If you are passing through Terminal D at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), there’s a new lounge (or two) — including one that’s the first of its kind in the U.S. — worth checking out.
And, because we love an excuse to enjoy a new airport lounge, TPG just got a first look at both.
Located right next to each other on the second level of Terminal D near Gate 15, the new Plaza Premium lounge and the adjacent Plaza Premium First lounge are independent lounges without ties to a particular credit card or airline, making them accessible to more travelers passing through DFW.
TPG tip: The Priority Pass membership that many travelers already receive by holding certain credit cards provides access to DFW’s Plaza Premium lounge.
What is the first Plaza Premium First lounge in the US like?
We’ll get to the new Plaza Premium lounge in a bit, but let’s start at the top with a look inside the first Plaza Premium First lounge in the U.S.
There are other Plaza Premium First lounges around the world, but until now, the closest one to the U.S. was in Vancouver, British Columbia, so this is all-new lounge territory in the U.S. This DFW location should be joined later in 2026 by another Plaza Premium First lounge at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
The bad news is that your regular Priority Pass membership by itself isn’t getting you into this particular lounge. To gain access, you’ll need to travel in business or first class on the lounge’s participating international airline partners, which currently include Air France, EVA Air, Finnair, Emirates and Turkish Airlines. You can also pay $45 per adult ($35 per child between 2 and 11) to enter if you otherwise have access to the regular Plaza Premium lounge.
The good news, though, is that when you’re in a Plaza Premium First lounge, you’ll enjoy better service and offerings that will make your time there more memorable. Instead of heading there to simply grab a plate of food and dash, you can expect a more elevated experience worth savoring.
That’s because the team behind the lounge concept is looking to meet the expectations that come with describing it as “first class.”
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So, while the DFW location has a buffet, there’s also table service with an a la carte menu crafted uniquely for this location. Travelers can expect locally influenced bites, plus items that draw inspiration from the international airlines departing from the terminal.
For example, since this is Texas, there are tacos on the menu … but they are braised duck tacos with Korean barbecue, kimchi, roasted garlic miso and mango salsa.
In addition to the delicious duck tacos, on the a la carte menu (which doesn’t cost extra to order from), you can currently find options such as:
- Fried green tomatoes with feta and pomegranate molasses
- Gulf red snapper with coconut curry
- Brisket biscuit Benedict (with a fried green tomato)
- Shakshuka
- Bread pudding (which is an absolute must-have!)
There’s also the previously mentioned all-day buffet that has a selection of fruit, salad, desserts, jasmine rice and Thai chickpea curry, among other dishes.
In my opinion, the plated options are the way to go if you have time to linger, as the portions are solid and everything is well presented.
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You’ll find a lovely bar with included options such as Grey Goose vodka, Tanqueray gin, 1800 Blanco tequila and Kirin and Stella Artois beer, too.
If you’re thirsty for a cocktail, some fun specialty options include a spicy pineapple margarita, a cucumber martini, a pecan old-fashioned and bartender Lucy’s special, the Double Grape.
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As time passes, the Plaza Premium First lounge aims to further elevate its offerings by adding amenities such as a Turkish tea service. And, in a creative twist, the lounge plans to leverage its close relationship with its international airline partner Turkish Airlines to ensure the tea service is as authentic and high-quality as possible.
Another example of a nice, unique, higher-end touch is a sampler platter of welcome breakfast drinks available during the morning hours.
You can even use the prayer room or reserve a shower at no additional charge.
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These are just a few examples of how the lounge team aims to create memorable moments rather than just serve as a quick pit stop before sending you on your way.
If you want to further elevate your experience, the lounge partners with Allways Airport Meet & Greet to offer travelers a door-to-gate experience that includes expedited security screening with an escort for an additional fee.
Inside the new Plaza Premium lounge at DFW’s Terminal D
Even if you don’t have access to the Plaza Premium First lounge, you can still potentially benefit from the brand-new Plaza Premium lounge in DFW that’s right next door.
You can access this part of the lounge via the Priority Pass membership that you can get from one of many rewards cards, such as the American Express Platinum Card® and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, which include unlimited complimentary access to Plaza Premium lounge locations for you and up to two guests. Enrollment required.
Related: 11 credit cards that offer Priority Pass airport lounge access
Like its neighbor, this lounge was also quite nice and a big improvement over some of the Priority Pass-eligible lounges I’ve visited outside the Plaza Premium brand.
In fact, this is currently one of only three Plaza Premium lounges in the U.S., with the other two located at Orlando International Airport (MCO) and DFW’s Terminal E.
There are 90-plus seats in this Plaza Premium lounge, so while there were plenty of seating options when I visited during the soft opening, once word gets out, this lounge, like many others before it, may fill up rather quickly. The seats with nearby power outlets, in particular, will likely fill up first, since not all of the lounge’s seating options have them.
To try and minimize crowding as much as possible, the lounge will be limiting use to within two hours of flight departure.
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With access comes a complimentary selection of dishes from the buffet and various beverages, including Coors Light and New Amsterdam beer and Juarez Gold tequila at the bar.
If you aren’t in the mood for the buffet or included drinks, you can pay some pretty reasonable prices for made-to-order food or more premium drinks.
For example, within the Plaza Premium lounge, there are options such as:
- Smashburger ($12)
- Fried green tomatoes ($7)
- Crispy dumplings ($8)
- Korean fried chicken sandwich ($10)
- Cucumber martini ($11)
The $12 price for a burger and fries is likely less than what the nearby in-terminal Whataburger charges, so you can expect a decent deal, especially given these options are plated and served.
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If the layout of this space looks vaguely familiar, it’s likely because the lounge sits where the original American Express Centurion Lounge at DFW used to be before moving to its current location several years ago. However, everything from the furnishings to the decor is new, so while the space may feel slightly familiar, it has been completely reimagined.
Bottom line
DFW’s Terminal D is an absolute paradise for lounge aficionados, as it houses a Capital One Lounge, an American Express Centurion Lounge and an American Airlines Flagship Lounge, among other options.
But more is always better when it comes to lounges, so it is exciting to see not only the first Plaza Premium First lounge in the U.S. join the DFW lounge landscape, but also a second high-quality Plaza Premium lounge accessible to those with select credit cards.
