Many airline and hotel loyalty programs offer dining rewards programs as an additional way for members to earn points and miles. These programs, such as Marriott Bonvoy Eat Around Town, United MileagePlus Dining, and American AAdvantage Dining, allow members to earn rewards when they use an enrolled credit or debit card to pay at participating restaurants, bars, and clubs.
The way these dining rewards programs work is simple. When a member pays with their registered card at a qualifying venue, the venue pays a commission to Rewards Network, the company that administers the dining rewards programs. Then, Rewards Network pays the airline or hotel loyalty program to reward its members with points or miles. Members can earn rewards from both the dining rewards program and the credit card they use to pay, as the bonuses are automatically applied to their loyalty account.
However, one question that often arises is whether it’s possible to earn rewards from multiple dining rewards programs at the same time by adding the same credit card to different programs. Unfortunately, the answer is no. Rewards Network’s system is set up to prevent members from linking the same card to multiple programs. When a card is registered with a second program, it will automatically be unregistered from any previous programs. Therefore, members can only earn rewards from the program they linked their card to most recently.
While you can’t stack rewards from multiple dining rewards programs simultaneously, there are other ways to maximize your earnings on dining. One option is to link different cards to different programs and earn bonuses based on which card you use. For example, you can link your Chase Sapphire Preferred Card to United MileagePlus Dining and your American Express Gold Card to Southwest Rapid Rewards Dining.
Apart from dining rewards programs, credit cards are also an excellent way to earn rewards at restaurants. Cards like the American Express Gold Card offer high earning rates on dining expenses, allowing you to accumulate points quickly. Additionally, platforms like Dosh allow you to link credit cards and earn cash back at participating restaurants and brands.
Furthermore, credit card companies often run offers where you can earn bonus points or statement credits for dining purchases. By taking advantage of these offers, you can double dip and earn rewards from both the dining rewards program and the credit card.
In conclusion, while you can’t earn rewards from multiple dining rewards programs simultaneously by adding the same credit card to different programs, there are still plenty of ways to maximize your earnings on dining. By linking the best cards for dining to your preferred dining rewards program and taking advantage of credit card offers and cashback platforms, you can ensure that you’re earning the most rewards possible on your dining expenses.