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There has been a ton of fanfare about the new Capital One Lounge in DFW near gate D22.
I have not visited because I do not have a card granting me access. (I recently received the Capital One Spark Cash Plus because it offer a great early spend bnonus. Unfortunately, that is NOT one of the cards that get you into the Cap One lounge for free — even a few times per year.)
And I will not — in this lifetime or any other — spend $65 to spend a few hours in a lounge. (Maybe Chris and his Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card will meet me in DFW sometime 🙂 . )
We know Delta has also devalued Sky Club membership over the years to the point of being worthless. In the past, if you had a membership, you could enter even when you didn’t Delta. But not anymore.
We all should know by now that the Centurion in DFW:
- moved from an amazing space to the current less than spectacular one across the way
- removed access for arriving flights
- like other Centurion Lounges, has a STRICT policy that you can only visit only three hours before your flight departure time (not boarding time) and even with that
- is often so crowded that you have to wait in line to enter
Because the three-hour rule apparently did not fix the overcrowding issue, Amex next year is barring guests — unless you spend a massive $75,000 per year (puke!) on The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
New to me is that the less desirable, but in the past, at least a fallback plan, was “The Club” at DFW that you can access via Priority Pass from any number of high-end cards.
They, too, now have the nasty, Centurion-like, only-three-hours-before-departure-time rule to access the lounge space (I say space as it is spread out in 2 sections plus an open-air laptop use space).
To say these constant devaluations are disappointing is an understatement. When it comes to paying mega fees for cards, part of the “value math” includes the perks. But when some of the perks become all but impossible to use – what is the point?
That brings me to my frustration rant for today. I find myself returning to the place I once was years ago before I had any club access for those times, for whatever reasons, I get to the airport more than three hours before my flight – that is, trying to find secluded private-ish spots to hide out until the club clock strikes 3 (hours)! In DFW, one such spot is right outside “The Club” with reasonably comfy lounge chairs and an abundance of light and air.
I think just about every airport has secluded spaces we can escape to and I would love to know, at your frequently visited airport, what that space is — so we, too, can enjoy a break away from packed gates until visiting a club under the current rules. Please share in the Comments section below! – René
To see rates and fees for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link. Terms apply.
To see rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link. Terms apply.
Advertiser Disclosure: Eye of the Flyer, a division of Chatterbox Entertainment, Inc., is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers. Compensation may impact how and where card products appear on the site. This site does not include all card companies or all available card offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. Some of the links on this page are affiliate or referral links. We may receive a commission or referral bonus for purchases or successful applications made during shopping sessions or signups initiated from clicking those links.
Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
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DFW Centurion was amazing for me when I started regular business travel to Dallas. Then it got so bad that i cancelled my Plat card. At least the D terminal is nicer to sit in than the others, especially in lower int travel times
Lounge access is very overrated anymore. Save your money and just don’t use them.
If you get to DFW more than 3 hours before your flight consider using your Am Ex Platinum Card/Priority Pass to relax for one free hour in Minute Suites. It’s not far from the Centurion Lounge and The Club. It a great place to get quiet and get collected.
DFW (AA) hostage here.
Capital One lounge is now our all around favorite lounge. Awesome staff, not yet ever crowded.
Good food, “to go” stuff
Have been there 4 times since opening.
Truly used to sneer at Cap One.
Cynical old fart becoming a fanboy?
If you’re on a connecting flight, you can access the Centurion Lounge earlier. If you’re not on a connection, why the heck would you be there that early?
@Paul – If you have say a 6pm flight and must depart hotel by 11am?
Surely there is something else you can do between those hours. Go for a nice leisurely Texas BBQ lunch? Go tour the Cowboys stadium? If you have to work, go work at a nice coffee shop? Or book a flight at a more convenient time? I guess we’ve all had those days though.
@Paul – Had been for BBQ night before. Guess I should have gone again 🙂
Sometimes during busy travel periods (i.e., Thanksgiving and Christmas), we’ll get to the airport several hours early. We’d rather not stress out in long lines, take our time getting luggage checked and clearing security (especially when traveling with a child), and then relax somewhere — than show up to without enough time and begin (or end) a trip with way too much stress. Been there, done that. 🙂
I think honestly these are not all that awful changes. I mean for the normal person. 3 hours is reasonable for someone to be at the airport before they depart. I mean, if your on a real vacation, why would someone want to be sitting in an airport? Unless they are simply on some sorta milage run, etc. Its the folks that are whining about these changes that are likely one that feel these are so bad changes.
I have access to the American Admiral’s Club and there seems to be about 50 there at DFW and I been to many of them. Some are pretty quiet. I always pass by the Capital One lounge and did not realize my card gave me access. This last trip I spent an hour in the Minutes Suite and that was awesome, pure pleasure for that hour, good way to decompress.
Speaking of DFW, last week I had the good fortune to be on Americans flagship service arriving into Dallas from Hawaii. We arrived early in the a.m. so the terminal in the lounge were extremely quiet. The flagship lounge was an amazing place to spend three hours until our connecting flight home. It’s ruined me for every other crappy standard lounge and Priority Pass hostel
Anyone know: If I have access on a long layover at dfw to aa flagship (but not dining), cap one, and centurion, which one (or combination even) is best to hang out at, in particular with a family? Thanks