How To Use Delta SkyMiles Dining to Earn More Miles [2018]
Full Disclosure: We may be compensated when you click on links to credit card products from our advertising partners, such as American Express, Chase & Barclays. Opinions on this site are ours alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by the issuer. See our Advertiser Disclosure for more details. Thanks!
Today you’ll learn how to easily earn extra miles for many of your dining purchases for no additional cost or work. It’s called SkyMiles Dining, a program put on by the Rewards Network.
Delta’s dining program rewards you for eating out by giving you bonus miles. This article will walk you through exactly how the dining program works and how many miles you can earn.
Table of contents
Table of Contents
How To Join/Log in & Basics of Using the Program
Delta Air Lines’ dining rewards program requires a separate account from your regular frequent flyer account, but you’ll need a lot of the same information. This includes your SkyMiles number, name, email, and address; you’ll also need to select a username and password.
When you register your account, you need to link a credit card to your profile. Don’t worry, you won’t be charged for anything!
The credit card is required to earn bonus miles. Each time you dine at a participating restaurant using that credit card, you will earn bonus points based on the cost of your meal, including tax and tip!
You don’t need to register your meal after the fact; the miles will be credited automatically. Depending on your membership level, you can earn up to 5 bonus miles per dollar spent.
As a “Member” you’ll earn 1 SkyMile per dollar spent. Become an “Online Member” by opting into emails, and you will earn 3 miles per dollar.
Complete 12 transactions in a year to become a “VIP Member,” where you’ll earn 5x SkyMiles!
Intro Bonuses
There is usually an introductory sign-up bonus so you can earn even more miles the first time (or first few times) you dine at a participating restaurant, as long as you complete the requirement in a specific time period.
The current bonus available allows you to earn up to 3,000 miles over the course of your first 3 meals within the first 30 days of signing up.
All meals must be over $30 in order to earn the bonus. The first meal earns 500 bonus SkyMiles, the second earns 1,000, and the third earns 1,500. Completing an online review is required within 30 days of visiting each restaurant in order to earn the bonus.
This is one of the higher bonuses we have seen from Delta’s dining rewards program, so now would be a great time to join!
Example Restaurants
As mentioned above, the number of SkyMiles earned doesn’t vary by restaurant. However, you should make sure that restaurants you dine at are participating in the program.
I searched for participating restaurants near Ann Arbor, MI and the results came back showing 92 restaurants within 30 miles. Most restaurants are small, local establishments rather than chain restaurants.
In addition to local restaurants, there were just a few chain options. Note that not all locations of a chain may be participating, but here are some examples:
- Buca di Beppo
- Edible Arrangements
- Hungry Howie’s Pizza
Using Credit Cards To Earn Extra Points
The points earned through SkyMiles Dining are in addition to any regular credit card points you will earn paying for your meal.
If you are mainly interested in earning Delta SkyMiles, you should consider using a co-branded Delta credit card. You could also use a card that earns American Express Membership Rewards points, which can be transferred to Delta at a 1:1 ratio.
American Express is the sole credit card issuer for Delta Air Lines’ branded products. Below you’ll find a list of cards that earn both Membership Rewards and Delta SkyMiles.
It may also be worth considering credit cards that offer dining as one of their bonus categories so you can earn even more points. Look for cards that have a good sign-up bonus if you’ll be getting a new one!
American Express Membership Rewards Cards
Amex Recommended Cards (Personal)
| CREDIT CARD | CARD INFO |
|---|---|
| 💳 The Platinum Card® from American Express Love Special Perks & Travel Benefits? > This Card Gets You Access To 18 of Them! |
|
| 💳 Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express |
|
| 💳 The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express |
|
Amex Recommended Cards (Business)
| CREDIT CARD | CARD INFO |
|---|---|
| 💳 The Business Platinum Card® from American Express OPEN Love Special Perks & Exclusive Benefits? > Here's 41 Benefits You Get With This Card! |
|
| 💳 The Business Gold Rewards Card from American Express OPEN More Info? > Small Biz Owners Love These 11 Card Benefits |
|
| 💳 The Blue Business℠ Plus Credit Card from American Express |
|
Delta SkyMiles Cards
| CREDIT CARD | CARD INFO |
|---|---|
| 💳 Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express Not Sure? > Don't Miss These 17 Valuable Card Benefits |
|
| 💳 Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express |
|
| 💳 Gold Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express |
|
| 💳 Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express |
|
Conclusion
Joining SkyMiles Dining and linking a credit card is an easy way to start earning more rewards. You’ll earn miles on dining purchases at participating restaurants with no extra work required.
You may want to also consider checking out their shopping portal to earn even more rewards and get closer to your next SkyMiles redemption!
The sky dining service is very poor. The miles don’t get credited automatically; one must report them separately each time. When there is a dispute, such as when using a third-party online ordering site, American Express requires unreasonable “proof” which is a waste of time.
I’ve never heard of (or experienced) the miles not being posting automatically.