If you spend your day working at an airport, a few hundred dollars for an AC membership would not seem such a bad deal. When I worked at DFW, a lot of people discussed this. More than one employee's parent had inquired about buying a membership as a Christmas or birthday gift for their child to use during breaks. Even if only a few employees had memberships, it would be noticeable to members.

Similarly, there are many employees who work as DFW Airport Ambassador Volunteers once a week (4 hrs. minimum) in order to have unlimited and free access to the 1-hour parking lots there. It is much more covenient than Employee Parking. This is something that might sound foolish until you actually work there.

I'm surprised some have posted of employees being in the AC at DFW. I was once asked to interpret/translate for someone having a major problem at the AC customer service desk in Terminal A (then international), and the manager herself had to be called to escort me inside when I showed up after hearing my page. Allowing employees to use the AC was one employee rule that I didn't think ever got bent.