We get it — dining out is expensive, but it’s also a great way to earn points and miles on everyday purchases.
Airline and hotel dining rewards programs let you earn extra points or miles when you dine at participating restaurants, bars, or clubs using a registered credit or debit card. These rewards are in addition to any points or miles you’d normally earn from your credit card, so these programs a great extra way to maximize your everyday spending.
To get started, you’ll need to sign up for the dining program associated with your preferred airline or hotel loyalty program. It’s free to enroll online. During the sign-up process, you’ll link one or more of your credit or debit cards (typically up to six cards) to the dining account. After this one-time setup, you don’t need to present any loyalty card, coupon or app at restaurants.
Once you enroll in a dining rewards program and link your credit or debit card, everything else happens automatically. You don’t need to present a membership card, show a QR code or remember to log your visit. As long as you use your linked card at a participating restaurant, your transaction is tracked behind the scenes, and your rewards are deposited automatically into your associated loyalty account.
The number of points or miles you earn per dollar spent varies by program and your membership tier. Generally, you’ll earn a base rate just by being enrolled, but you can earn more rewards when you opt in to receive promotional emails.
For example, members who accept marketing emails can often earn 3 miles per dollar instead of 1 mile per dollar, and those who dine frequently (typically 11+ times per year) can qualify for VIP status to earn up to 5 miles per dollar. The more you dine, and the more engaged you are with the program’s communications, the more valuable your earnings become.
Most dining programs offer a welcome bonus to incentivize new users. These “first-dine” promotions often include extra miles or points if you make your first qualifying purchase within a specific time frame — usually 30 days — and remain subscribed to marketing emails. Some programs may also require you to submit a quick review of your dining experience to receive the bonus.
In addition to base rewards and first-dine bonuses, dining programs frequently run limited-time promotions. These can include double points for dining at specific restaurants, bonus miles for spending during certain days of the week or seasonal incentives. We recommend keeping an eye on these offers, which can further increase the value of your dining rewards.
Now, the fun part.
Your rewards are deposited into your associated airline or hotel loyalty account, and you can use your rewards according to your program’s rules. Since the rewards are tied directly to your airline or hotel loyalty program, you can combine your dining rewards points with your existing loyalty account balances.
While these programs are easy to use, a few smart strategies can go a long way in getting you more value from your everyday dining.
Since you can only link each credit or debit card to one dining program at a time, consider spreading your cards across different programs. For example, link one card to a hotel-based dining program and another to an airline program. This allows you to earn rewards across several travel loyalty systems at once.
While none of us like unnecessary emails, most programs offer a significantly higher earning rate if you opt in to receive promotional emails. For example, you may earn 1 mile per dollar without emails, but 3 or 5 miles per dollar if you do. These emails also notify you of bonus opportunities and limited-time promotions that can multiply your earning power.
Leaving quick reviews after dining at a participating restaurant can be another easy way to unlock bonuses or maintain a higher-tier status. These reviews typically take less than a minute and can make a real difference in how much you earn long-term.
Most programs offer generous first-dine bonuses for new members—sometimes hundreds of points or miles after your first eligible visit. To qualify, be sure to complete any required steps (like remaining opted in to emails and leaving a review). Additionally, keep an eye out for seasonal or location-based promos that offer extra rewards for limited periods.
Dining rewards programs offer a simple, low-effort way to grow your travel points balance. You’re not spending more — you’re just earning more on the purchases you already make. Whether you’re a frequent traveler trying to top off your balance or a casual diner just getting started with loyalty programs, dining rewards can be a valuable (and delicious) tool in your travel strategy.
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