I made it through security about an hour before my Business Class flight on the spiffy American 787-9. Since AA dropped Admirals Club access for Citi Prestige cardholders, Priority Pass is the only option at DFW. Fortunately, DFW’s Priority Pass lounge sat literally next door to my departure gate at D21. I last visited The Club at DFW in 2015, but never did write a review. Honestly, I recall a terribly underwhelming lounge, but decided to give it another look to see if things have changed.
Note: Priority Pass cardholders now have two other options at DFW, the Minute Suites in Terminals A and D. I thought about checking that out instead. But, with only about 25 minutes to spare, I decided to wait until my next trip through DFW. Besides, I really needed a drink in the lounge after a long week…
The Club at DFW
Location
Terminal D, near Gate D22, and next door to the Admirals Club. Follow the signage for “Airline Clubs”, then pass through the double glass doors with the same label.
Access
The Club at DFW doubles as both a PP lounge and Business Class lounge for international carriers at DFW. Any passenger on any airline can also purchase a day pass for $40.
Review
I walked in to find a confusing scene, with several people standing about. I couldn’t tell where the line actually started, but eventually figured out I was next in line. The agent barely even acknowledged me, not even offering a “hello” or any kind of greeting. After showing my card, she asked that I wait a few minutes while they prepared a larger room. Finally, the answer as to why so many people were standing around. It took less than 5 minutes to get the room ready, and we headed down to “Lounge Number 5”.
This club features a unique layout, in that it actually consists of several separate lounges for each airline. They apparently reserve Lounges 3 or 5 for Priority Pass, depending on the needs of other airlines. Beware that Lounge 3 is truly horrible, a windowless broom closet seating all of 17 people. That’s the lounge I remember not being impressed with two years ago.
Anyway, Lounge Number 5 at least looks like an actual airport lounge. A redundant check-in desk sits near the door, though nobody actually manned it during my visit.
Behind the desk is a small business center with a few cubicle workspaces.
There is also a small luggage storage area.
The lounge itself opens up into a bright, airy dining area thanks to large windows at the back. This section also has a few scattered lounge chairs along the side wall.
A small buffet spread is along the opposite wall. It’s not very exciting. I found the same hummus and pita bread that seemingly shows up in every single Lounge Club lounge. Also available were a few sweet and salty snacks, such as chips, cookies, and pretzels.
At the end of the buffet line were a few assorted wines and juices. I only had a few minutes, but tried a chardonnay, which turned out to be decent. I didn’t see any liquor, but didn’t spend much time looking, either.
A pair of refrigerators below the snacks contained beer and soft drinks. The beer selection included a Texas craft brand, Fort Worth-based Rahr & Sons Texas Red. If you drink craft beer, it’s not a bad choice.
In front of the dining area is an open, airy seating area with window views. The windows provide decent views of the Terminal D ramp area, but I couldn’t get a good photo due to the crowding. There are plenty of plugs throughout the seating area; much appreciated for sure.
Continue to the end of the hall and turn left to find a “quiet area” of sorts. Though you miss the windows here, this room provides a quieter vibe, since it’s a little isolated from the rest of the lounge.
The Club does have showers near the front desk, but I didn’t have time to take a look.
The Club at DFW – Overall Thoughts
As long as you get access to the real lounge, The Club at DFW looks a lot like the Lounge Club in Boston, The Lounge at BOS. It beats sitting in the terminal, but mediocre food and drink options make it unexciting. I do think it’s inferior to The Club at ATL (though I noticed a serious downgrade in food and drink during my lunchtime visit there the next day). Find yourself sent to the broom closet, though, and you’re honestly better off just eating at Cool River in the terminal.
Note: this post is part of my trip report series about my weekend trip to try jetBlue Mint. Click here for the trip report index and introductory post.
