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Did you know that you can earn airline miles just by going out to restaurants — and not just by using a co-branded card? Many airlines offer dining rewards programs where you can get rewarded each time you dine at an eligible restaurant.
Better yet, you can currently earn up to 4,000 bonus miles, including two new offers from American Airlines and United, when joining an airline dining rewards program as a new member and completing set tasks.
Considering these are “new member bonuses,” it goes without saying that these promotions are limited to those joining for the first time. If you already have an account with any of these programs, you won't be able to get the bonus miles.
Page Contents
- Delta SkyMiles Dining: 1,000 Bonus Miles
- JetBlue TrueBlue Dining: 500 Bonus Points
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Dining: 500 Bonus Points
- Alaska Atmos Rewards Dining: 500 Bonus Points
- Free Spirit Dining: 500 Bonus Points
- American Airlines AAdvantage® Dining: 500 Bonus Miles
- United MileagePlus Dining: 500 Bonus Miles
- General Terms and Conditions for Airline Dining Program New Member Bonuses
- How Airline Dining Rewards Programs Work
- Our Take
Delta SkyMiles Dining: 1,000 Bonus Miles
The Delta SkyMiles Dining Program gives the largest new member bonus for a dining program of any airline. Through February 28, 2026, you can earn 1,000 SkyMiles for joining and spending at least $30 at a participating restaurant.
- Sign up for the SkyMiles Dining program before February 28, 2026.
- Link a debit or credit card.
- Within 30 days of joining the program, you must spend at least $30 (including tax and tip) on one purchase at any participating restaurant or bar.
- Pay the check with your linked credit or debit card.
- Review your dining experience via the link to the restaurant review in your Account Center or benefit confirmation email.
- Earn 1,000 bonus miles.
- Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- No Annual Fee.
- Earn 2X Miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- Earn 2X Miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases, and 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay with Miles: take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
- Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit after you use your Card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food, beverages, and audio headsets.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- 2X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 2X miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases
JetBlue TrueBlue Dining: 500 Bonus Points
Fancy a few extra JetBlue TrueBlue points? Signing up for JetBlue TrueBlue Dining is a great way to pocket extra points without much effort.
- Sign up for the TrueBlue Dining program before January 5, 2027.
- Link a debit or credit card.
- Within 30 days of joining the program, you must spend at least $25 (including tax and tip) on one purchase at any participating restaurant or bar.
- Pay the check with your linked credit or debit card.
- Complete an online review.
- Earn 500 bonus points.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Dining: 500 Bonus Points
Southwest Airlines has one of the easiest loyalty programs, so it's only natural that it makes it easy to earn miles on everyday purchases, such as dining. New members can earn 500 bonus points after joining and completing some simple tasks.
- Sign up for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Dining program by January 5, 2027.
- Link a debit or credit card.
- Pay the check with your linked credit or debit card.
- Within 30 days of joining the program, you must spend at least $25 (including tax and tip) on one visit at any participating restaurant, bar, or club.
- Complete an online review within 30 days.
- Earn 500 bonus points.
Alaska Atmos Rewards Dining: 500 Bonus Points
Of all the airline currencies you can earn, Alaska Atmos Rewards points are easily some of the most valuable. Why not earn 500 bonus points by signing up for the Atmos Rewards Dining program?
- Sign up for the Atmos Rewards Dining program before January 5, 2027.
- Link a debit or credit card.
- Within 30 days of joining the program, you must spend at least $30 (including tax and tip) on one purchase at any participating restaurant, bar, or club.
- Pay the check with your linked credit or debit card.
- Complete an online review.
- Earn 500 bonus points.
Free Spirit Dining: 500 Bonus Points
If Spirit is your airline of choice, you'd be wise to sign up for the Free Spirit dining program. You can earn bonus miles just by going out to eat!
- Sign up for the Free Spirit Dining program before January 5, 2027.
- Link a debit or credit card.
- Spend at least $30 (including tax and tip) in one dine at any participating restaurant, bar, or club within 30 days of joining the program.
- Pay the check with your linked credit or debit card.
- Complete an online review.
- Earn 500 bonus points.
American Airlines AAdvantage® Dining: 500 Bonus Miles
There aren't many things you can't earn AAdvantage® miles on nowadays. Going out to eat through the AAdvantage Dining program is an easy way to supplement your mile-earning strategy, helping you get ever closer to that next sweet spot redemption. And you'll earn 500 bonus miles because you're a new member. This offer is available through January 9, 2027.
- Sign up for the AAdvantage® Dining program before January 9, 2027.
- Link a debit or credit card.
- Within 30 days of joining the program, you must spend at least $25 (including tax and tip) on one or more purchases at any participating restaurant or bar.
- Pay the check with your linked credit or debit card.
- Review your dining experience via the link to the restaurant review in your Account Center or benefit confirmation email.
- Earn 500 bonus AAdvantage miles.
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount - all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That's up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
- 4X Membership Rewards® Points at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. (on up to $50,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
- 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
- 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
- 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels and other eligible travel booked on amextravel.com
- 1X on other eligible purchases
United MileagePlus Dining: 500 Bonus Miles
Saving up for a United MileagePlus sweet spot redemption? Supplementing your miles-earning methods with United's dining program is an easy way to earn miles faster. And the cherry on top is a new member bonus of 500 miles, available through January 9, 2027.
- Sign up for the MileagePlus Dining program before January 9, 2027.
- Link a debit or credit card.
- Spend at least $25 (including tax and tip) in one purchase at any participating restaurant or bar within 30 days of joining the program.
- Pay the check with your linked credit or debit card.
- Review your dining experience.
- Earn 500 bonus miles.
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles
- 4x miles on United® purchases
- 2x miles on dining and all other travel
- 1x mile on all other purchases
- United Club℠ card membership - at least a $750 value
- Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $360 per roundtrip (terms apply)
- Premier Access® travel services
- Earn up to 20,000-miles in award flight discounts annually
- Member FDIC
- Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining
- Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
General Terms and Conditions for Airline Dining Program New Member Bonuses
- Bonus points and miles can take up to 6 weeks to appear in your account.
- Remain opted in to receive emails from the program with a valid, deliverable email address.
- Some participating restaurants offer bonus miles only on certain days of the week, with a monthly spending limit or a limit on the number of visits. Ensure that you check your dining rewards program website for details.
- These offers may not be combined with other dining program offers.
- Takeout and delivery orders that were eligible during the pandemic are no longer valid for these offers.
How Airline Dining Rewards Programs Work
Most of the dining programs work the same way. For each dollar you spend, you'll earn a small multiple of miles — usually around 0.5X miles per dollar. If you opt-in to receive emails from the dining program, you'll earn a lot more miles (typically around 3X) per dollar spent. After you complete a set number of transactions in one calendar year, you'll move up to VIP status and start earning 5X miles per dollar spent on your 12th transaction and thereafter.
There are a couple of exceptions. First, American AAdvantage® Dining automatically gives you 1X mile per dollar spent (instead of 0.5X mile per dollar spent). The other notable mention is JetBlue, which only gives 3X TrueBlue points per dollar spent on dining and doesn't offer a higher tier of earnings for opting into emails. However, you can double your points earned through TrueBlue dining by using a JetBlue credit card.
Another big change is that Southwest points earned through the Rapid Rewards Dining program no longer count toward earning a Southwest Companion Pass.
Our Take
While each of these promotions has an expiration date, they are inevitably extended each time they expire. Unfortunately, the number of points you can earn has dropped repeatedly. So, it's better to sign up now and earn the bonuses now rather than wait for them to drop again.
Airline dining rewards programs are great for earning bonus miles without traveling. If you aren't already a member of these programs and want to maximize your miles, don't sign up for all of them at once. Consider staggering them each month or two so you can ensure you earn all of the bonuses.
You don't have to use an airline credit card to get these bonuses, but it will help you earn even more miles. You can also consult our list of the best credit cards for restaurant and dining purchases to further maximize your earnings.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card (Rates & Fees), American Express® Gold Card (Rates & Fees), and United Club℠ Card (Rates & Fees)
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
How do you dis-enroll from these programs so you can qualify for a new sign up bonus???
I’d love to know how to do that and I haven’t had the time to figure it out
I’m not sure there’s a way to unenroll from these programs. Let us know if you figure it out.
It’s interesting that no matter what programs you sign up for whether it is United, Delta or American, they all show the same restaurants. I am in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and I have cards from all three airlines.
If I enroll for Delta, Alaska, and Southwest with the same credit card and then I go to one restaurant that happens to be part of all three programs, which program will I earn points from? All three? Can’t be that good?
I can go to threes restaurants easily, but exactly which restaurant is going to which program?
You’ll only get credit on the last program that you added the card to. The backend systems on these are all interconnected. So, unfortunately, we can’t take advantage of all of them at once.
Is there a way to dis-enroll from these plans and start over with potential new bonuses?
That would be a very interesting article.
We know we can get bonuses again on Chase, Citi and B of A cards if we close existing card and wait long enough.
???
Paul – I haven’t tried it, but I would assume removing your credit cards and then signing up with a new email would allow you to start over with a new account. The issue would be whether the program(s) allow you to link the same frequent flyer number that was already linked to another account somewhere else. We haven’t tried it, so we have nothing to go on for whether that’s possible.
Delta seems to give you the most bang for your buck. Already a member of the Southwest Dining Program.
Every once in a while, I get surprised with some points for a meal out. Feels good.
The bonuses are good for new members. It would be great if past customers could take advantage of these offers as well.
Hi! Does this also apply to countries outside the US? Thanks.
Guillermo – I haven’t searched exhaustively, but I believe most of the restaurants in these programs are in the US. You could go to the programs’ websites and use the “my location” feature to see if anything is near you.
These programs are all operated by Rewards Network, which has member restaurants ONLY IN THE USA. Many years ago, RN tried to expand into Canada and Japan, but soon quit those countries. Foreigners AFAIK can join if they visit the USA often enough to make it worthwhile. David Stretch, regular debit cards do work, and I’m pretty sure that prepaid cards also do.
I’ve sometimes wondered, does this also work for prepaid cards?
Hello, thanks for the note, I have a question, this is only valid in the USA or in other countries, can it be done?
I assume the Dining rewards programs recognize prior use from the e-mail address used for the login. It would be a pain to have a different e-mail for each account, just to get “New Member” bonuses!
I’m intrigued enough that I may actually do the American dining one
The bonuses are good for new members. It would be great if past customers could take advantage of these offers as well.
Plenty of dining programs also linked to hotel partners. Really need to shop around on which one provides you the best value.
Great news but I also found there are much fewer participating restaurants than before at least near where I live.
Great programme, I just wish it would be venture out to restaurants overseas
These aren’t a bad initiative, but can non-US members take advantage?
I remember Qantas offering a similar sort of bonus/tie up with Qandoo and IHG with Opentable.
I think (at least some of) these programs are open to all loyalty prog. members, but you’ll want to check if there are dining options close to home unless you’re planning to use when traveling to US.
These programs usually focus on the home bases of the airlines.
Every time I get a new credit card, I enroll it in one of these dining programs. Unfortunately, I think I’ve maxxed out all of them at this point.
Nice offers but all these dining programs never have any restaurants around where I live…
So, if I use my Citi AAdvantage Platinum card in AAdvantage Dining, which earns 2x on Restaurant Purchases and I visit a restaurant 10 times to reach VIP status and earn 5x, is it really like getting 7x on eating out for lunch?
Asking for a friend…
Yep that looks right. Except that VIP starts on your 12th dining transaction (earn 5x after your 11th dine)
interesante es la propuesta de cenar e ir sumando millas. la tendremos en cuenta.
Hi, sorry for insisting. Do you know if these programs apply in Argentina?
Thanks in advance !
This is certainly a good way to extend the life of your miles for those programs that expire. The signup bonuses also is an added bonus for those that have not sign up for these programs yet. Everybody got to eat, right?
Too bad these dining programs aren’t like AT&T, where existing customers get the same deals as new customers 🙂
Existing members should be just as valuable indeed.
Do telecom providers still offer very rewarding offers like they used to, by the way?
This is a good bonus for new members, but the programs used to be more generous for existing members. For example, for both AA and Delta, the base miles earned by dining at participating restaurants was 10 miles/dollar. Then they had what they called “hot deals”, where at selected restaurants you could get 20 miles/dollar. Now it’s 5 miles/dollar.
Don’t get me wrong, is a good offer too bad not open no older members. But often times, i’ve noticed those restaurants that sign up for the dining program are those that can not atract clients on their own, like based on their culinary offer. Careful if attempting a date or such.
The restaurant offerings are definitely location dependent, but I have had the opposite experience: The restaurants I’ve tried in the program have been excellent and a few were truly outstanding. I use the program as a tool to find restaurants when I travel. I remember a few years ago in Baltimore, I found a restaurant through the program that was in an art museum. It was so good that I went back the next night with people I had met from the conference. Everyone was impressed and I got points again. Certainly I never would have found this location without the program.
Existing members should be fully valued too.
I assume the Dining rewards programs recognize prior use from the e-mail address used for the login. It would be a pain to have a different e-mail for each account, just to get “New Member” bonuses!
Great way to keep miles from expiring.
Good info. I am already a member of the AA dining program as this is a good way to keep miles alive. I will sign up for the others, as well, and grab the bonuses. Thanks!
Excellent promotion is now only directed to be able to use it in the USA or can you also use it in other countries?
Unfortunately these promotions are really only for US, as that’s where the dining programs have partnered with restaurants.
I know you can’t join two programs at the same time (i.e. Hilton and AA dining), but what about cases where two people have the same credit card number? Can the number be tied to one program for each person or does it get treated as a dupe?
Unfortunately, it will be treated as a duplicate. The dining programs only work off of the credit card number.
This is good but only for those who do not have an account yet. I wish they would do this for those who already have an account.
Does anyone know of similar programs at European airlines?
Besides being a great way to tack on some extra points & miles, the dining programs are also a great way to reset the expiration clock on those programs that still have an expiration date like Hilton, AA and Alaskan Airlines.
Amazing offer! I especially love that this is great incentive to dine out which will help the restaurants who are suffering in sales. Double win!
What about existing members? They need to offer something in todays times.
Easy way to earn some extra miles. Unfortunate that they only offers new member bonuses though. Would be nice to some incentives for those that are long time members.
Hold up; is this saying that you could get the delta bonus thrice? As in get the bonus, delete login, get the bonus, delete login, and get another bonus again?
I wouldn’t mind joining am few of these but as far as I can tell these programs are targeted to US residents only. Is that right? Any programs for international residents at the moment?
Thanks!
Most of the airline dining programs use Rewards Network for the backend – and they’re focused solely on getting U.S. restaurants onboard (at least for now). That’s why it’s only targeted to U.S. residents.
This kind of programs are usually offered by airlines in their home turfs to their home market members..
I have had a restaurant or two hit without expecting it. With the current uncertainty due to the pandemic, I’d look to the programs where they haven’t ended points expiration dates.
There’s gotta be a way to expand dining programs to Canada too!!
The link associated with the Spirit program appears to instead actually link to the Southwest program.
It sure does 🙁 Fixed and thanks for catching that!
If you sign up but did not get the bonus before, can you still get the bonus now?
The terms generally say something like “This bonus offer is open to all new AAdvantage℠ members who have not yet created a web login and linked a credit and/or debit card.” So, if you’ve earned through the program in the past, you’re probably out of luck,
Looks like a great way to rack up some extra miles for when I start traveling again!
Great idea for building points throughout the pandemic! I plan to follow these steps. Thanks for posting.
I signed up for the AA, DL and UA dining programs years ago. I now just use my CSR wherever I dine
I’m a member of the Hilton Dining Program which is pretty good when you reach the VIP level but for 3.000+ bonus points, may have to switch loyalty for a few months.
Didn’t know about these programs. Thanks for an easy way to add some extra points to my frequent flyer programs!
My understanding is that a given card my only be associated “linked” with only a singular program at a given time. Accordingly, one would have to close an account to switch a particular card to another airline/hotel/shopping plan to take advantage of the bonuses detailed above. Is this indeed the correct interpretation?
That’s right that a card can only be linked to 1 account at a time. But thankfully, you don’t have to close the other accounts. Say you start with Delta. After the bonuses post to your account, you can open a United account and link the same card. Doing so will automatically unlink that card from your Delta account. Just make sure that you wait until the bonus posts to your account before switching over.
I am a big fan of the dining programs and have all my cards linked to various different ones. I have used it to earn miles but also it has helped me find great restaurants that otherwise I never would have visited. I actually didn’t know that JetBlue participated. I’ll have to sign up for their program but I think I’ll wait to see if they ever have a new member sign up bonus.
I’m a big fan of these dining reward programmes. I feel they don’t get the attention and uptake they deserve
I gave this a shot last August/September for 3,000 miles with United. The restaurant network is abysmal and nor did they give me the 3,000 miles. I wasn’t gonna fight for it and I stopped using the website to try and find restaurants. I guess my card is still linked if I hit the 1 in a million odds I done at one of the restaurants but I guess this isn’t for me.
These programs have been around for years, and the restaurant inventory does change over time, so maybe check in on the network every 6 months or so. You may be pleasantly surprised.
Do you know if there are any foreign carriers that have dining programs for their frequent flyer programs outside the US?
Well, Cathay runs it own program in Hong Kong.