TPG Staff Picks: Our Favorite Snacks to Bring Onboard
Any seasoned traveler knows a good snack can get you through a long day of flying. Whether you're trying to survive a long layover, a long-haul flight or day of Nor'easter cancellations, you can't go wrong munching on something yummy. While little can live up to the multi-course buffet in a premium airport lounge, instead of settling for a tasteless cup of coffee or airplane peanuts, we here at TPG don't mind packing some savory treats to keep us satiated during a flight.
Here are our favorite go-to snacks to pack or buy at the airport. After all, no one likes being hungry from 35,000 feet in the air.
Candy
"I gravitate toward artificial, sugary snacks such as Red Vines, Sour Patch Kids and M&Ms. They say your sense of taste is different in-flight, but I wish I could say these aren’t some of my faves on the ground as well." — Sarah Silbert, Points and Miles Senior Editor
Nuts
"My in-flight snack is cashew or macadamia nuts and Dom Pérignon." — Brian Kelly, The Points Guy
Protein Bar
“I bring Primal Kitchen Chocolate Hazelnut Collagen Protein Bars onboard. They are high in protein, which keeps me full, but low in sugar and carbs (unlike most of the snack bars you buy at the airport or on planes). They also don’t taste that good, so I eat them slowly (unlike a Kind or Cliff bar, which I demolish in one bite).” — Isabelle Raphael, Photo Editor
Crackers
"I usually try to eat ahead of time or bring my own food with me. I won’t go anywhere without my GG crackers since they are filling and help me stay on track — even while traveling or on-the-go." — Samantha Rosen, Social Media Editor
Caviar
"I don’t often buy food onboard, since I get free snack boxes or meals when flying coach as a United 1K, but my favorite in-flight item would have to be caviar. I don’t even love the taste of caviar on its own, but with ice-cold vodka and all the fixings it’s really hard to beat." — Zach Honig, Editor-at-Large
Ramen Noodles
"I am obsessed with soup and noodles, so I love traveling in and out of East Asia airports with their little magical kiosks of plenty. I usually stash away one or two ramen cup noodles in my bag for late-night snacks on long-haul flights. Shim Ramyun is a great default brand, but I also love sampling obscure Japanese and Korean flavors when available." — Katherine Fan, Freelance Writer
Flipz
"I wish I could say my favorite in-flight snack is something bougie or healthy even, but au contraire: my go-to snack is Flipz milk chocolate-covered pretzels. I don’t buy much junk food day-to-day, so this is a real pre-vacation treat. They’re just the right balance of salty and sweet, low maintenance and something that puts me in an out-of-office state of mind." — Jane Frye, Nights & Weekends Editor
Salad
"I don’t have a particular snack, but I usually like to grab salad or something light so I’m not totally stuffed before I sit in a cramped economy seat for a few hours." — Brendan Dorsey, Associate Editor
Anything Healthy... Or M&M's
"My main criteria for picking an in-flight snack is that it doesn’t smell too much (I don’t want to annoy my seatmates or make them jealous). Plus, I like to eat/drink quickly — so I try to bring on a smoothie (if I can find one in an airport), or I’ll try to find a healthy combo of snacks (almonds, fruit, string cheese) and go with that. If I’m feeling particularly undisciplined, I’m carrying on peanut M&M's." —Cindy Augustine, Lifestyle Editor
Granola Bar
"I've recently discovered Nature Valley's almond bars and I treat myself to one bar wherever I go. This snack satisfies my craving for something sweet or savory every time. The best part is that they're easy to pack and carry around." — Alexa Noel, Editorial Intern
Macadamia Nuts
"When I was a kid, my parents always used to buy a jar of macadamia nuts before a flight and we’d open them up once in the air to share between the four of us. I haven’t done that in a while, but they were a great in-flight snack.... I should definitely bring that tradition back!" — Jeffrey Preis, Editorial Intern
Latte
"A delicious latte is always my go-to snack, but especially so when I’m traveling. I truly enjoy sitting back and relaxing in my seat with a good cup of coffee and a movie playing." — Lindsey Campbell, Social Media Director
Shrimp Ceviche
"Delta has a shrimp ceviche that’s been appearing lately in its SkyClub lounges, and when I see it, I always have a second helping. And a third, and…" — Alberto Riva, Managing Editor
Hummus
"I’m completely addicted to hummus. When I can find the Sabra to-go cups with pretzel dippers in the airport, it’s a good day!" — Jessica Puckett, Assistant News Editor
Photo by Shutterstock.com
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.