Delta SkyMiles Dining: Accumulate extra miles when dining at restaurants, ordering takeout, or opting for delivery

Delta Air Lines miles offer excellent value for certain redemptions. If you're looking to enhance your Delta SkyMiles balance, the SkyMiles Dining program is a simple solution.

This guide will illustrate how to earn Delta miles through the SkyMiles Dining program. We’ll also review the top rewards credit cards to use and help you determine if the SkyMiles Dining program suits your dining rewards needs.

Steps to join the SkyMiles Dining program

To join the SkyMiles Dining program, simply visit the online portal and provide your name, ZIP code, SkyMiles number, and email address.

You’ll also need to set a password for your account and agree to the terms of use and privacy policy. I suggest opting in to receive program emails, as this will qualify you for higher earnings and the new member bonus (details below).

After joining the program, you must register at least one credit or debit card. When you use an enrolled card at participating restaurants, bars, and clubs, you’ll earn bonus miles through the SkyMiles Dining program.

Bonus for new members

If you're new to SkyMiles Dining, you might qualify for a new member bonus. The bonuses differ based on your sign-up date but generally provide extra miles during your initial visits within a specified period.

There’s typically a modest minimum spending requirement for each dining experience. To receive the bonus miles, you usually need to stay opted in for emails and submit an online review within 30 days after each restaurant visit.

How to accumulate miles through the SkyMiles Dining program

To earn miles with the program, you must dine at a participating restaurant, bar, or club. Enter your city or ZIP code on the SkyMiles Dining website to find eligible nearby venues.

After selecting a participating restaurant, click on "Learn more" to confirm that the day you intend to visit qualifies.

Use an enrolled card for payment, and your miles will be credited to your dining account within five days. They should show up in your SkyMiles account in one to two weeks.

Your earnings are determined by your tier in the SkyMiles Dining program, which operates independently of Delta Medallion elite status. Here are the various tiers in the SkyMiles Dining program:

VIP status lasts for the year it is earned and the following year, provided you continue to opt in for email communications.

What cards are eligible for the SkyMiles Dining program?

Nearly any card can be enrolled in the SkyMiles Dining program, with the exception of Diners Club and internationally issued JBL cards. Since the miles you earn through SkyMiles Dining are in addition to any rewards from your credit card, it's beneficial to enroll and use one of the top dining cards to enhance your rewards. Here are some of TPG's recommended options:

• American Express® Gold Card: Earn 4 points per dollar on restaurant purchases (up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar).
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Get 3 points per dollar spent on dining, including eligible delivery services and takeout.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Also earn 3 points per dollar on dining, including eligible delivery services and takeout.
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Receive 6 points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery.

To boost your Delta miles even further, consider enrolling in and using a cobranded Delta credit card. For instance, the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, and Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card each offer 2 miles per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery within the U.S.

Is the SkyMiles Dining program a good value?

It’s definitely beneficial to enroll the cards you use for dining in a rewards program. Enrollment is simple and free, allowing you to earn additional rewards at select restaurants.

The real question is which dining rewards program is right for you. Remember, each card can only be registered with one Rewards Network-operated dining rewards program at a time. Here are some alternative dining rewards programs you might consider:

• American Airlines AAdvantage Dining
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Dining
• United MileagePlus Dining
• JetBlue TrueBlue Dining
• Hilton Honors Dining
• Eat Around Town by Marriott Bonvoy
• IHG One Rewards Dine and Earn

Some programs could offer a higher return than the SkyMiles Dining program, particularly if you’re not planning to opt in for email updates or if you don’t dine often enough to qualify for VIP status.

If you need additional SkyMiles for an upcoming redemption or typically gain significant value from redeeming Delta SkyMiles, the SkyMiles Dining program is likely a worthwhile option.

Conclusion

The SkyMiles Dining program is just one of several dining rewards options available. If you want to find more opportunities to earn Delta SkyMiles, consider enrolling some of your restaurant credit cards in the SkyMiles Dining program.