Earn even more rewards when dining out with OpenTable

There are few things I love more in the world of points and miles than an opportunity to double-dip. Whether it’s earning bonus Delta SkyMiles on my Starbucks order or taking home extra Bilt Points on my Lyft rides, there’s something satisfying about stacking rewards to make everyday activities even more lucrative.

And as someone who loves dining out, one of my favorite ways to do this is the OpenTable platform.

By awarding points just for making (and completing) reservations at participating restaurants, OpenTable Regulars can make your meals out even more rewarding.

Here’s what you need to know about this dining platform.

What is OpenTable?

OpenTable is a loyalty platform that offers reservations at over 70,000 participating dining venues in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Germany. You can set up an account on this page or download the OpenTable app (my preferred method for making reservations).

From there, enter your cellphone number or email address to start the process of creating an account. Then, follow the prompts to finish setting it up.

Making reservations (and earning points) with OpenTable

Once you have an OpenTable Regulars account, it’s easy to start earning points when you dine out. Simply search for your desired date and location to see a list of eligible restaurants, then follow the onscreen prompts to complete your reservation.

Know, though, that there are a few important notes to keep in mind.

First, most restaurants offer various seating options, so you’ll often need to choose your preference when booking (e.g., standard, outdoor or bar area). I’ve typically been able to change this upon arrival, but if the restaurant is at capacity, you may need to stick with your original selection.

Additionally, many venues on the platform will advertise special offers, including happy hour deals or tasting menus. In most cases, you don’t need to commit to these in advance, with the exception of holidays like Valentine’s Day or New Year’s Eve.

Finally, certain restaurants require a credit card to complete your reservation, and they’ll impose a penalty if you cancel with little notice (generally 24 hours before arrival, though it can be even stricter). Be sure to review the terms carefully before finalizing your booking.

Perhaps the best part about OpenTable Regulars is that these points are awarded in addition to any rewards you earn on the credit card you use at the restaurant. I almost always swipe my American Express® Gold Card, which earns 4 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases each year, then 1 point per dollar).

Related: Best dining credit cards

Redeeming points with OpenTable

Once you have accrued at least 1,000 points, you can begin using them. OpenTable offers a few different options right in the app, though the value (and availability) of these redemptions differs slightly.

Here’s what you can expect for U.S.-based* members.

*Other countries have different options, and local currency conversion applies; see details here.

As you can see, the dining credit and experience credit are the two best options. In each case, your OpenTable Regulars points are worth 0.8 cents apiece, compared to 0.5 cents per point for Amazon.

Put another way, every 100-point reservation you make effectively gives you 80 cents toward a future dining credit. That may not seem like a lot, but the points can add up over time.

To redeem your points, log in to the OpenTable app and tap the “Rewards” icon at the bottom. You’ll see the options that are available with your current points balance, though each one works slightly differently.

Redeem for an experience credit

This redemption option may be the most limited because only select prepaid experiences are eligible. Nevertheless, you should see it as an option at checkout when it is available.

For example, in August, I attended a concert with my wife and daughter at Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre outside Denver. We wanted to dine at Ship Rock Grille, the on-site restaurant, and on concert dates, reservations require a $25 per-person payment in advance (this amount is credited to your bill when you pay).

However, I was given the option of using 5,000 points to get $40 off that purchase. Instead of paying $75 for the three of us, I only paid $35.

We still had the full $75 credit to use when we arrived; I just used my OpenTable Regulars points to reduce the out-of-pocket expense.

Redeem for a dining credit

In the U.S., members can redeem their points for a dining credit valid at any participating OpenTable restaurant. If you select this option, you’ll complete the redemption directly in the app — though the booking process to actually use the credit is a bit convoluted.

To summarize, you redeem points for a dining credit. You then make a reservation using the credit, which activates it and effectively converts it into a rewards card. That rewards card is valid at the specific restaurant where you made the reservation.

Here are more details on exactly how it works:

1. Go to the “Rewards” section of the app, and tap the dining credit option.
2. Select the amount you want, then tap “Redeem.”
3. Once you’ve completed the redemption, you should receive an email with the subject line “OpenTable sent you a Dining Reward.” Tap “Book Now” (or go back to your Rewards section in the app) to start the reservation process.
4. Click the restaurant and time you want; it should show that you have a dining credit available.
5. Tap “Reserve,” make sure you’ve applied the credit to the reservation, then click “Save.”

This is when your dining credit is converted into a digital gift card linked to the reservation. You’ll even see the rewards card in the reservation confirmation.

Here’s a gallery with step-by-step screenshots of how this works in the app.

Just note that the digital gift card won’t be applied to the bill automatically. To actually use it, you have to either print it or show it on your phone to the server, who will then input it as a payment method.

Dining credits expire 12 months from the redemption. Once you activate the reward by making a reservation, you have 12 months to use that reward.

Related: This overlooked dining program is one of the most generous and gets you $25 off your very first meal

Redeem for an Amazon gift card

The final option is the most straightforward but least lucrative. Members in most eligible countries can use their OpenTable Regulars points directly in the app for an Amazon gift card. This will be delivered to the email address associated with your OpenTable account.

However, your points are only worth 0.5 cents apiece when used in this fashion. You’ll get 60% more value by focusing on dining or experience credits.

How to maximize OpenTable Regulars

Now that you know the basics, here are some of my favorite ways to maximize the OpenTable Regulars program.

Look for higher-point reservations

In most cases, you’ll earn 100 points when you make (and complete) a reservation with an OpenTable restaurant. However, keep an eye out for select times that offer more points. In some cases, you can earn 500, 750 or even 1,000 points on a single booking.

To find these reservations, open the filter options in the app and, under the “Special features” section, toggle the “Bonus points” checkbox.

Book reservations for complimentary breakfast

I’ve found that in many cases, a hotel’s restaurant is listed on OpenTable. And if you have free breakfast — either with your hotel elite status or by booking with a luxury platform like American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts — you should still be able to earn OpenTable Regulars points and leverage that benefit.

For example, I spent three nights at the Thompson Denver in early August, and since I have World of Hyatt Globalist status, my breakfast each morning was free. It was served in Chez Maggy, which is on OpenTable. Each morning, I would make a reservation before going downstairs, taking home 100 points each time.

This can also work with higher-point reservations.

In April, I spent two nights at The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta, which I booked through The Edit by Chase Travel℠ using my Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees). One of the benefits of booking via The Edit is complimentary breakfast, and I received $80 in credit each morning at AG Steakhouse.

Even better? I earned 750 OpenTable Regulars points on each reservation. Together, that’s $12 in future dining credits on meals that were largely comped — and even more reason to love my Sapphire Reserve.

Stack with dining credits

But my favorite way to maximize this platform is using the Sapphire Reserve, which offers up to $300 in annual statement credits ($150 from January to June and $150 from July to December) at select OpenTable restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.

Currently available in more than 50 locales across the U.S., these establishments offer high-end dining that’s perfect for a date night or special occasion.

To use this benefit, make sure you add your Sapphire Reserve to your OpenTable account and then use it to pay your bill at a participating location.

Note that the list of eligible restaurants does change, but you can view the current options here.

Related: Chase Sapphire Reserve statement credits: What they are and how to use them

Bottom line

OpenTable is my go-to platform for making dining reservations. In addition to discovering new places to eat, I earn points that can be used for future dining credits. And since I also have the Chase Sapphire Reserve, I enjoy up to $300 back in statement credits every year at select restaurants.

If you’re not using OpenTable, sign up here — and start earning points on your next meal out.

Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: thepointsguy.com