Capital One Lounge DFW Review: A New Airport Lounge Standard

Capital One's flagship lounge, the Capital One Lounge at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), sets a new gold standard for airport lounge experiences with first-rate food and amenities. It also gives visitors the option to take food to-go, unlike most other lounges.

Add in standout amenities like showers, Peloton bikes and dedicated nursing rooms, and the Capital One Lounge in Dallas is a must-visit for travelers flying through DFW.

Travelers can expect:

• Small, hot-plates served buffet-style, featuring local flavors.

• Tasty pastries.

• Complimentary cocktails, wine and beer.

• Grab-and-go food to take out of the lounge, including sandwiches, salads, fruit, baked goods, coffee and sodas. 

• Workout rooms for cycling and yoga.

• A nursing/parents room. 

• A multi-faith room.

• Complimentary Wi-Fi.

• Luggage lockers.

I used my Capital One Venture X Business card to access the Capital One Lounge Dallas before a flight, taking advantage of the food (both for dining on site and to-go), drinks and work areas.

» Learn more: The guide to Capital One lounges

The Capital One Lounge at DFW, which opened in 2021, is located in Terminal D by Gate D22.

Though DFW is huge (it’s got five terminals), all are connected post-security via Skylink, which is the airport’s light rail service that shuttles you across the airport — no ticket required. Riding Skylink around the entire circuit takes just nine minutes, making this lounge accessible no matter your airline.

Once you’ve gone through security (or exited Skylink at the D gates), you’ll encounter the lounge, which shares a foyer with the American Airlines Flagship Lounge. Both lounges are one floor up, accessible via elevator.

» Learn more: The guide to Dallas-Fort Worth Airport (DFW)

Open seating areas offer a range of styles to accommodate how you’ll spend time. There are dining tables, cozy chairs and bar seating.

Most seats have their own power outlets.

There’s even a dedicated relaxation room with eye covers and blankets to borrow. Post up in one of the room's pod-like chairs, which close off for privacy.

Fitness room

The fitness room is a rarity in airport lounges. The one in this lounge includes Peloton bikes, small dumbbells and yoga mats.

During a long layover or ahead of a long flight, this feature alone can make for a welcome way to stretch your legs.

» Learn more: 6 reasons you should be using airport lounges

Bathrooms and shower rooms

The lounge’s individual bathrooms are nice for privacy. But with only four, it’s not enough. Lines can build up.

There’s also one shower room. Sure, one shower might be better than no showers if you’re seeking a refresh during a layover. But that single shower might end up being a curse if you were counting on using it after a sweaty Peloton ride, only to find it’s occupied and won’t be available before you need to depart.

Though the individual bathrooms and shower rooms feel far more luxurious than individual stalls, the queue wasn’t ideal.

Buffet

The buffet at the Capital One Lounge DFW offers small plates rather than the typical large self-serve trays.

Each set of small plates are served in food-serving stations, sprinkled around the lounge. If you don’t do a full lounge tour, you might miss out on the food variety within each station.

For some, discovering these food stations throughout the lounge can feel like a delightful surprise. But for guests who want to see all their options before selecting their dishes, this layout could be inconvenient.

Dishes are locally inspired and thoughtfully presented. When I visited, savory dishes included:

• Chicken tinga elote.

• Vegetarian elote.

• San Marzano bruschetta flatbread.

• Prosciutto flatbread.

• Surimi cucumber canapes.

• Fondue mac and cheese.

• Gazpacho soup.

• Texas caviar.

I appreciated the Texas flair across the menu. Even though the Texas caviar was hardly caviar (the vegan dish consists of beans, peas, pico de gallo and corn), it was a fun way to bid farewell to Texas.

Desserts and other pastries

Desserts are just as varied as the entrees, supporting a range of diets and allergies, such as gluten-free brownies. When I visited, they were offering multiple flavors of cheesecake.

They also offered cookies, and guests could pick from lemon with white chocolate, triple chocolate chip or caramel delight. They’re super decadent.

Other pastry items include croissants and cream puffs.

Bar

Alcoholic drinks (including wine, beer and cocktails), as well as mocktails are complimentary. I didn’t try any out for myself, but the bar rarely had a line, making ordering drinks efficient.

Non-alcoholic options

Non-alcoholic beverage options include eight draft handles serving water, sodas, tea and lemonade.

Coffee options range from drip coffee to another set of draft handles serving specialty beverages including draft lattes.

Takeout food

The takeout options are what really set Capital One apart. Brown paper bags near the pastries make it easy. A whole refrigerator case at the front entrance with deli foods in prepackaged containers makes it even easier.

Those containers include salads and sandwiches. There are also breakfast and dessert items such as puddings, smoothie bowls and strawberry parfaits.

Contrast that with the time I visited an Escape lounge, which are complimentary for certain AmEx cardholders (I used The Platinum Card® from American Express to get in). There, an employee chided me for taking two cookies in a napkin to-go. Whoops.

But at Capital One’s lounge, no matter how much you already consumed in the lounge, staff encourage travelers to take food for the road.

The lounge was busy but not too packed during my weekend visit in September. Capital One uses a waitlist system on its mobile app during peak times, but you can also get on a waitlist at the check-in desk if necessary.

How to use the Capital One app to minimize waiting

If you’re a Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card or Capital One Venture X Business cardholder, join the waitlist for the DFW lounge (and other Capital One lounges) via the Capital One app. From the Rewards & Benefits tile, tap the airplane icon.

Then select DFW from the Capital One lounge locations to view the capacity and join. Capital One then sends you a text notification when you can enter. Consider joining the waitlist before arriving (e.g. when you’re waiting at airport security) to minimize waiting.

Without the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card or Capital One Venture X Business card, you’ll have to wait in the physical line.

The lounge is open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. To enter, you need a same-day boarding pass and — if you’re trying to use your card’s complimentary access — your physical credit card. Virtual card numbers are not accepted.

Most visitors can enter the lounge a maximum of three hours before their scheduled departure time, though travelers with a connecting flight don’t have that same time restriction.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card cardholders (including authorized users) and Capital One Venture X Business primary cardholders (excluding authorized users) receive unlimited complimentary access. They’re also entitled to bring up to two guests per visit. Additional guests cost $45 per person. Children under two years old can enter for free with a parent or guardian.

Non-cardholders and non-customers are also welcome, albeit for a heftier admission fee of $90. Though, if you hold the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or the Capital One Spark Miles for Business, you can enter at a discounted rate.

CREDIT CARDS WITH CAPITAL ONE LOUNGE ACCESS

The Capital One Lounge at DFW kicked off a bold start in the company's new airport lounge venture, setting a high bar for airport lounges. These days, other Capital One lounges — including the Denver Capital One Lounge and the Capital One Lounge Dulles — follow a similar template with to-go food and local eats.

Specific to the DFW location, the fitness-forward amenities and Texas-inspired food stand out. For frequent DFW travelers, this lounge alone is reason enough to consider holding a credit card with complimentary access.