Lounge Review: Plaza Premium Lounge - Dallas (DFW) Terminal D
I visited the Plaza Premium and Plaza Premium First lounges during their Grand Opening on April 14, 2026, and while there, I took some time to do a review. I will break the reviews into two parts: one for the Plaza Premium and the other will focus on the Plaza Premium First location. Plaza Premium has three lounge locations at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), one in Terminal E and two in Terminal D. For this review, I will focus on the Plaza Premium Lounge located in Terminal D.
Location and Access
The lounge is located in Terminal D, near Gate D15 (just inside the D18 TSA security checkpoint), and is open daily from 07:00 to 23:00 (11 PM). This is a common-use lounge, meaning it is open to all customers regardless of airline or class. To access the lounge, simply take the escalator or the elevator (located on the backside) to the lounge level on the mezzanine. Once at the top, you will see the reception desk. Since both lounges share a common reception desk, they will assist you in checking in for either the Plaza Premium or the Plaza Premium First lounges.
The lounge has partnered with Priority Pass and Dragonpass and, like other Plaza Premium locations, they offer day passes for those wanting to visit the lounge without a membership (I recommend you book online to save 10% and avoid having to wait, but you can also walk up and purchase access without a reservation). Currently a day pass can be purchased for ~$68 or ~$88 with shower access (per person). If you gain access from a membership, you can pay a $30 upgrade for use of the shower (for up to 30 minutes) or $45 per person to upgrade to the Plaza Premium First lounge (which includes shower access and more).
It is important to mention the 2-hours-from-departure rule, which is in place for both lounges. This rule is designed to control overcrowding and reduce dwell time but really can impact the experience since it is based on departure time, not boarding time. So customers must build enough time into their schedule for any lounge wait, plus time needed to get to their gate before departure. Also note that passengers traveling with an airline partner (with a lounge invitation) may access the lounge up to 3 hours prior to departure, and guests with confirmed online reservations may access the lounge during their reserved date and time.
Lounge Amenities
The lounge is arranged with restrooms on one side and the rest of the lounge on the other. After you leave the reception area, you will enter the lounge to the left and pass the (2) flight monitors showing flights departing from all terminals. Once there, you can turn to the right for restrooms or left for almost everything else. The lounge is great for those traveling alone as well as those in groups. The overall amenities were limited, but there does seem to be a focus on food, beverage, and seating. Around the lounge there was featured art (most with a Texas theme) on the walls with information about the artist. The lounge also has a prayer room with a wudu station, a bench, and several religious books. I recommend checking with the front desk to arrange access to the prayer room and the shower.
Seating and Work Areas
The decor and lighting are warm and comforting; I also love the floor-to-ceiling windows found in the central area overlooking the terminal area below. The lounge provides many types of seating and table areas. There are individual seats with small tables as well as large tables for groups (including high chairs).
There is a set of individual semi-private booths where people can work, relax, or snack, and each of the booths has high-speed USB-C charging and A/C plugs.
The lounge lacks a dedicated business area, conference room, or phone booths for meetings, but some seating areas can be used for working. For example, in the bar area at the back of the lounge there are small table spots that could be great for a small meeting or call.
Food and Beverage
I was very impressed with the dining options while in the lounge. I was there in the morning through lunch, so they did do a food switch from breakfast to lunch, and I only experienced the lunch menu. The dining area is nicely situated towards the back of the lounge, close to the bar.
The food was very fresh and healthy; there was a great mix of meat, vegetarian, and dessert options. The food is all contained in a single area with a full buffet and two refrigerators with lots of single-serve options.
Breakfast Items: Matcha Chia Pudding, Fuji Apple Muesli, Fresh Fruit, Chocolate covered strawberries, fresh breads, and much more. There was also a premium breakfast Ă la carte menu with items ranging from $6 to $12, including Brisket Benedict, Shakshuka, and an Acai Smoothie Bowl.
Lunch Items: Thai chickpea curry, sautéed mixed vegatables, miso tofu soup, and more. There were also fresh snacks and salad options to enjoy. Note: the All Day Premium Menu (see below) was also being offered for those wanting to pay for something else.
The lounge offers a large self-serve drink station with teas, brewed coffee (decaf and regular), sodas, juices, and filtered water. If you want an espresso, you need to go to the bar. I chose to have a macchiato, and it was amazing.
The Bar
The Aerobar is located in the back corner of the lounge and offers a full-service menu. Complementary items include select beer, white, and red wine, and well drinks. The bar also has a full espresso machine serving complimentary espresso beverages. The staff at the bar were very nice and answered my many questions. The bar has seating for about 15 people, and there are also small tables and seats around the bar area.
There is also a premium bar menu with exciting cocktails and premium liquor options ranging from $8 to $60 per drink. I will say I was a little disappointed that Coors Light was the only complementary beer offering, considering they have taps for another 3 just sitting there, empty. There is also an order-to-table menu with Ă la carte menu items with things such as dumplings, fried green tomatoes, burgers, chicken sandwiches, and more, ranging from $6 to $12 per item.
Restrooms and Showers
There are three private restrooms in the lounge, with one of them being accessible. Inside the restroom there is a baby changing (diaper) station. While I was there, I did see a line with people waiting for the next restroom. Interestingly, there is a sign next to the restroom that points to the left, indicating you can also go through and use the restrooms in the First Lounge, where the prayer room and shower are located.
The shower room is kept locked, so check with the reception desk for information on access. I asked an employee if I could enter just to take some photos and was impressed with the size and amenities. I did notice that the room is accessible and has a pop-out bench in the shower for those who might need to sit while using the shower.
The shower room is very spacious and has everything you might need, including a toilet, a bench, a hairdryer, a full sink area, and space to get dressed.
Internet and Noise
The lounge provides internet access, and I was able to connect without any problems. The speed results were not very impressive. I ran two tests, and the fastest of the tests was 16.6 Mbps (down) and 4.4 Mbps (up). The noise level was classified as “conversation” (66.1 dB) over a 15-second window around 12:30 pm.
Overall Rating: 4.0*
Pros: great food, power plugs (and fast charging) can be found all around the lounge, comfortable seating..
Cons: only 2 hours prior to departure, no outdoor views, no business center, no TVs, slow Wi-Fi speeds.
- Amenities: 3.9
- Food: 4.3
- Beverages: 4.2
- Seating, Tables, and Work Areas: 3.8
- Service: 4.2
- Wow-Factor: 3.5
* scored using Nerd Score 1.0
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Closing Thoughts
The newest lounge at DFW for sure did not disappoint, and I look forward to going back. Terminal D at DFW is becoming a powerhouse of lounges, with seven distinctive lounges and a new Chase Sapphire Lounge opening later this year.