Choice Privileges launches new dining program, offering 2,000-point bonus
We love it when another opportunity to earn valuable points presents itself.
Choice Hotels has recently launched one of the most popular (not to mention easy) methods for quickly racking up travel rewards: A dining rewards program.
The new Choice Eat & Earn allows you to accrue bonus Choice points whenever you eat at any of 30,000-plus participating U.S. restaurants. Plus, Choice has launched a promotion called “Savor the Summer” which will further boost your earnings through Sept. 30, 2022.
Here’s what you need to know about Choice Eat & Earn.
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How to earn points with the Choice Eat & Earn dining program
Several hotel brands, such as Hilton, Marriott and IHG already have their own dining programs — so it’s great that Choice has joined the party.
Related: 10 of the most generous airline and hotel dining rewards programs
To use Choice’s dining program, you must register here and link a credit card to your profile. You don’t need a Choice credit card to qualify — you can link any credit card. Whenever you use that card at an eligible restaurant, you’ll automatically earn bonus Choice points:
- 5 Choice points per dollar when you dine in.
- 2 Choice points per dollar when you order online (some restaurants are online-order only).
Note that the points you’re awarded via this program are in addition to the points you’ll earn from swiping your credit card. For example, if you link the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to your Choice Eat & Earn account, you’ll earn 5 Choice points per dollar when dining in plus 3 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar for spending at a restaurant.
'Savor the Summer' promotion
Debuting with Choice Eat & Earn is a promotion called “Savor the Summer.” This temporarily increases your points earning in the following ways:
- Earn 50 extra Choice points whenever you dine at a participating restaurant and complete a review.
- Earn 2,000 bonus points when you dine five times at participating restaurants.
- Earn 3 bonus points per dollar on when you order online (for a total of five points per dollar).
This promotion lasts through Sept. 30, 2022 and can help you rack up Choice Privileges points for summer award stays.
Related: 19 ways to earn more Choice Privileges points
Is it a good deal?
TPG valuations peg Choice points value at 0.6 cents each. That means by enrolling in Choice Eat & Earn, you’ll effectively earn up to 3% back on your dining purchases with zero effort on your part. That may sound incremental, but every point gets you closer to your next free vacation. You can read our award traveler’s guide to Choice Privileges to see how powerful Choice points can be.
That said, there may be an opportunity cost involved with using Choice Eat & Earn over another airline or hotel dining program. For example, American Airlines' AAdvantage Dining portal awards 3 miles per dollar if you opt-in to email alerts and 5 miles per dollar after you earn VIP status with 11 purchases at participating restaurants. TPG values AAdvantage miles at 1.77 cents apiece, giving you a 5.3% to 8.8% return on eligible dining. Plus, you'd also earn Loyalty Points toward American elite status.
Of course, what program you should use depends on your travel goals. If you have a specific Choice redemption in mind, it could make sense to use the program for a period of time. Likewise, it may be worth using Choice Eat & Earn to earn bonus points during the "Savor the Summer" promotion discussed earlier.
Related: How to earn miles in the American Airlines AAdvantage program
Bottom line
With over 30,000 participating restaurants, you should have a healthy collection of nearby venues that qualify (you can search for nearby locations here). However, nationwide fast-food joints like McDonald’s don’t participate. Smaller chains and independently owned restaurants tend to be the participating establishments.
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| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
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Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
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- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
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- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
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Rewards Rate
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles50,000 Bonus MilesAnnual Fee
$250Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.670-850Excellent/Good
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees