You have Priority Pass through your credit card. You've probably used it to get into a lounge a few times. But here's what many travelers don't realize: Priority Pass partners with sit-down restaurants across major airports worldwide, offering complimentary dining credits that work just like cash toward your meal.
Important caveat: not every Priority Pass membership includes restaurant access. In recent years, most major card issuers have removed this benefit. Amex dropped it in 2019, Capital One in early 2023, and Chase followed in July 2024. If your card still includes it, the typical credit ranges from $28 to $36 per person, per visit, and that credit extends to eligible guests too, meaning a couple can easily get $56 to $72 in free food at a real restaurant.
How Priority Pass Restaurant Credits Work
The process is simple. When you arrive at an airport with a Priority Pass restaurant, you check in with the host using your Priority Pass app or physical card. They apply your credit to your bill. If your meal costs less than the credit, you pay nothing. If it costs more, you just cover the difference. Tips are typically not covered by the credit, so plan to tip separately.
You must check in with the restaurant through Priority Pass before ordering. If you just walk in and pay normally, you won't receive the credit retroactively.
Credit Cards That Include Priority Pass
Priority Pass membership is bundled with several premium credit cards, but most major cards no longer include the restaurant dining credit. Here's the current landscape.
| Card | Restaurant Access? | Guest Dining |
|---|---|---|
|
Lounge access only since 2019
|
❌ No | N/A |
|
Lounge access only since 2023
|
❌ No | N/A |
|
Lounge access only since July 2024
|
❌ No | N/A |
|
Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite
Unlimited Priority Pass visits
|
✅ Yes | 1 guest |
|
U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve
8 complimentary visits per year
|
✅ Yes | 1 guest |
|
Citi Prestige (legacy)
Closed to new applicants
|
✅ Yes | 2 guests |
If you hold one of the cards that still includes restaurant access, the dining credit applies per person, meaning your guests each get their own credit too. A cardholder plus one guest at a restaurant offering $28 credits gets $56 total. Some restaurants cap guests at one regardless of your card's policy, so always check the Priority Pass app for location-specific rules before you sit down.
Best U.S. Airports for Priority Pass Restaurant Credits
Not every airport participates, and the restaurant quality varies widely. These are the airports where the Priority Pass dining experience is genuinely worth seeking out.
DFW (Dallas/Fort Worth)
Multiple options including Cantina Laredo and Whitetail Bistro. Some of the best PP dining in the country with $36 credits per person.
PHX (Phoenix Sky Harbor)
Wildflower Bread Company and other options in Terminal 4. Reliable credits and solid food quality for a mid-size hub.
IAH (Houston Intercontinental)
Landry's Seafood and Cadillac Mexican Kitchen both accept Priority Pass. Great for long United layovers.
MSP (Minneapolis-St. Paul)
PGA MSP and other dining spots. A surprisingly strong Priority Pass dining airport in the Midwest.
HNL (Honolulu)
STINGER RAY and other outlets. Start or end your Hawaii trip with a free meal at the gate.
How to Find Priority Pass Restaurants at Your Airport
The Priority Pass app is the most reliable way to check which restaurants are available at your airport. Open the app, search for your airport, and filter by "Dining." The app shows current credit amounts, hours of operation, and any restrictions.
One thing to watch: restaurant participation changes frequently. Locations are added and removed throughout the year, so always check the app the day of your flight rather than relying on outdated blog posts or lists.
3 Ways to Maximize Priority Pass Dining Credits
Combine with a layover strategy
If you're booking connecting flights, consider whether one of your layover airports has strong Priority Pass dining. A 2-hour layover at DFW becomes a free sit-down lunch instead of dead time.
Use it on departure and arrival
There's no daily limit on Priority Pass restaurant visits. If your departure airport and arrival airport both have participating restaurants, you can use the credit at each one on the same day.
Check credit amounts carefully
Credits vary by location, typically between $28 and $36 per person. Some international locations offer equivalent credits in local currency. Order strategically to stay within the credit amount, or treat the overage as a small top-up for an otherwise free meal.
Alcohol is typically covered by the dining credit. A $36 credit can easily cover an entree and a cocktail at most airport restaurants, making it a better experience than most overcrowded lounges.
When a Priority Pass Restaurant Beats the Lounge
Lounges are great when they're uncrowded and well-stocked. But during peak travel periods, popular lounges (especially Centurion Lounges) hit capacity and start turning people away. The Priority Pass restaurant credit is your backup plan. No capacity limits, no waiting in line, and often better food than what's available in the lounge.
No capacity limits, no waiting in line, and often better food than what's in the lounge.
The next time you're at the airport and see a line forming outside the lounge, pull up the Priority Pass app and check for a restaurant nearby. You might end up with a better meal, a quieter table, and a cold drink in hand while everyone else fights for a seat.
- Amex Platinum Hidden Perks Card that includes Priority Pass Select
- Google Flights Price Alerts Save on the flights between meals
- Hotel Status Match Strategy Stack with hotel elite perks
- Priority Pass Official site and restaurant finder
- Priority Pass Airport Search Find lounges and restaurants by airport
For informational purposes only, not financial or professional advice. Card offers and program terms are subject to change. This site may earn compensation through affiliate links at no cost to you.
