https://thepointsguy.com/news/capita...fw-first-look/

Looks like it's another lounge operated by Plaza Premium.

I received a complimentary entry by the operator. The lounge is outstanding. I would rate it at least twice as nice as DFW Centurion Lounge. As long as it doesn't get overwhelmed (I worry about the Grab-and-Go), the experience is so much more relaxing than the CL. The individual bathrooms felt luxurious.

As for the chef-prepared food, the bibimbap and the mac and cheese with bacon (also available without) were outstanding.

I just got my Venture X in the mail. Approved on the day of launch. Anyone lucky enough to get theirs and go to the lounge yet? Excited to see live action ...I will be there during the Thanksgiving week.

I would love to see a detailed report on how the food compares to AMEX Centurion Lounge.

In my mind, there is no comparison. At least for now, the C1 Lounge is much more elegant, not a feeding frenzy like the CL. All items are individually plated or grab-and-go takeaway. The hot choices were bibimbap (recommended), a curry-something (I think), mac & cheese (recommend the with-bacon option) and soup. Several self-service taps with various sodas (no diet, oddly) are on the second side. Desserts and an appetizer cup are on the third side, and grab-and-go sandwiches, salads, juices and three canister snack dispensers are on the fourth side, facing the check-in desk.

I didn't take inventory, so I'm sure I've forgotten a few things.

I sincerely worry that this lounge will eventually get overrun, like the DFW CL. Hopefully, AA reopening its Flagship Lounge (next door) in early December will divert some of the unwashed.

I wonder if C1 has made a deal with any of the foreign airlines at DFW for J passenger access.

The Wi-Fi was dog-slow, even with very few people in the lounge. I complained to one of Plaza Premium supervisors, who recognized me from their other DFW lounge.

Has December been announced for AA FL reopening? The DFW AC agent that I was talking with earlier mentioned early 2022 as their best guess.

No announcement. Just a not-so-educated guess.

The DFW Lounge has partnerships with Emirates, Korean and and Lufthansa that grant access to their premium customers. Based on those airlines' flight schedules, the Lounge might have more traffic in the late morning and then again in the early to mid-afternoon.

In other words, does Centurion Lounge still have the better food? I care a lot about food, so that's why I asked. It would be nice for someone/blog to go into details and provide pictures of the food.

It's ridiculous that in 2021, those companies still can't get Wifi right. It's not the end of the world as I have more than enough data on my phone, but it would be nice to have even more speed as I turn on VPN.

I spent about 2.5 hours at the DFW lounge yesterday with wife, kid, and a work friend. The lounge was great, looks just like the pictures online. The only problem I foresee is that it really isn't that big, and since this card is effectively free (with the $300 credit and the anniversary points) it seems like a no-brainer for anyone who travels through or from DFW. So I have to think it'll be crowded within 6 months.

No crowds yesterday though, just a dozen or two guests and lots of room to roam. Wife used the nursing room (which actually has diapers, bottles, wipes, and looks like it'll have a bottle sterilization unit soon -- amazingly well thought out). Next time I will plan to use the Peloton room. Wife also showered and said the water got plenty hot but the pressure was only "fine" not "amazing."

Bar is well stocked though the spirits are not as top-shelf as Centurion. They had a lot of accoutrements -- cucumbers and herbs for the cocktails, various bitters, etc., but unfortunately the bar staff was darn near clueless on how to make drinks. (Presumably they could make whatever was on the menu, but I heard people asking for things like a whiskey sour and being met with blank stares.) Maybe the actual bartender was just off yesterday, I don't know, but hopefully that was an anomaly. I had a glass of sauv blanc and it was perfectly serviceable (I forget what it was, but on par with what I'd expect from Centurion).

The food was great, and the single-serve portions were a particular highlight. I sampled a bunch of stuff, but here's my first tray:



The white tagine had curried lentils; it was more like a small and simple curry-scented lentil soup but it was a nice light bite. The bibimbap was nice, with quality beef. It looked undersauced so I asked an agent if there were condiments anywhere, like hot sauce, and she offered to bring out some korean barbecue sauce (which is what's in the bowl on the left). It was fabulous--tangy, spicy, savory. I would gladly pay $12 for the dish at a lunch spot. The little paper cone on my tray was salami, cheese, and a gherkin. The mac and cheese (top-right) was decent, though I found it odd that the bacon was brown-sugar coated... it was sort of like having pieces of honey baked ham on the mac, which wasn't a bad thing, just a little sweet (again, I was left wishing they had the kind of hot sauce bar that the JFK centurion has by the upstairs bar).

There was a nice selection of desserts including pain au chocolate and baklava. The only oddity with the food setup was that in lieu of napkins there were stacks of the dark brown paper towels one finds in second-rate public bathrooms. Maybe the linen napkins haven't arrived yet.

The agents were wonderful and came by all the time to check on everyone. On the way out, they loaded us up with to-go bags with sandwiches, salads, cookies, and cake pops for the flights (we were flying DFW-CLT-PWM so it was great to have stuff for the day). They were actually glad that we took stuff because they said most people don't, and there's quite a lot of food in the grab and go case.

All in all, it's a great addition to the mix and I imagine I'll still use the Centurion for certain drinks (they have Botanist gin and Antica Carpano sweet vermouth, making for a great Negroni) and for the self-serve Theragun (or maybe some day if it returns, a massage). But the Capital One lounge is going to be my go-to lounge for the time being until it gets too crowded as I fear it will.

The lounge opened with much nicer and more substantial brown paper napkins. I was told they are the standard. They ran out of those and the resupply order is delayed. The "paper towels" are a stop-gap replacement and management is well aware of their shortcomings.

Your comments about the bar staff are not at all my experience on my two visits.

I am very glad to hear that. I figured something had to be off -- no way they'd have so many cocktail-oriented features at the bar without having the trained staff to make use of it.

Lounge looks relaxing and comfortable

There is an excellent review of the Capital One Lounge on YouTube. It's worth a look.

Went out of my way today to fly through DFW to check out the lounge. I really like it here! I really love the peolotons and that they have a clear view of the west runways - I realize that's not practical for most but I planned a 5 hour layover here to check them out, and also my first time trying out a peloton.

It would be nice if there was a bit more of a formal sit down menu, I'm a tad picky eater so didn't try the bibimap or mac n cheese, but the chcocolate au pain was amazing, as was the chocolate brownie desserts.

Staff is very friendly. There is no place to print documents (I needed to print a rapid anti-gen test result I just took), but that's okay. There is a ton of mosquitoes/fruit flies? things on the leaves that have been bothering me all day.

It was fairly quiet in the morning, now it's up to about 25 people or so. It's not not busy, but it doesn't feel crowded. I really like the atmosphere - there is music playing, which most other clubs/lounges from what I recall don't have. The music variety is all over the place - from 70s and 80s music, to something resembling Polka and mariachi bands. Great views as well, it's really bright in here with tons of natural light.

There is only one shower, wasn't an issue for me though. But I didn't like that I had to request the cycling room, then afterwards, walk out all sweaty to request the shower.

I'm really looking forward to the one in DEN opening up. The lounge attendant told me there is also one opening in MIA, but I thought it was IAD? Either way, good if you're an AA flyer. For a United guy like myself, DEN is going to be much more feasible. Please bring one to ORD!

I stopped by the lounge on the way back from my trip, and a bit of the luster was off from the first visit.

2 out of the 4 bathrooms and the shower room were "out of order"
I was in the relaxation pod, and locked it, but someone was giving a tour to another lady and unlocked it, kind of ruining the relaxation portion.
Food was the exact same

With that said, the hospitality was still phenomenal - every staff member interaction I had or heard was outstanding.

I would really like to see a bit more formal menu above and beyond light bites.

Oh, and the nutella/banana sandwiches are amazing. And the frozen irish coffee really packs a punch!