As a flight attendant based at Dallas Love Field, I recently found myself at the airport hungry, without a meal packed, and needing to grab something quickly before work. A simple entrée with no side or drink came to nearly $17.

For pilots, flight attendants and other airline employees, this isn’t an unusual situation. We work long and irregular days, often moving from one airport to another with limited time between flights. Packing food isn’t always possible, and leaving the airport to find something more affordable usually isn’t an option.

What made me realize there could be a better solution was something I’d already experienced while working through Chicago Midway. SSP America offered specially priced employee meals with several affordable options. It was simple, practical and made eating at the airport much more accessible. (See Image*)

I’d love to see Dallas Love Field and its restaurant partners explore something similar.

This doesn’t need to mean discounting every menu item. Participating restaurants could offer a small selection of designated crew meals at reasonable prices to airline employees who show a valid airline or crew ID.

There could be a benefit for the restaurants, too. Airline employees and flight crews pass through Love Field every day. More affordable options could encourage employees who might otherwise bring food, wait until later, or skip purchasing a meal altogether to eat at airport restaurants instead.

We’re simply asking Dallas Love Field and its concession partners to explore an affordable employee meal program for airline employees and working flight crews.

If you work at or travel through Love Field and believe the people working aboard your flights should have access to reasonably priced meals during their workday, please sign and share.