots, and booked a treatment for 7:40PM. I was given a choice between a massage, a facial, or a manicure.
I was also given a business card of sorts with the Wi-Fi info.
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge Wi-Fi info
The lounge is 9,000 square feet, which is huge in comparison to other domestic lounges, and wasn’t crowded at all for the time I was there. The entryway is pretty darn sleek, which was a good indicator of what was to come.
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge entrance
To the immediate right of the entrance was a small room with a couple of tables and some juice, water, and cookies.
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge seating
Next to this lounge area was a cappuccino machine, and a large monitor with terminal information.
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge cappuccino machine
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge terminal information display
In the next “zone” was the smaller seating area of the lounge. The American Express Centurion Lounge design at DFW is just phenomenal.
I love how the lounge is decorated, and how there are so many different types of seating arrangements. Even if the lounge were full it would feel much more private than the average lounge given the furniture selection.
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge seating
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge seating
The lounge had tons of natural lighting, partly because of the use of “hallways” with seating, which feel much more private than a big, square room.
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge seating
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge seating
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge seating
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge seating
These eventually led to the dining and bar area, which I’ll talk more about in a bit as well.
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge seating
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge seating
And then at the very end of the lounge was more seating in what was probably my favorite room.
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge seating
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge seating
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge seating
That’s also where I quickly found my favorite feature, the daybeds. Can’t beat sipping a cocktail while on a daybed surfing the web!
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge seating
American Centurion Lounge DFW Airport Bar
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge bar
The Centurion lounge has a pretty neat bar with made-to-order cocktails, all of which are complimentary.
The wine list read as follows:
While the cocktail list read as follows:
Now, I’ll be the first to admit that being a blogger is no easy work — with a cocktail menu like this there’s a lot of pressure to sample as much as I can during a two hour visit to the lounge. And while it is tough work, I was up for the challenge. 😉
Well, I’m happy to report their cocktails are excellent.
I started with a Jack Rose.
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge cocktail
And then transitioned over to a White Mimosa.
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge cocktail
Then a Corn N’Oil.
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge cocktail
Then a Tex/Mex, which had more of a kick than I could handle!
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge cocktail
And then a Country Club.
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge cocktail
The lounge has a good cocktail menu… did I mention that yet? 😀
Before leaving I had a cappuccino, which was one of the best I’ve had from a machine.
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge cappuccino
American Centurion Lounge DFW Airport Buffet
The lounge has both a breakfast and lunch/dinner spread, and it’s quite impressive, featuring a variety of hot and cold options.
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge buffet
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge buffet
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge buffet
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge buffet
In terms of the hot options they had:
- Texas Borracho Beans
- Spanish Rice
- Spinach, Poblano, Caramelized Onions Queso Enchilada
- Smoked Pecan Crusted Chicken Breast
- Creamy Jalapeno Jack Grits
- Roasted Maple Butternut Squash Soup
- House Smoked BBQ Brisket
- Flour Tortillas
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge buffet
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge buffet
While the chicken was extremely dry (fortunately they had guacamole, which I’m pretty sure is the solution to nearly every problem in the world), the rest of the food was extremely tasty.
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge dinner
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge dessert
Yes, I realize I’ll be spending a week at the gym to work off all the cocktails and food — thanks for the reminder. 😉
American Centurion Lounge DFW Airport Exhale Spa & Showers
As mentioned above, I had made my spa appointment at the reception desk as soon as I entered, and was surprised by how easy it was to snag an appointment. To make the appointment I had to fill out an information form, including adding an emergency contact — first time I’ve had to do that for a massage!
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge Exhale Spa
The massage was done in a chair and was as good as it gets for a 15 minute treatment. They had relaxing music playing as well, so it didn’t at all feel like an airport anymore (not that the rest of the lounge does either).
To answer the question before someone asks in the comments, I did tip $10. Whether or not it’s necessary or expected, I don’t know. I also appreciated that the spa treatment didn’t come with a huge sales pitch and survey (I’m looking at you, British Airways!).
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge Exhale Spa
Right next to the spa are a couple of shower suites, which are gorgeous. They’re probably the nicest shower suites I’ve seen in the US.
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge shower suite
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge shower suite
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge shower suite
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge shower suite
The shower rooms at the Centurion Lounge even featured L’Occitane toiletries, and since they were in “mini” bottles you could conceivably take them with you if you’d like.
DFW Airport AmEx Centurion Lounge shower suite toiletries
American Centurion Lounge DFW Airport Staff
I can’t help but commend the staff at the lounge. They were all top notch, friendly, and proactive. I was consistently offered refills, and when the server saw the look on my face after my first sip of the Tex/Mex cocktail she insisted on getting me a different drink.
A special shout out to Melissa for being especially awesome and attentive, and encouraging me to try as many cocktails as I’d like!
American Centurion Lounge DFW Airport Bottom Line
This is one heck of a lounge, and for someone that frequently transits DFW, it almost justifies the American Express Platinum Card® in and of itself. There’s not a single US airline lounge that can even come close to competing with the Centurion Lounge, and in my opinion it’s totally worth going out of your way to route through Dallas or planning a longer layover in order to visit this lounge.
I don’t think I’ll be seeing much of the Dallas Admirals Clubs anymore!
Have you visited The Centurion Lounge at DFW Airport? If so, what did you think?
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