Here’s How I Get Free Meals at Airports Every Time I Travel

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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
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Apply Now	60,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points More Info Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,380 (60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.023 base)	$95	1x- 5xPoints More Info Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.	Apply Now
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card Apply Now	30,000Southwest Rapid Rewards Points More Info Earn Companion Pass® plus 30,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent:	$69	1x - 2xPoints More Info Receive 3,000 anniversary points each year. Enjoy benefits including 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare, 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming, 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year, 10,000 Companion Pass® qualifying points boost each year, and more.	Apply Now
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card Apply Now Rates & Fees	75,000Citi ThankYou® Points More Info Limited Time Offer: Earn 75,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com. Dollar Equivalent: $1,350 (75,000 Citi ThankYou® Points * 0.018 base)	$95	1X-10XPoints More Info 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 you access to many top airport lounges. Most of these only offer the typical lounge fare rather than a full meal, but a few exceptions go above and beyond.

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 Turkish Airlines lounge. It's renowned for offering a full buffet of finely prepared Turkish food, including soup, lamb, fish, rice and even baklava for dessert.

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 than 1,500 lounges, but also many decent airport restaurants if you get it through a non-American Express card. When you present your Priority Pass Select card at these restaurants, you typically get a credit toward food, beverages and taxes. Just note that it doesn't cover tips, so you need to pay that out of pocket.

For example, on a business trip to Washington, D.C., I stopped at the Bracket Room bar and restaurant at Reagan National Airport with two colleagues. There, I was able to treat them to dinner and drinks before our flights using the Priority Pass Select card I received as a benefit of my Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card. We each got a $28 credit since this benefit was valid for the cardholder and up to two guests. That means we ordered $84 from the menu before we had to pay for anything but the tip.

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Which Credit Cards Offer Priority Pass Benefits?

The Priority Pass Select program is offered by more than a dozen premium rewards credit cards in the United States. Several American Express cards also offer Priority Pass Select but don't include access to the restaurants, just the lounges.

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 offer buffets featuring locally and seasonally inspired cuisine from award-winning chefs.

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 chef Kim Canteenwalla.

• Domestic Airports With American Express Centurion lounges

  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 lounges in these cities and more: Hong Kong (HKG), London (LHR), Stockholm (ARN), Mexico City (MEX), Sydney (SYD) and Mumbai (BOM).

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.

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 include:

• 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 service is subject to change at any time.}

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Which Credit Cards Offer United Club Airport Lounge Access?

Here's a look at the cards that offer access to United Club lounges, along with some their rewards and other details to help you compare.

Credit Cards Offering United Club Airport Lounge Access

Credit Card	Intro Bonus	Annual Fee	Rewards Rate	Learn More
United℠ Explorer Card Apply Now	50,000United MileagePlus Miles More Info Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Dollar Equivalent: $700 (50,000 United MileagePlus Miles * 0.014 base)	$95 More info $0 Intro for the First Year, then $95	1x - 2xPoints More Info Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays and United® purchases. 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases	Apply Now
United Club℠ Infinite Card Apply Now	80,000United MileagePlus Miles More Info Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,120 (80,000 United MileagePlus Miles * 0.014 base)	$525	1x - 4xPoints More Info Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel and dining and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.	Apply Now
United℠ Business Card Apply Now	100,000United MileagePlus Miles More Info Limited-time Offer: Earn 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Dollar Equivalent: $1,400 (100,000 United MileagePlus Miles * 0.014 base)	$99	1x - 2xPoints More Info 2x miles on United® purchases, dining, at gas stations, office supply stores and on local transit and commuting. 1x mile on all other purchases.	Apply Now
United Club℠ Business Card	50,000United MileagePlus Miles More Info Earn 50,000 bonus miles + 1,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Dollar Equivalent: $700 (50,000 United MileagePlus Miles * 0.014 base)	$450	1.5x - 2xMiles More Info Earn 2x miles on United Airlines purchases; 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, including tickets, Economy Plus®, Inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi. Earn 1.5 miles per $1 spent on other purchases.	This product is currently not available via Slickdeals. All information about this product was collected by Slickdeals and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

Some of these cards offer complimentary passes after opening the account and then again on each cardholder's anniversary. You can also purchase a United Club membership, which is renewable annually and offers constant airport lounge access, but at an expensive price.

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 over 50 Sky Club lounges, mostly in U.S. airports. But the airline also offers select members access to a wide network of partner and third-party lounges worldwide. While many of these lounges offer snacks, some of the more notable Sky Club lounges feature more amenities like meals, massage, spa access and stunning views.

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® credit cards.

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.