American Airlines' new Dallas/Fort Worth Flagship first class lounge

By Chris C., May 17 2019
American Airlines' new Dallas/Fort Worth Flagship first class lounge

American Airlines’ new Flagship Lounge at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport is now open, bringing a significant upgrade not only for AA passengers travelling domestically and abroad, but also for eligible Qantas travellers taking the 17-hour journey aboard QF8 from Dallas to Sydney, who can also stop by.

Located in Terminal D near gate 22 – the same terminal used by Qantas and a short walk from the departure gates normally used by QF8 – the Flagship Lounge offers seating for 350 guests across a variety of zones, and there’s no shortage of natural light during the day.

A buffet dining zone serves up dishes like Texas brisket in adobo sauce and Korean-style chicken wings…

… with a rotating chef-action station also offering omelettes in the mornings and savoury pancakes later in the day, aside wine, Champagne, craft beer and other beverages.

The Flagship Lounge features two quiet rooms, individual work pods and eight showers, with access open to Qantas business class and first class passengers, along with Qantas Gold, Platinum, Platinum One, Chairman’s Lounge and other Oneworld Sapphire and Emerald frequent flyers.

This covers not only passengers departing on the evening QF8 flight to Sydney, but also those arriving into Dallas on QF7 and connecting onwards with American Airlines to one of 234 other destinations.

A section of the lounge is reserved exclusively for American Airlines’ own ‘Flagship First’ first class flyers – and occasionally by invitation, AA ConciergeKey members – branded as Flagship First Dining.

Similar to AA’s other Flagship First Dining facilities such as in Los Angeles, this 54-seat space serves as a complimentary restaurant for those eligible passengers, specialising in local crowd pleasers like slow-braised pork shoulder, double-smoked beef brisket and Texas pecan pie: not to mention, there’s Krug Champagne.

Qantas Club passengers who aren’t departing on or connecting from an international business class or first class flight – such as on a premium economy ticket to Sydney, or before an AA domestic flight – can instead visit a newly-renovated Admirals Club not far away at gate 23.

Here, guests will also find showers, power outlets, wine, spirits and craft beer, including from local breweries in Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston, with the combined footprint of these new lounges now 67% larger than the facilities they replace – equivalent in size to 1.5 football fields.

Both the Flagship Lounge and the Admirals Club open daily from 5am until 10:15pm, catering to QF8’s 10:25pm departure, with Flagship First Dining open from 8am to 10pm daily for eligible American Airlines passengers.

For more information about access rules for the Flagship Lounge – particularly for American Airlines’ AAdvantage frequent flyers travelling with American, where different rules apply – head to the AA website.

Also read: American Express opens new Centurion Lounge at Dallas/Forth Worth

Chris C.

Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

01 Nov 2016

Total posts 129

Much needed and looks better than any previous lounge options at DFW . Given DFW is AA's HQ, it has surprisingly taken a while for this to happen.

11 Apr 2014

Total posts 14

A very welcome upgrade although it's a shame those in first on QF8 can't use flagship dining, given that BA has managed to negotiate this access for its first customers.

02 Mar 2013

Total posts 32

BA has a JV with AA , Qantas do not (although they’ve been applying for one).

Joe
Joe

03 May 2013

Total posts 670

Alleluia to this!

Can't wait to visit in August. At the least it'll feel clean and modern. The brown and red colour palette doesn't really scream modern and funky though...

And a shame that QF first passengers can't visit the first dining area. You don't need a full a la carte meal service before a first class flight, but it'd be nice to have the option!

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

27 Jun 2013

Total posts 22

Much better than the previous lounges & well overdue

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

08 Jun 2018

Total posts 5

Once again, the only people that actually PAY for membership, - Qantas Club Members - can't access... gosh that annoys me!!!

04 May 2015

Total posts 267

The Admirals Club is the US equivalent of the Qantas Club: that's what you've paid for, and that's what you get. AA doesn't sell Flagship lounge access to its own members either: Admirals Club cardholders use the Admirals Club lounge too. Don't like it? Go to the AMEX lounge instead!

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer - Chairmans Lounge

01 Sep 2011

Total posts 414

In my view a JV between AA and BA is not a good enough reason that QF first can't use so-called flagshipfirst dining. There's a strong enough connection between AA and QF that it should be permitted. They'd cry discrimination if AA pax were not allowed to use the table service at QF first lounge in Sydney as an eg.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

02 Sep 2018

Total posts 153

Yes and given Cathay has access to flagship dining for their first class passengers in New York, I don't see why Qantas can't have negotiated access. Maybe Qantas was too cheap?

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

29 Nov 2013

Total posts 478

Looking forward to using this later in the year. It looks like their Chicago Flagship lounge which is awesome.


I have to say, in one of the photos the light arrangement looks like oversized blackberries!

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

06 May 2016

Total posts 33

Terrific news! Roll on August with QF7 QF8 - and access to showers on arrival via QF7 is fabulous as shower access not in all AA clubs across other terminals before fly on. The old AA club near D22 wasn’t too bad but the “Premier” really was terrible and so far from QF8 gates. Congratulations Qantas- this look terrific.

13 Aug 2015

Total posts 40

Agree with the above posts, just cheap of QF not being willing to pay for Flagship Dining access for First Class pax on QF8..

Its good to see AA and the other American major carriers are really investing in their products.


If only AA's short haul onboard experience weren't so atrociously compromised.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

29 Mar 2015

Total posts 94

My partner and I must have benefited from someones stuff up when we were allowed into the AA first dining. Both WP with Qantas, both on upgraded tickets, both travelling on QF8. It was good👍, but obviously a one off!

Qantas

19 Apr 2012

Total posts 1424

This looks good and the showers in the revamped admirals club in A wing are very good but this will add a nice food option as well and the A domestic gates aren’t too far away by the train.

16 Dec 2011

Total posts 49

Was there Friday night. Was nice and the Chicken wings were great, but given how people are excited it must have been bad before.


No better than the Sydney Qantas lounge other than the upgraded food. Who know's if it will stay that way.

24 Apr 2019

Total posts 3

Does anyone know if they are accepting Qantas Club Lounge passes when flying Premium Economy?

24 Apr 2012

Total posts 2447

One-off Qantas Club passes are only ever valid in Qantas-operated lounges, not in partner lounges. Those with a Qantas Club pass could use it for lounge access in Sydney prior to QF7 to Dallas, of course.

(Paid-up Qantas Club members, on the other hand, can access Admirals Clubs: that's just not extended to passholders.)

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

06 May 2016

Total posts 33

That is correct Chris, but I must say in the days before we became QGold almost every time they would still let us into AA on the Qantas Club Pass. Again, Q Club membership gains entry without any favour being granted.

24 Apr 2019

Total posts 3

Thanks Chris, appreciate the quick answer!


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