Rewards on the Menu: The dining hack every traveler needs!

Imagine if your simple act of enjoying a meal out could open doors to far-flung destinations, luxurious hotel stays, and elite travel perks.

Just think about it: What if every sip of coffee or bite of your favorite dish added up to something BIGGER?

This is the untapped magic hidden in your dining habits—a world where indulgence meets opportunity!

Many of us already enjoy dining out, but not everyone realizes that those meals could work for us.

Welcome to the realm of airline and hotel dining rewards programs, where your culinary adventures can transform into unforgettable journeys!

Here’s how you can unlock these benefits and maximize your rewards.

How Dining Rewards Programs Work

Dining rewards programs are partnerships between restaurants, airlines, and hotels that allow you to earn points or miles for every dollar spent at participating establishments.

This is a simple and free way to boost your travel rewards without changing your daily habits.

To get started, you typically register a credit or debit card with your preferred program. Once enrolled, every eligible purchase at a participating restaurant earns you points or miles, which can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, and other perks.

The best part?

These rewards stack with points you might already earn from your credit card!

Here are some standout programs to consider:

• Marriott Bonvoy’s Eat Around Town: Earn up to 6 points per dollar spent at participating restaurants. New members can enjoy welcome bonuses, such as earning 6,000 Bonvoy points after spending USD 90 over three visits within the first 60 days.

• Hilton Honors Dining: Offers between 2 to 8 points per dollar, depending on your membership level and whether you opt into promotional emails. A sign-up bonus of 500 points is available after spending USD 25 and submitting a review within 30 days.

• American Airlines AAdvantage Dining: Earn up to 5 miles per dollar spent. Points earned through dining can contribute to elite status qualification, providing a path to elevated travel experiences.

• Delta SkyMiles Dining: Earn 1,000 SkyMiles after you spend USD 30 or more within 30 days of joining and writing a review. The program also offers 0.5 to 5 SkyMiles per dollar at participating restaurants.

• United MileagePlus Dining: Earn 500 MileagePlus miles after you spend USD 25 within 30 days of joining and writing a review. The program offers 0.5 to 5 miles per dollar at participating restaurants.

• Spirit Airlines Free Spirit Dining: Earn 500 Free Spirit bonus points after you spend USD 30 within 30 days of joining and writing a review. The program offers 0.5 to 5 points per dollar at participating restaurants.

• Alaska Mileage Plan Dining: Earn 500 Mileage Plan miles after you spend USD 30 and write a review within 30 days. The program offers 0.5 to 5 miles per dollar at participating restaurants.

• Southwest Rapid Rewards Dining: Earn 500 Rapid Rewards points after you spend USD 25 within 30 days and write a review. The program also offers 0.5 to 3 points per dollar at participating restaurants and an additional 10 miles for each completed dining review.

• IHG One Rewards Dining: Earn 1,000 IHG One Rewards points after you spend USD 30 within 30 days of joining and writing a review. The program offers 1 to 8 points per dollar at participating restaurants.

What’s more?

Beyond earning points or miles, these programs often come with extra benefits such as:

Exclusive events (some programs offer members access to private dining experiences or special events)…

… elite status boosts (as seen with American Airlines AAdvantage Dining, points earned through dining can contribute to achieving elite status, unlocking additional perks like priority boarding or lounge access)…

… and travel planning simplified (with accumulated points, you can reduce travel costs, making it easier to plan spontaneous getaways or extended vacations).

Maximizing Your Rewards with the Right Credit Cards

To truly optimize your earnings, you might want to pair dining rewards programs with credit cards that offer generous points for dining purchases.

Here are some top picks:

• American Express® Gold Card: Earn 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar at restaurants. These points can be transferred to a wide range of airline and hotel partners, making it a versatile choice for travelers.

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Offers 3 points per dollar spent on dining, along with a lucrative sign-up bonus that can significantly boost your rewards balance.

• Capital One Savor Rewards Card: Provides 4% cash back on dining, which can be redeemed as statement credits or for travel.

• Citi Custom Cash® Card: Provides 5% cash back on up to USD 500 in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, then 1% thereafter.

• U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card: Provides 4 points on takeout, food delivery, and dining.

• Aeroplan® Credit Card: Provides 3 Aeroplan points on grocery stores and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services.

• American Express® Green Card: Provides 3 Membership Rewards points on restaurant purchases (terms apply).

• Chase Freedom Flex®: Offers 3% cash back on dining, including takeout.

• Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Offers 3% cash back on dining.

By using one of these cards at participating dining rewards restaurants, you can effectively double-dip—earning points from both your credit card and the dining rewards program.

So, now that you know these standout dining rewards programs as well as the recommended credit cards, what else can you do to maximize the rewards you could earn?

• Diversify Your Programs: Join multiple dining rewards programs to cover a wide range of restaurants. Just ensure each of your credit cards is linked to only one program at a time.

• Leverage Welcome Bonuses: Take advantage of sign-up offers by timing your dining visits strategically to meet spending requirements.

• Opt Into Promotions: Many programs offer additional points for members who subscribe to promotional emails. While it may add to your inbox clutter, the rewards can be worth it.

• Track Your Progress: Use apps or loyalty program dashboards to monitor your rewards balance and ensure you’re making the most of your memberships.

• Time Your Spending: Some programs offer limited-time promotions or seasonal bonuses. Plan your dining activities to coincide with these opportunities.

The Final Bite

To sum it all up, dining rewards programs transform ordinary meals into extraordinary opportunities.

By aligning your dining habits with the right programs and credit cards, you can earn travel rewards faster, enjoy exclusive perks, and make your daily indulgences work for you.

So, why let those dollars go to waste when they could fuel your next adventure?

Bon appétit—and bon voyage!