Most products on this page are from partners who may compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how they appear on the page. However, opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain. Non-Monetized. The information related to Chase credit cards was collected by Slickdeals and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. Slickdeals does not receive commission for these products/cards.
You probably won't get a meal on your next domestic flight unless you're lucky enough to be in first class. And even then, the food probably won't be that great, especially compared to what you could have gotten on the ground—but airport restaurants aren't exactly known for being budget friendly. Thankfully, I've found a way to enjoy a free meal at the airport before most of my flights, and it's all about having the right credit card.
Several travel rewards credit cards offer airport business lounge access, but these typically just have free drinks and light snacks. However, these four exceptions can land you a free meal every time you fly.
Recommended Travel Credit Cards
Credit Card | Intro Bonus | Annual Fee | Rewards Rate | Learn More |
---|---|---|---|---|
|
75,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,575 (75,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.021 base) |
$95 |
1x- 5xPoints
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases |
Apply Now Rates and Fees |
|
60,000
Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s $600 toward your next trip. |
$95 |
1x - 5xPoints
Earn unlimited 5X points on hotels, 4X points on airlines, 3X points on other travel and restaurants, and 1X points on other purchases. |
Apply Now Rates & Fees |
|
100,000Southwest Rapid Rewards Points
Limited Time Offer: Our best points offer this year, earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 5 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,200 (100,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards Points * 0.012 base) |
$99 |
1x - 2xPoints
Earn 2X points on Southwest Airlines® purchases. Earn 2X points at Gas stations and Grocery stores on first $5,000 in combined purchases per year. Earn 1X points on all other purchases. |
Apply Now Rates and Fees |
|
60,000Citi ThankYou® Points
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com. Dollar Equivalent: $1,080 (60,000 Citi ThankYou® Points * 0.018 base) |
$95 |
1X-10XPoints
10x on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked through CitiTravel.com 3x -- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases 3x -- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Restaurants 3x -- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Supermarkets 3x -- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Gas and EV Charging Stations 1x -- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on All Other Purchases |
Apply Now Rates & Fees |
1. Priority Pass Select Lounges

Priority Pass™ Select earns
For instance, whenever I'm passing through Washington Dulles International Airport, I make a point of using my Priority Pass Select card to enter the T
Other top Priority Pass Select lounges with meal service include:
SkyTeam Lounge in Vancouver International Airport The Grand Lounge Elite in Mexico City International Airport
Priority Pass Select Restaurant Credits
The Priority Pass Select program offers access to more
Which Credit Cards Offer Priority Pass Benefits?
The Priority Pass Select program is offered by more tha
2. American Express Centurion Lounges

Another way to enjoy a free meal at the airport is by visiting an American Express Centurion® Lounge. In addition to the drinks and light snacks you'll find at any airport lounge, they of
For example, my wife and I have enjoyed lunch at the Centurion Lounge in the Las Vegas airport, which featured cuisine designed by James Beard Award nominated
-
Atlanta (ATL)
Dallas (DFW)
Houston (IAH)
Las Vegas (LAS)
New York (LGA and JFK)
Denver (DEN)
Charlotte (CLT)
Los Angeles (LAX)
Philadelphia (PHL)
Phoenix (PHX)
Miami (MIA)
Seattle (SEA)
San Francisco (SFO)
You can find international Centurion lo
How to Get Centurion Lounge Benefits
To get access to an American Express Centurion Lounge:
- Present an eligible card, such as the Platinum Card® from American Express at the lounge, along with your ID and your boarding pass for that day. Terms apply.
- You can also use your Amex app to get a QR code for contactless check-in.
Check Out the Latest Travel Deals
-
RT Los Angeles to Paris France $500 Nonstop Airfares on French Bee/Air Caraibes BE (Limited Fall Travel September - October 2025)
See Deal -
Frontier Airlines All-You-Can-Fly Annual GoWild Pass 2026/2027 Pre-Sale $299 (Travel 09/01/2025 - April 30 2027)
See Deal -
Roundtrip Airfares: Chicago, IL to/from San Diego, CA via Major Airlines BE $157 (Travel Oct-Dec 2025)
See Deal
3. United Club Airport Lounges

United Club airport lounges are a haven from the busy, outdated common areas found in many airports. Many of United's clubs offer members and pass holders snacks, power banks, Wi-Fi, and pleasant seating to recharge before or between flights. Still, some lounges offer more amenities.
United Club airport lounges that offer meal service
- Reagan National Airport, Washington, D.C. (DCA)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
- Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
- Denver International Airport (DEN)
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston (IAH)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Narita International Airport, Tokyo, Japan (NRT)
The availability of meal
4. Delta Sky Club Lounges

While not as well known for offering luxury accommodations and conveniences for fliers, Delta Sky Club® does have several locations that are worth a visit.
Delta operates ove
Delta Sky Club lounges that offer meal service include the following:
- John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York (JFK)
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
- Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
The availability of meal service may change at any time.
Which Credit Cards Offer Delta Sky Club Lounge Access?
Travelers can access Delta Sky Club with two of the airlines' SkyMiles®
Are Airport Lounge Benefits Worth the Cost?
As the saying goes, there's no such thing as a free lunch. The travel credit cards that offer these benefits have considerable annual fees, but I'd argue that even with the fees, you're getting a bargain.
Bottom Line
The credit card industry is extremely competitive, and no one is more sought after than premium travel rewards card users. When you look at all of the ways you can use a credit card for travel, opting for a card with these sorts of benefits just makes sense.
For more information on top credit card options that offer a variety of benefits and rewards, be sure to check out our list of the best credit cards.