Which Credit Cards Have Priority Pass Restaurant Access?

Priority Pass partners with dozens of restaurants in airports around the world. At these partner restaurants, eligible Priority Pass Select members get a $28 credit toward food and beverage purchases per guest.

However, just because your travel rewards credit card offers a Priority Pass Select membership doesn't mean that you'll be able to get a free or discounted airport meal before or after your flight. That's because some credit card issuers have removed Priority Pass restaurants from their Priority Pass lounge benefit.

For those of us who appreciate a real meal before a flight — instead of just snacks from a lounge — let's focus on credit cards with Priority Pass restaurant benefits.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

An overview of credit cards with Priority Pass restaurant benefits

Before we get into details below, here's an overview of the most popular travel rewards credit cards that provide Priority Pass restaurant access:

Credit cards that offer Priority Pass restaurant benefits

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card

The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card offers perhaps the most unique and generous Priority Pass restaurant benefit of any card on the list.

Premium Rewards Elite cardholders get up to four complimentary Priority Pass Select memberships with restaurant access per account. Even better, Bank of America doesn't restrict how many guests each Priority Pass member can bring into a lounge or restaurant on each visit — and there's no cost associated with bringing guests into a lounge with you.

That indicates that cardholders get up to four unlimited Priority Pass Select memberships, each with unlimited guests.

If you have a large family, this Priority Pass Select membership can easily justify the card's $550 annual fee. And that's before you factor in the card's other travel benefits, which include:

• TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee credit.

• Up to $300 annually in airline incidental statement credits.

• Up to $150 annually for purchases such as rideshare services.

» Learn more: The best Bank of America credit cards available right now

Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard®

This little-known premium Emirates rewards card offers primary cardmembers and authorized users "unlimited visits for yourself as well as guests" — with no fee listed for guests over a set limit. That seems to indicate that there's no limit to the number of guests cardholders can bring into a Priority Pass lounge or restaurant with them.

In addition to this Priority Pass lounge benefit, Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard® cardholders get Emirates Skywards Gold tier membership for their first year plus 10,000 bonus Skywards miles each account anniversary. The card charges a $499 annual fee.

» Learn more: Are the Emirates Mastercards worth their annual fee?

UBS Visa Infinite Card

UBS offers an unlimited Priority Pass Select membership with restaurants for cardholders of the UBS Visa Infinite Card and the UBS Visa Infinite Business Card.

Unfortunately, details such as guest access and Priority Pass benefits for authorized users are absent from the UBS website. So, it's unclear how many guests cardholders can bring into Priority Pass lounges or restaurants with them.

However, even without guest access, this card may be a good fit for luxury travelers. Cardholders get:

• A $250 credit for qualifying air travel expenses.

• TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee statement credit.

• Premium benefits at select hotels through the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection.

• VIP amenities at select Ritz-Carlton properties, Fairmont and Park Hyatt properties. 

Plus, cardholders unlock a $500 annual credit by spending $25,000 in either the current or prior calendar year.

Use your credit card for Priority Pass restaurant meals

Using your Priority Pass membership at participating airport restaurants is a great way to get a full meal before or after your flight.

However, it's important to remember that some card issuers — such as American Express — don't include "non-lounge airport experiences" such as restaurants in their Priority Pass lounge benefits. That means it's important to check your card's terms before counting on this benefit.

Regardless of which card you have, you'll likely need to enroll with your bank before you can take advantage of this Priority Pass Select membership benefit. Also, keep in mind that Priority Pass doesn't cover gratuity on meals. So, remember to have cash on hand to tip your waitstaff.