Earn Up to 10 Miles Per Dining Dollar in 6 Airline, 2 Hotel Programs

There was a time when members of most major airline programs could expect to routinely earn a hefty 10 miles—and sometimes more, with periodic promotions—for every dollar spent at participating Rewards Network restaurants through their programs' miles-for-dining features.

Perhaps such generosity was unsustainable over the long term. In any case, active members—those who complete at least 12 qualifying dines during a calendar year—now earn just five miles per dollar spent, and the opportunities to earn more miles are less frequent, less lucrative, and more demanding.

The current bonus offer, which has just been extended through the end of the year, is a case in point.

Offer Details

This promotion, dubbed "All Double, No Trouble," was scheduled to end on June 30, but has been extended through December 31.

It applies to miles-for-dining in the programs of Alaska, American, Delta, Midwest, United, and US Airways, as well as to the programs of Hilton and InterContinental.

To double the miles or points normally earned for dining, program members must do the following:

• Dine at participating restaurants on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.
• Charge the meal to a credit card linked to their dining miles account.
• Complete a survey evaluating their dining experience within 30 days.

There's no registration required.

Deal or No Deal

The "No Trouble" part of its catchy name must refer to the no-registration-required aspect of the promotion, because the day-of-the-week and survey stipulations are decidedly troublesome.

Still, if you can schedule qualifying restaurant visits for the beginning of the week, and remember to spend an extra few minutes rating the dining experience, earning up to 10 miles per dollar is among the best payout rates available. And, speaking as a foodie, earning good miles for a good meal is a double delight.

Reader Reality Check

Do you dine for miles in your program?

If not, why not?

Comments

[pp]

As a member of multiple airline and hotel frequent flier/guest programs but also as someone who now travels only for personal reasons, I find the dining programs useful for keeping accrued miles/points from expiring.

[donh]

steve c nails it with his exceptional post
it is a weak program compared to how they once ran it
I frequently use other dining programs and reservation service programs where the $$$ discount exceeds the stingy amount of miles they offer even to elite members
If they werent so stingy I would spend thousands more.No more very rarely do I use their program now

[Chris Jung]

I have used the Dining for Miles program quite a bit, it lets me try new places I might not have tried around the country when i travel. And the cost of the meal is the exact same.. so instead of a 10% discount. A $50 meal (tax, tag and tip), you get an actually $50 meal and 500 miles. So 500 miles X $0.00/mile still equals free miles.

My only complaint is that the one resturant in my area (within 45 miles) sucks... so I usually have to use it hwen I travel 300+ miles..

I saw that Portland oregon had something like 50 or 60 Burger Kings in the list.. If you and the kids like BK, what an easy way to earn miles.

[Steve C]

This program is such a loser. 10 miles per dollar is equivalent to a 10% discount using the same value the airlines and Amex put on a mile. When you understand their business model - lending money to restaurants, being paid back in discounted dining and pocketing the spread - you see easily that the 10% discount is not much of a hardship to them. At this point, the only time I see miles for dining is when it happens by accident.