The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Advertiser disclosure
The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
News
Get free food at the airport: Which cards offer Priority Pass restaurant access?
Ryan is a former TPG credit cards writer who has been around points and miles for several years and has published content at Miles to Memories, AwardWallet and The Points Guy. His wife joins him on many of his trips, and they enjoy snowboarding, diving, and seeing animals in the wild. When not traveling, Ryan is probably answering questions from his family about how he travels so much and whether this points & miles stuff is illegal.
Chris Nelson is a credit cards writer for TPG. He specializes in budget travel, hotels, earning elite status through minimal spending and redeeming points for maximum value.
also contributed to this story
April 3, 2024 • 7 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.
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.
Related stories
Quick summary
Priority Pass memberships can provide access to airport restaurants, allowing members and guests to enjoy complimentary meals at select U.S. airports.
This benefit is available only at specific airports and restaurants, with each location setting its own credit limits and guest policies.
Not all Priority Pass memberships include restaurant access—some only allow lounge entry, while others extend to spas, sleep pods or game stations.
Recent changes mean some cards are ending restaurant access soon, and not all cards that offer lounge access include this perk.
What to consider
Participating restaurants typically provide $28-$30 in credit per person, but rules on guest limits and gratuities vary by location.
Some memberships are losing restaurant access after June 30, and certain cards are no longer available to new applicants.
Credits generally cannot be used for to-go orders or gratuity, and automatic tips may be added at some restaurants.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed breakdown of which airports and restaurants participate, plus tips for maximizing the Priority Pass restaurant benefit.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Airport lounge access is one of my favorite credit card benefits. You can get free food and drinks while waiting in a more comfortable area before your flight. However, some lounges aren’t great. And their food offerings may be little more than a pack of Oreos.
If you need to grab a meal at the airport before a flight, you could pay a small fortune. However, a lesser-known credit card benefit could help you score a free meal for yourself and for your traveling companions.
Here’s a look at credit cards that offer visits to Priority Pass restaurants, where you could pick up a free lunch before your next flight.
Priority Pass lounges vs. restaurants
When you think of Priority Pass, you likely think of airport lounges where you can relax before your flight, use Wi-Fi and enjoy some food and drinks without the noisy announcements encountered near the departure gates. That’s definitely a big part of what a Priority Pass membership offers, but there’s more.
Yankee Pier in San Francisco. KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY
Priority Pass also has affiliated restaurants in more than 20 airports. When using your membership card, you can enjoy a free meal. Plus, your guest can enjoy their own credit for a free meal.
In addition to restaurants, you can enjoy non-lounge perks like these at some airports:
An hour in a private room at select Minute Suite 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
However, not all Priority Pass memberships offer access to Priority Pass restaurants, spas, sleep pods and other non-lounge visits. We’ll discuss which memberships do (and don’t) include these visits below.
Where are Priority Pass restaurants located?
Unfortunately, not every airport with a Priority Pass lounge has a Priority Pass-affiliated restaurant. Some airports with participating restaurants have more than one of them, meaning this benefit is available only at a select few airports in the U.S.
You can get a free meal at Priority Pass restaurants like this one at the MIA airport. BENJI STAWSKI/THE POINTS GUY
You can find participating restaurants at the following U.S. airports:
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT)
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Miami International Airport (MIA)
Nashville International Airport (BNA)
Portland International Airport (PDX)
Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport (PVD)
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR)
Tampa International Airport (TPA)
Tucson International Airport (TUS)
How much is the Priority Pass restaurant benefit worth?
You can get between $28-$30 of free food and drinks, depending on the rules set by each restaurant. Let’s take a look at two sample restaurants.
The Cadillac Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar at IAH offers a maximum of $28 per person in free food and drinks. This credit cannot be used for to-go orders, and you can register a maximum of one guest (no matter how many people are with you).
That would provide a total max of $56 in food and drinks (split as a $28 allotment for you and $28 for your registered guest). You cannot use this credit toward gratuity when tipping your server.
Breakfast tacos from Landry’s Seafood at Houston’s IAH Priority Pass restaurant. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
The Corona Beach House at MIA, however, offers a credit of $30 per person and doesn’t have a limit on the number of guests you can register during your visit. You cannot use your credit on to-go orders or grab-and-go items. The restaurant automatically adds an 18% gratuity to your bill.
Depending on which Priority Pass restaurant you visit, you’ll likely encounter one of these sets of rules for how much credit you receive, guest restrictions and gratuities. Even if your meal is free, you should still plan to tip your server based on the bill before any deductions.
TPG senior editor Gabrielle Bernardini stated, “While traveling home for the holidays, I had a layover at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). The only lounge I could access within my terminal was the Minute Suites. While Minute Suites are a great place to work or get in a nap, you have to pay for snacks and drinks. Luckily, I was able to use my Priority Pass credit at the Harbor Grill, which was located near my departure gate. Since I was traveling with a guest, we ordered two hot chicken meals and drinks for less than $50.”
Credit cards that provide access to Priority Pass restaurants
Many credit cards offer access to Priority Pass lounges. Some offer unlimited visits, while others offer just a few visits per year. Some allow for unlimited guests, while others don’t include any free guests.
*The information for the Bank of America Premium Elite Rewards, Citi Prestige, J.P. Morgan Reserve, the Ritz-Carlton and UBS Visa Infinite cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Priority Pass benefit can help you save cash the next time your stomach rumbles before a flight.
While eligible restaurants aren’t in every airport across the U.S., several are available in some of the nation’s busiest airports. If you have any of the cards mentioned above, remember to take advantage of this benefit on your next flight if you’re in an airport that offers Priority Pass restaurants.
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.
