Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with the latest information.
Earning rewards while dining out is a simple way to progress toward your next award redemption. Numerous methods exist to earn bonus rewards when you eat, but enrolling in a dining rewards program like JetBlue’s TrueBlue Dining is a good place to start.
Most major hotel and airline providers offer dining rewards programs, but JetBlue’s TrueBlue Dining program is worth considering if you want to earn TrueBlue points. Through this program, you can earn up to 3 points per dollar spent at participating TrueBlue Dining restaurants.
Considering the substantial amount of money you likely spend annually on dining, it’s probable that you are missing out on rewards if you haven’t connected the credit cards you frequently use at restaurants to a dining rewards program. With a wide selection of restaurants available, it shouldn’t be difficult to find a nearby option that participates in the JetBlue TrueBlue Dining program and aligns with your culinary preferences.
How to join TrueBlue Dining
Joining the TrueBlue Dining program is relatively easy. You must sign up by providing your name, address, TrueBlue number and email and creating a password. You’ll then need to link a credit or debit card — you won’t be able to confirm your account without doing so.
After confirming your account, you can log in and register more cards. Then, the next time you dine out at a participating restaurant and use a registered card to pay your bill, you’ll earn bonus points through the program. Remember to use your TrueBlue Dining account periodically, as your membership will expire after 36 consecutive months of no dining activity.
TrueBlue Dining periodically offers new member bonuses, so watch for these if you aren’t a member yet. If you currently have cards enrolled in other dining rewards programs, take note of the following: Most dining rewards programs are part of the Rewards Network, so you can’t register the same card with multiple programs. For instance, I registered my Chase Sapphire Reserve with TrueBlue Dining. However, I’d forgotten I’d previously linked this card to my Marriott Eat Around Town dining rewards account. I was surprised when I instantly received an email noting the card had been removed from my Eat Around Town account.
Consider registering each of your cards in a dining rewards program if you have multiple rewards cards. You could register each card to the same program or each to a different program. By doing so, you won’t miss out on bonus rewards when dining at participating restaurants.
Related: The complete guide to the JetBlue TrueBlue program
How to earn points with JetBlue TrueBlue Dining
You can use the TrueBlue Dining site to search for participating restaurants.
You can earn 3 TrueBlue points per dollar spent at participating restaurants if you opt in to receive email communications from TrueBlue Dining. If you don’t opt in for emails, you’ll earn only 1 TrueBlue point per dollar spent at participating restaurants.
Points will appear in your TrueBlue Dining account within five days of an eligible transaction. However, you can’t use the points until they appear in your JetBlue TrueBlue account, typically occurring one to two weeks after you dine.
Related: How to get upgraded on JetBlue Airways
Is JetBlue’s dining program worth it?
I’ve enrolled in several dining programs over the past few years. Since signing up is free and requires little additional effort beyond registering your credit card, joining at least one dining rewards program is worthwhile to accumulate extra points or miles. It’s an effortless way to earn rewards without even realizing it.
So, the question is whether the TrueBlue Dining program is the best option. If you don’t need more JetBlue points, explore alternative dining rewards programs like American Airlines AAdvantage Dining, Southwest Rapid Rewards Dining and Delta SkyMiles Dining.
Which cards to use with TrueBlue Dining
If you’re spending a lot on dining, you should use a credit card that earns bonus points on these purchases. Here are some of the best credit cards to use when dining out:
- American Express® Gold Card: 4 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: 3 points per dollar spent on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: 3 points per dollar spent on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: 6 points per dollar spent on dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery
Of course, these cards are also excellent choices when dining at restaurants that don’t participate in the JetBlue TrueBlue Dining program, but if you enjoy earning JetBlue points, enrolling one or more of these cards in the JetBlue TrueBlue Dining program may be a good idea.
Related: Can you earn rewards with a dining rewards program and a credit card at the same time?
Bottom line
Joining a dining rewards program and eating at participating restaurants is a great way to maximize a significant spending category without much effort. The JetBlue TrueBlue Dining program is worth considering, especially if you enjoy redeeming JetBlue points. After all, thanks to frequent promotions and cheap award fares, it shouldn’t be difficult to rack up enough TrueBlue points for your next redemption.
