…The smallest lounge in one of the largest airports….with an outstanding staff
The single room Plaza Premium Lounge at DFW Terminal E pales in comparison to its counterpart at London Heathrow. The only non-airline-affiliated lounge in Terminal E has no washrooms. I need to credit the AMAZING staff that is attentive to customers and work very hard to keep this crowded room in order.
The lounge is in Terminal E, near gate E31. It is the only non-airline branded lounge in this terminal, so travelers without access to the United Club, Delta Sky Club, or American Admirals Club have at least one option (if they have Priority Pass or are willing to pay for entry).
The reception desk is right up front – and from there you can see the entire lounge. Just past reception is a coffee (La Colombe coffee) and water station. Cookies too!
The bar and buffet are on the left. Seating is on the right and in the rear. The décor is fine. Most seats are around small tables with some traditional lounge chairs in the rear.
The bar has some complimentary cocktails, but there is a charge for a better quality beverages. I find it interesting that the chandeliers above the bar seem identical to those found in the previous iteration of United Clubs – they do work here. In fact the bar, called the Aero bar, is the most attractive part of the lounge.
Past the bar is the buffet. Items on offer included: Italian wraps, cucumber salad, jasmine rice, tomato basil bisque, turmeric roasted cauliflower, shiitake mushroom soup, and chicken satay. Dessert items included beignets and brownies. It all looked rather tasty.
There are no washrooms in the lounge, so travelers need to enter the terminal and reenter. I am not sure whether I would be comfortable leaving my belongings unwatched in any lounge. The saving grace is the staff. Everyone from the manager to the kitchen staff went above and beyond. The manager asked me personally if I wanted some food (I was not hungry) and asked others too. In addition, he personally made cappuccino for another guest. A bartender kindly offered to fill a customer’s water bottle and asked if she would like ice in the bottle.
I wonder with all the ongoing construction at DFW if a larger space is possible. Rumor has it that the lounge will be relocated to a larger space in Terminal D. Not having washrooms and overall small size is not ideal for the Plaza Premium brand. Crowding is an issue here too given the size. Although I was admitted right away, an hour later there was a line to enter. Also, I noticed no outlets where I was seated at the bar – and glancing around – outlets were not that plentiful. The internet was password protected, but it worked well.
There are only 2 Plaza Premium branded lounges in the US – Asia is their biggest market. The London Heathrow Lounge is luxurious by comparison. I added some pictures of the Heathrow Lounge.
…The details. Date – May 29, 2025. Rating: OK. Access: Priority Pass.
…What I like: The staff, some decent food, nice looking bar, and the staff again!
…What I don’t like: No washrooms, crowds, too small.
