Easy Miles & Points: Airline & Hotel Dining Programs

Screen Shot 2013-12-07 at 2.51.06 PMAfter posting about generous offers from United MileagePlus Dining and SkyMiles Dining, it made me think about other dining programs available from airline and hotel programs. I figured that it was time to take advantage of earning some easy miles and points.

I’ve been using the American Airlines dining program for years and have used only one other program in the past. In 2011 I registered for US Airways dining so I could get a hit towards the Grand Slam promotion.

I looked around online to see what other sign up bonus offers were available.

Here is what I found:

  • American Airlines: AAdvantage Dining– sign up and earn 1,000 bonus miles for dining out and spending $40+ within 30 days.
  • US Airways: Dividend Miles Dining– sign up and earn 1,000 bonus miles for dining out and spending $40+ within 30 days.
  • Southwest Airlines: Rapid Rewards Dining– sign up and earn 300 bonus points when you spend $25 in a single dine with 60 days
  • Alaska Airlines: Mileage Plan Dining– sign up and earn 500 bonuspoints when you spend $30 within 30 days.
  • Hilton: Hilton: HHonors Dining– sign up and earn 1,000 bonus points for spending $40 or more on a single dine within 30 days.
  • IHG Rewards Club:  IHG Rewards Club Dining– sign up and earn 2,500 bonus points after spending $40 or more on a single dine within 30 days.

The main problem I have with dining programs are the lack of restaurants that particpate. While looking over the list, I found only 6-7 that I’d actually want to eat at close to home.

If you check out each program online, you’ll notice that the websites all look the same. The dining programs are all powered by Rewards Network. When you search for restaurants, each airline & hotel dining program should return the same results.

To qualify for the bonuses listed above, you must sign up and complete your dining profile by December 31, 2013.

Do you take advantage of airline and hotel dining programs? If so, which do you use most often?

If I left any other dining programs off this list, please let me know!

5 thoughts on “Easy Miles & Points: Airline & Hotel Dining Programs

  1. Seth- I disagree with you.There are some very good restaurants that take part in the dining programs but the options can be limited.

    Bacc- You make some good points!

  2. I find that the vast majority of restaurants that participate in these programs are terrible. Decent restaurants do not need to resort to gimmicks like this to bring in customers.

    1. Must disagree. Have found that they are neither better nor worse than a randomly selected restaurant. It’s a marketing or advertising tactic like early bird or Tuesdays 2 for 1. There’s a great deal of turnover in these lists. Don’t assume that because it was on the list last month that it still is.

  3. I join all of them, meet tge required spend for the bonus then ignore them from then on.

    BTW A recent subtlety caught me out-tge restaurant was only a member on certain nights, and did not pay out on the Saturday I attended.

    1. Glenn- Interesting strategy. After earning your bonus do you stick to one program or literally forget about the program?

      Many restaurants only award points on certain days of the week. It has been this way for years. If you go to the dining site and do a search, the results will show which nights earn.

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