The offers are no longer available. You can view the offers here.

Dining rewards programs have been around for a long time, yet they still aren't taken seriously as an easy way to earn points and miles. I don't know about you, but I'm spending a lot of time in cooking, butchering and ordering food to support myself. During the Pandemic, it was a convenient option and helped sustain my favorites.

You can too, if you earn first-dine bonuses alone. Which dining rewards program is the best? I summarized each program and gave a ranking based on earn rate, first-dine bonus and value of points earned.

If you sign up for the daily newsletter, you will get the latest points, miles and travel news.

How do dining rewards programs work?

(Photo by Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images)

The major airline and hotel dining reward programs are all part of the same network. All you have to do is sign up with one of these programs and use it at participating restaurants. If you opt-in to receive email notifications and work your way up to elite status, you will earn more points than if you don't.

You will earn a first-dine bonus and additional bonus points. The first-dine bonuses require you to spend a certain amount and submit a review. Within a calendar year, you can achieve the highest level of status with all of these programs. You will get access to a broader network of restaurants where you can earn points when you earn more points.

Popular chains and independent eateries are included. If you enter your zip code into the location field, you can find out what is available in your area.

While you can join all of the dining rewards programs listed below, you can't register the same card with more than one program at a time If you don't have account activity for 36 months, your membership ends.

Let's figure out which option gives the most rewards.

You can sign up for our newsletter.

Airline dining rewards programs

You will get the highest return on your spending through airline-affiliated programs. Airline miles are more valuable than hotel points.

American AAdvantage Dining

  • Earn rate: 1-5 Aadvantage miles per dollar spent
  • First-dine bonus: 1,000 AAdvantage miles when you spend $25 within 30 days.
  • Sweepstakes: Win 250,000 bonus miles
  • Join here

Members who don't opt in for email notifications still earn 1 mile per dollar spent, which is great. Earnings are limited to one mile per $2 in these cases. You will earn a return of 2% on your spending if you use AAdvantage miles. You can earn 2x miles with the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard.

The Points Guy collected the information for the card. The card issuer did not review or provide the card details on this page.

If you opt-in for email notifications, you will earn 3 miles per dollar spent, and if you complete 11 transactions in a year, you will be upgraded to the highest tier of membership. You will be able to earn 5 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent at a wider network of restaurants. It is possible to earn AAdvantage miles by focusing your restaurant spending on the AAdvantage dining program.

Alaska Mileage Plan Dining

  • Earn rate: 0.5-5 miles per dollar spent
  • First-dine bonus: Earn 1,000 bonus miles after you spend $30 within 30 days of joining and write a review within 30 days of your visit.
  • Join here

Alaskan miles are the most valuable airline currency. The program has sweet spots and generous stopover policies. Marriott Bonvoy is the only transfer partnership other than Alaska's. The Alaska dining program is a great option due to the fact that Alaska miles aren't as easy to get as other airline rewards.

3 miles are earned by members who opt in to receive notifications. The 5 miles per dollar will be earned by those who complete 11 transactions.

Those who don't want to opt in for notifications are offered a higher earning rate in American's dining program. If you want to earn more Alaska miles, this is one of the few ways you can do it.

Delta SkyMiles Dining

  • Earn rate: 0.5-1 mile per dollar spent
  • First-dine bonus: Up to 3,000 bonus miles for regular members and up to 3,500 for SkyMiles Medallion members who meet specified spending thresholds within 30 days of joining and complete an online review.
  • Earn 500 bonus miles after spending $30 on your first visit (1,000 miles if you’re a SkyMiles Medallion member)
  • 1,000 bonus miles after spending $30 on your second visit
  • 1,500 bonus miles after spending $30 on your third visit.
  • Join here

The most generous first-dine bonus of any airline is offered by Delta. There are only three programs that offer second and third visits.

If you choose to go for the bonus miles, you will get closer to the status that requires 11 transactions a year. You will earn 5 miles per dollar spent. You can give your earning rate a boost by opting in to receive email notifications from SkyMiles Dining.

Free Spirit Dining

  • Earn rate: 0.5-5 mile per dollar spent
  • First-dine bonus: Earn 1,000 bonus miles by spending $30 within 30 days of joining and completing a review
  • Sweepstakes: Win 50,000 Free Spirit bonus points
  • Join here

It's not easy to beat the low fares of Spirit Airlines. The first-dine bonus from Free Spirit Dining can go a long way if you're flying for free. You will earn 1 mile per $2 spent if you opt out of email communications or 3 miles per $1 if you don't. During your first year, you'll get enough dining charges to get you enough miles for a free flight.

You will earn 5 miles for every $1 you spend if you hit 11 transactions. The dining program of the airline has low redemption rates.

JetBlue TrueBlue Dining

  • Earn rate: 3 points per dollar spent
  • First-dine bonus: None
  • Join here

3 points are offered for every $1 spent by all members. The program doesn't currently offer a first-dine bonus or elite status If you opt in for notifications, your return on spending isn't as high as with the legacy carriers.

Transfer partnerships make it easy to earn JetBlue points. If you want to earn TrueBlue points without thinking about it, it is a good idea to spend a limited amount of money at restaurants.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Dining

  • Earn rate: 0.5-3 Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent
  • First-dine bonus: Earn 1,000 Rapid Rewards points after you spend $25 within 30 days and submit a review.
  • First step bonus: Earn 500 bonus points after earning your first 1,500 points from dining and reviews.
  • Thank you bonus: Earn 300 bonus points each time you earn 1,000 points from dining and reviews.
  • Review bonus: Earn 10 bonus points every time you submit a review after a qualifying visit.
  • Join here

Southwest has a unique dining program that gives additional points for reviews. The 10 bonus points add up. Rapid Reward points can be earned by opting out of email communications. Considering how cheap Southwest award flights can be, opting in will get you 3 points per $1.

Rapid rewards points count towards the Southwest Companion pass. Southwest Rapid rewards is more valuable and worth looking at.

United MileagePlus Dining

  • Earn rate: 0.5-5 miles per dollar spent
  • First-dine bonus: Earn 1,000 bonus miles as a regular MileagePlus member or 1,500 as a MileagePlus Premier or cobranded United cardholder. After spending $25 within 30 days of joining.
  • Additional bonus: Earn 500 bonus miles on the next three visits when you spend at least $25
  • Join here

A bigger first-dine bonus is offered by the MileagePlus Dining program. Five miles per dollar spent is earned by elites and co branded credit card holders. You need to be an elite member or United card holder to be eligible for the perks. The United Explorer Card is an eligible card.

Hotel dining rewards programs

(Photo by Getty Images)

Dining rewards programs are offered by three major hotel programs. Currency values are lower than airline miles, so keep that in mind. If you need a way to top off your account for a high-value redemption or keep your points from expiring, I wouldn't recommend earning hotel points over airline miles.

Hilton Honors Dining

  • Limited-time earn rate: 10 Hilton Honors points per dollar spent
  • Normal earn rate: 2-8 Hilton Honors points per dollar spent
  • First-dine bonus: 5,000 Hilton bonus points when you spend $25 on your first dine within 30 days of joining and complete a review
  • Sweepstakes: Win 250,000 Hilton points
  • Join here

You won't get a huge return on your dining rewards spending if you're a VIP member. Signing up for Alaska MileagePlan Dining would be a good idea. Register your American Express card for the best of both worlds.

The Aspire card earns 7x points at U.S. restaurants and the surpass card earns 6x if you meet spending requirements. After spending $15,000 in a year, an annual free weekend night is required for surpass card holders. You can use the card at restaurants.

The Points Guy did not collect the information for the hotelier's card. The card issuer did not review or provide the card details on this page.

IHG Rewards Club Dining

  • Earn rate: 1-8 IHG points per dollar spent
  • First-dine bonus: 1,000 bonus points after $30 spent within 30 days of joining
  • Join here

The first-dine bonus isn't the best return on your spending, but it shouldn't stop you from taking it. The first-dine bonus will give you 20% of the way to a free night. After a year of being inactive, you can keep your account active by earning rewards from the dining program.

If you want to maximize restaurant spending, I wouldn't recommend using IHG rewards club dining as your main program. You will get a higher rate of return when you use airline programs.

Marriott Eat Around Town

  • First-dine bonus: Earn up to 6,000 Marriott Bonvoy points:
  • 1,000 bonus points the first time you spend $30 or more
  • 2,000 bonus points the second time you spend $30 or more
  • 3,000 bonus points the third time you spend $30 or more
  • Earn rate: 4-6 Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar spent
  • Join here

Marriott has a number of ways to earn Bonvoy points. You can earn Marriott points on autopilot if you sign up for Eat Around Town.

Which credit cards to use with dining rewards programs

(Photo by Matt Dutile/Getty Images)

Dining rewards programs allow you to register as many cards as you like. Bonus points on dining at restaurants are what you should focus on.

The Points Guy did not collect the information for the Capital One Savor. The card issuer did not review or provide the card details on this page.

The Amex Gold Card gives you 4x points for dining at restaurants and comes with up to 120 dining credits per year. While these apply to food delivery apps, you can also use them at other chain restaurants. It's necessary to enroll.

Every month, Amex will give $20 back at U.S. restaurants. The Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card is one of the cards that qualify.

Currency is the most important factor in determining the best dining rewards card. During uncertain times, I think it's a good idea to choose a card with points that can be redeemed for things. When it comes time to redeem them, you won't be tied down to a single currency.

There are loyalty programs that are worth joining.

Bottom line

Extra points and miles can be earned through dining rewards programs. Between the first-dine bonus and the ease of earning points, it makes sense to sign up. If you use a credit card that earns bonus points on dining and time your registration, you will be in a position to earn the first-dine bonus.