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If you’re looking for tips on earning more United MileagePlus miles, you’ve come to the right place! Earning enough to redeem for a ticket can be tough, but with MileagePlus Dining, you can get there faster.
Today we’ll walk you through United’s MileagePlus Dining program so that you can get on your way to earning more miles.
United’s MileagePlus Dining program uses the same login information as your MileagePlus frequent flyer account. If you already have an account, all you need to do is log in to MileagePlus Dining using this info. If you need to set up a new account, you’ll have to enroll for MileagePlus first.
Once you are logged in, you will be asked to opt-in to emails. If you decline, you’ll earn fewer miles per transaction and won’t be eligible for the new member bonus or future bonus offers.
You will next be prompted to link a credit card that you typically use for your dining purchases. You won’t be charged anything, but you must link a card to earn bonus miles!
You’ll earn extra points with MileagePlus Dining by paying for your meal at a participating restaurant using your linked credit card. Bonus points are calculated on the total cost of your meal — including tax and tip!
You don’t even need to keep your receipt or register your meal. All of the tracking is done automatically — you just need to use the linked card.
| Membership Level | Requirements | Mileage Rewards |
| Basic members | You elect to not receive email communication from MileagePlus Dining | 1 mile per $2 spent |
| Select members | You elect to receive email communication from MileagePlus Dining | 3 miles per $1 spent |
| VIP members | You elect to receive email communication from MileagePlus Dining
AND You have completed 11 qualified transactions in the calendar year (you’ll earn VIP status on your 12th qualified transaction) | 5 miles per $1 spent |
It is usually possible to earn bonus miles when you sign up for the MileagePlus Dining program and meet specific requirements.
The current bonus available offers up to 3,000 MileagePlus miles.
Within your first 30 days, you’ll earn 1,500 bonus miles for your first meal of $25 or more at any participating restaurant — 1,000 miles for your first purchase and 500 miles as part of a limited-time VIP status offer. You can also earn an additional 500 bonus miles for each of your next 3 visits at participating restaurants with a minimum spend of $25 per visit.
The number of points earned doesn’t vary by restaurant, only by your membership level. You do need to make sure that the restaurant you plan to dine at is participating in MileagePlus Dining, however.
A search for participating restaurants near Salt Lake City returned 31 options within 30 miles. Most of the restaurants listed are smaller local establishments rather than chains.
In addition to local restaurants, there are a few chain options. Note that not all locations of a specific chain may be participating in the dining program, so check the Explore section of the MileagePlus Dining website first. Some chains you might see include Buca di Beppo, Jack in the Box, Wendy’s, Hooter’s, and Edible Arrangements.
Points earned through MileagePlus Dining are in addition to any regular credit card points you earn by paying for your meal.
If you are mainly interested in earning MileagePlus miles, you should consider using a card that earns MileagePlus miles directly or a Chase credit card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards. Ultimate Rewards can be transferred to United at a 1:1 ratio.
Below you’ll see a list of credit cards that earn both Ultimate Rewards and MileagePlus miles.
Additionally, you should keep your eye out for credit cards that offer dining as a bonus category so that you can cash in on even more points!
A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.
Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.
A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best options out there.
The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.
Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!
If you’re a business owner, see our list of recommended Chase business credit cards.
With priority boarding privileges, no foreign transaction fees and more, MileagePlus members will definitely enjoy their partnered card.
You travel United all the time, but you have heard that there could be ways to make your travel experiences even better, including priority boarding, free bags, and more miles.
You should consider the United℠ Explorer Card, because this card does all that and more!
Perfect for frequent United flyers who want premium perks like United Club access and free baggage benefits.
The United Club℠ Infinite Card is a premium card designed for the most dedicated of United frequent flyers who are looking for a card that provides the opportunity to earn extra United MileagePlus miles and receive lounge access via a yearly United Club membership.
United frequent flyers will find that the United Club Infinite card provides an enhanced experience on their United flights thanks to the money saved on each flight and the conveniences it provides.
The United Quest card is a fantastic option for United flyers looking to earn more miles and enhance their flights.
The newest addition to United’s lineup of cards is the United Quest℠ Card. With it, you can bolster your United MileagePlus miles, thanks to the bonus categories, while enjoying the card’s many perks designed to help save you money on each United flight.
With an annual fee that falls between the United℠ Explorer Card and United Club℠ Infinite Card, the United Quest card makes for a fantastic card option for United frequent flyers.
The United Gateway card is a great option for those looking to earn more United miles without paying an annual fee.
The United Gateway℠ Card is a great option for those looking to earn more United miles without wanting to pay a credit card annual fee. Plus, the card offers other solid benefits like a 25% back on United inflight purchases, purchase protection, and rental car insurance.
The United Club Business card is a great option for frequent United flyers looking for United Club access.
The United Club℠ Business Card is a premium card option for dedicated United loyalists seeking a card that offers complimentary United Club access, helps them earn and retain status, and doesn’t skip on the benefits.
From free checked bags to upgrades on award tickets and the ability to earn Premier qualifying points, there is plenty to the United Club Business card that United flyers are sure to love.
Hot Tip: Check out our comparison of the benefits and perks of each United MileagePlus credit card for more details.
Joining MileagePlus Dining and linking your credit cards is a fast, easy, and convenient way to earn more MileagePlus miles when you are dining out.
Pair this program with a credit card that earns a category bonus for spending at restaurants, and check out United’s MileagePlus Shopping portal as well to maximize rewards!
Soon enough, you’ll be ready to redeem your next United award flight!
The information regarding the United Club℠ Business Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
No, the miles earned do not count toward status, but you can use them to book award flights.
There is no limit to the number of miles you can earn.
You can earn up to 5 MileagePlus miles per dollar spent as a VIP Member, which requires opting-in to emails and making at least 12 eligible dining purchases within a year. Lower-level members earn 3x or 1x MileagePlus miles per dollar spent, depending on whether or not they opt-in to emails.
Yes, you can change whether you are opting in or out of emails at any time. Remember, this will affect the number of miles you are able to earn when dining out!
Your miles will be credited automatically as long as you have properly registered a credit card to your profile and paid for your meal with that credit card.
Yes. You’ll earn bonus miles for tax, tip, and alcoholic beverages purchased!
United’s MileagePlus Dining program is for MileagePlus members to collect bonus miles by dining at participating restaurants using a linked credit card. Depending on your tier membership, you can earn $1 to $5 per pound spent.
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Caroline Lupini always enjoyed traveling, but it became her goal to do as much as possible after a 3-week trip around Europe in 2011. In March 2014, Caroline left her job and embarked on nearly full-time travels.
As a frequent traveler, frequent flyer miles have played a large role in planning her trips. Caroline has enjoyed discovering the ins and outs of how to maximize different types of miles, hotel points, and transferable points currencies.
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