The Rule of 3

Happy Hour Fun!!

Whether it's where you live, where you work, or where you go for happy hour after work or drinks on the weekend, you should always know at least 3 restaurants, lounges, or bars that participate in your mileage program's dining rewards program.  If you haven't already registered, you absolutely should.  Dining reward program enrollment is often under the "earn miles" section on your frequent flyer program's website.

As a self-proclaimed foodie and official mileage junkie, at any given time, I can identify at least three (if not more) participating restaurants within a 15 minute drive of wherever I am.  At work, I'm the first to suggest nearby lunch spots so I can get miles.  When I need a quick bite in my neighborhood, I'm more likely to grab something at a restaurant that can give me miles.  When I have a hankering for a Ciroc Red Berry Kamikaze after work, I know where I can get miles for my happy hour wind down.  Out running errands on another side of town...you betcha, I'm popping into a California Tortilla to grab a blackened chicken caesar burrito bowl for miles.  When I go out of town, the first thing I do after securing my hotel accommodations, is find which restaurants offer miles within a 10 mile radius.

Use your dining rewards program website to locate bars, lounges, and eateries near your most frequented addresses.  The Dining Rewards Network also has a mobile app that allows you to search your current GPS location for participating restaurants so I strongly encourage you to download it to your smartphone today. Every now and again, the rewards network offers bonus miles for dining at select restaurants in your city.  You NEVER want to miss a bonus opportunity if you can help it.

I know what I'm talking about; to date, I have almost 12,000 miles from dining this year alone because I'm aware of my surroundings and jump on bonus opportunities.  The same way most people know where their nearest ATM is, I make it a point to know where I can earn miles whenever I dine out.  Though every place I dine out doesn't offer miles, it's good to have options readily available.  Embrace the rule of 3, enjoy delicious food close to home or work, and  boost your mileage.

Embrace the Rule of 3!