I like earning miles and points because it allows us to Save Money, Travel More! So when there are opportunities to earn rewards on top of rewards, and for things we would be doing anyways, there is no reason not to take advantage of the programs created for our use.
Years ago I signed up for the Dining Rewards Network through one of their airline partners (which I can not recall). Since then, I have continued to sign up for new accounts with their various partners to try and maximize the returns.
As of today, the Dining Rewards program is partnered with the following travel programs (see their list for other partner programs):
American Airlines
Best Buy Reward Zone (points that can be converted later into travel rewards)
Hilton Hotels
IHG Rewards Club (formerly the Priority Club)
US Airways
The idea with Dining Rewards Network is simple. You create an account with each of their partners, and then register one or more of your credit cards with them. Then, anytime you dine at one of the restaurants within their network, you not only earn the rewards on the credit card, but you also earn miles or points in the partner program you are registered under.
So for example, I am registered with the US Airways Dining Reward program, and I have a handful of credit cards registered with them. Now lets say I go out to eat at a restaurant that is also within their network. When I pay the bill, using my Discover Miles Card, I will earn miles with Discover for the purchase; but in addition, I would earn US Airways miles for using a credit card at a restaurant that is partnered with the Dining Rewards Network. Make sense?
In the end it costs you nothing additional, and is a way of double dipping your rewards earned. I love that! What is better is that sometimes I will use a card at a restaurant, not knowing whether it is in the network or not, and when I get home, I will have a nice surprise of additional miles or points.
Using the Dining Rewards Network is a GREAT way of earning miles or points and extending any expiration of rewards in your account due to inactivity.
My Dining Plan
Long ago when I created my first account with Dining Rewards Network (I am assuming my Delta account), I created a user id not knowing anything about the other partner programs. Then when I went to create a new account with another reward program (lets assume Hilton), I had to create a whole new account.
As you can tell from the list of options above, having to create a new user id for each of the programs can get cumbersome, especially years later when you are going back to get it all worked out.
InACents Tip #1- When creating an account with the Dining Rewards Network, make it easy on yourself and create a user id that matches your frequent flyer number, etc. linked to that account. In other words, if signing up for the Hilton Dining Network, use your Hilton HHonors number as your id. It makes things a lot easier to manage when you are trying to juggle multiple accounts.
If you were like me and had five (5) different dining accounts all with different user ids. The great thing is that the Dining Rewards Network representatives will gladly help you reorganize your accounts so that all the user ids align with your reward numbers, making them much easier to manage in the future.
If you are like me, I only go into my accounts maybe once per year, unless there is a bonus where I am required to submit a review. So making the login process easier saves me time.
InACents Tip #2- This tip really is logical, and all reward collectors will tell you the same thing. Sign up all of your credit cards with at least one program. If you do not, you are leaving additional miles/points on the table.
I currently have Dining accounts with Priority Club, Hilton, US Airways, Southwest, and Delta. My wife has an account with United. When I recently opened four (4) new credit cards, I went in and spread them out among all of my Dining Reward Network accounts. Then I am guaranteed to earn additional free miles or points if the restaurant is located within the network.
The more you dine, the more you earn.
Save Money, Travel More!
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