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Skip the lounge and get free food: Use your Priority Pass at 37 US airport restaurants
Katie Genter is a digital nomad who has traveled full time since June 2017. She writes and edits stories about points and miles, and loyalty programs, often letting her personal experiences color these stories.
JT is a location-independent digital nomad traveling 250,000+ miles each year with his wife Katie.
also contributed to this story
December 8, 2023 • 10 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
Priority Pass includes access to select airport restaurants in addition to lounges, with 37 participating U.S. locations across 25 airports as of the latest update.
Eligible members can receive a dining credit at participating restaurants, typically covering both the cardholder and at least one guest.
Access to Priority Pass restaurants depends on the type of membership, with some card-provided memberships excluding restaurant benefits.
Effective July 1, 2024, certain premium card memberships will lose access to Priority Pass restaurants.
What to consider
Dining credits vary by restaurant and usually cannot be used for gratuity or to-go orders.
Some memberships, especially those provided by specific card issuers, do not include restaurant access—check your card's terms before traveling.
Restaurant participation and guest limits may change, and access can be restricted during busy periods.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed list of all current U.S. Priority Pass restaurant locations and guidance on maximizing your dining benefit at airports.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
This post has been updated with information that the Chase Sapphire Reserve will lose Priority Pass restaurant access from July 1, 2024.
Priority Pass is most well known for its network of airport lounges. But Priority Pass also includes some non-lounge experiences, including restaurants. These restaurants let eligible Priority Pass members enjoy sit-down dining experiences at select airports as part of their membership.
The list of U.S. restaurants participating in Priority Pass changes somewhat frequently. Currently, there are 37 Priority Pass restaurants at 25 U.S. airports.
Here's what you need to know about using the Priority Pass restaurant benefit in the U.S., including eligible restaurants and how to know whether your Priority Pass membership offers access to restaurants.
Priority Pass restaurants in the US
KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY
Here's a list of all U.S. airport restaurants that are part of the Priority Pass program when we most recently updated this article:
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI): Harbor Grille in Concourse C
Tucson International Airport (TUS): Barrio Brewery Co. on the second floor, landside
There are also restaurants at airports outside the U.S. that participate in Priority Pass. And there are non-lounge airport experiences that you can access with Priority Pass, including:
An hour in a private room at select Minute Suites locations
Use of a game station for one hour (and a snack and a bottle of water or soft drink) at select Gameway locations
Select treatments at participating Be Relax Spa locations
Discounts with select airport merchants through retail offers
In short, checking your options on the Priority Pass website is always a good idea before heading to the airport.
Landry's Seafood in Houston. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
You need an eligible Priority Pass membership to get free food or drinks at participating Priority Pass restaurants. You could purchase a Priority Pass membership, but several premium cards offer Priority Pass membership as a complimentary cardholder perk.
However, you don't get complimentary access to non-lounge airport experiences such as restaurants and spa treatments if your Priority Pass membership is through an American Express card. Effective Jan. 1, most Capital One cardholders also lost complimentary access to Priority Pass restaurants and other non-lounge airport experiences.
However, Priority Pass memberships provided as a perk by other credit card companies, such as Chase and Citi, continue to offer access to most non-lounge Priority Pass experiences. The top currently available picks for cards that offer Priority Pass Select membership that includes restaurant access and other non-lounge airport experiences are the Chase Sapphire Reserve (ending June 30), UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Business (only for eligible existing cardholders, not for new applicants).
The information for the UBS Visa Infinite has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Yankee Pier in San Francisco. KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY
Once you have a card offering Priority Pass membership as a perk, enroll in Priority Pass if your issuer doesn't automatically enroll you. Once enrolled, you'll get digital access and a physical Priority Pass card in the mail. Once you get your physical Priority Pass card, put it in your carry-on bag or travel wallet since some Priority Pass lounges and restaurants don't accept digital cards.
When you arrive at a participating airport restaurant, mention to the greeter or host that you plan to use your Priority Pass membership for your meal. You'll find out at this point whether the restaurant is still participating in Priority Pass and, if so, whether it currently accepts Priority Pass members. After all, many of the Priority Pass restaurant pages note the following:
Please note that the restaurant may exceed their seating limit at certain times of the day & access to the restaurant is at their sole discretion.
You'll likely be entitled to a dining credit for the cardholder and at least one guest. But check the terms of your card's Priority Pass benefit and the restaurant's rules. For example, the Cadillac Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar in Houston limits the number of guests you can claim to one.
PRIORITYPASS.COM
The dining credit amount varies by restaurant, although most offer members a credit of $28 to $30 per guest for food and drinks. Check the restaurant's Priority Pass page for all the relevant details. Most Priority Pass restaurants prohibit to-go and grab-and-go orders; some may even prohibit taking leftovers. You won't get a refund if you don't use your entire credit.
Frequently asked questions about Priority Pass restaurants
San Francisco Giants Clubhouse. KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY
Here are some of the most common questions about Priority Pass restaurants.
How many times can you visit Priority Pass restaurants within a day?
If you're traveling through an airport with multiple restaurants that participate in the Priority Pass program, you can visit all the restaurants if time (and stomach space) permits.
However, some Priority Pass restaurants only allow travelers with an outbound boarding pass. So, you might be unable to stop by a Priority Pass restaurant if you just landed at your final destination.
Does Chase Sapphire Reserve Priority Pass include restaurants?
Yes, the complimentary Priority Pass Select membership available to Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders includes airport lounges, restaurants, cafes and markets, although the restaurant benefit ends June 30.
Chase Sapphire Reserve primary cardholders and authorized users can enroll in a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership. These members can bring up to two guests per visit at no extra charge, although some Priority Pass restaurants may allow fewer guests.
When using your Priority Pass benefit at a restaurant, tip as you normally would on the full amount of your bill. At most restaurants — Corona Beach House in Miami is an exception that automatically adds 18% gratuity to your bill — you can't use your Priority Pass credit toward gratuity.
Even if your Priority Pass credit completely covers your bill, some restaurants may be willing to charge a minimal amount to your card (like $0.01) so you can add a tip to that charge. However, it's best to also have some cash on hand in case you need to leave a cash tip.
If you enjoy eating at an airport restaurant before your flight or during layovers, check the list of airports with Priority Pass restaurants above.
If you frequently originate at or connect through one or more of these airports, it may be worth getting a card that provides Priority Pass restaurant access. You'll want to avoid American Express cards and most Capital One cards, but one excellent option is the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Check out our Chase Sapphire Reserve review for more details about the card and its benefits.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
