Food is an important part of travel. Earning points is a more important part of travel. If you like earning points and eating this post can help you do both at the same time.
There is a website called OpenTable that has a dining rewards program where you earn points for making reservations through their system. These points add up fast and can be redeemed for cash vouchers to be used at restaurants within their system. Just this past week I redeemed points for a $100 dining cheque.
Using OpenTable With Restaurants To Earn Points
Open table is an online restaurant reservation system that allows users to earn VIP points for every eligible reservation made through their system.
- Standard reservations earn 100 VIP points
- Bonus 1,000 point reservations are available at select times for select restaurants
The points can be redeemed for dining cheques that you can pay your restaurant bill. It is that simple.
Open Table VIP Points Are Good For Cash
When you have accumulated enough points in your account, you will be allowed to select the “redeem points” option for dining cheques. The checks will be delivered in a white envelope within 3 weeks and they will expire after 180 days from the order date.
Redemption of VIP points are as follows:
United States:
2,000 OpenTable Points = $20 OpenTable Dining Cheque
5,000 OpenTable Points = $50 OpenTable Dining Cheque
10,000 OpenTable Points = $100 OpenTable Dining ChequeCanada
Redeem 2,000 points and get a $26 OpenTable Dining Cheque
Redeem 5,000 points and get a $65 OpenTable Dining Cheque
Redeem 10,000 points and get a $130 OpenTable Dining ChequeUnited Kingdom
Redeem 2,000 points and get a £15 OpenTable Dining Cheque
Redeem 5,000 points and get a £37.50 OpenTable Dining Cheque
Redeem 10,000 points and get a £75 OpenTable Dining Cheque
So you only have to make 10 1,000 point reservations and eat food at your favorite eligible restaurant to get a $100 dining cheque from OpenTable.
How To Earn With Open Table
Step 1: Select your city from OpenTable
If you don’t see your city in the featured list, don’t worry you can still earn points. The picture below highlights the most frequently reserved areas. There is an option to select states and then narrow down the search by city.
Step 2: Select your neighborhood / location, time, size of reservation
You can narrow down your search to a specific neighborhood or use an address to see what is around you.
Step 3: Select your restaurant
Tip: If you select 1,000 point reservations, your VIP balance will add up fast.
How To Maximize Earning With 1,000 Point Reservations
The quickest way to earn points with Open Table is to select only reservations that earn you 1,000 points.
- Search any geographic area to search for a restaurant with a desired date, time and reservation size
- Look for time slot buttons that show the “1,000pts” label just below the button
- For these reservations you will earn 1,000 after you complete the dining reservation
- A different option is to use the link “1,000-Point Tables” to find only restaurants in your area that offer 1,000 point reservations
Bottom Line
There are many ways to earn points and miles for awards. The OpenTable VIP program is a great way to earn points that can be used for cash at restaurants you would go to anyway.
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About The Weekly Flyer
The Weekly Flyer writes about travel from a business traveler perspective. He travels the world every week accumulating points and miles along the way.
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Excellent, a way to figuratively and literally double dip.
Hi Travel Chai – Thanks, but you have to know when and when to not double dip 🙂
I’ve used OpenTable for years and think it is great. One thing to be weary of is the reward cheques though. Twice now I’ve ordered a $100 cheque and it just never arrives. It is “lost” in the mail. I call/email and OpenTable consistently says they cannot be held responsible and I’m basically out those points and the cheque.
Now, I just order the $20 cheques since you can combine as many of these as you want on a single dine — and I feel a lot better if the USPS “loses” $20 vs. $100.
I noticed that the 1000 point bonus offers go away if you try to book a table of 1. What happens if you book 2 but only show up as 1?
Hi Tim – Great idea. I ordered the $100 cheque and didn’t have a care in the world. I’ll likely order in $20 increments going forward.
Warmnuts – Great catch. I’m sure you can check in with only 1 person for the reservation and wait for the other person:)
Another observation: Booking online yields more 1,000 point reservations than booking via iPhone. Give it a try sometime, you’ll see what I’m talking about.
I downloaded the ipad app. It sucks. Stick with the actual website.
I cashed in 2000 points for a $20 “dining cheque” a couple of months ago. I thought I should wait 6 weeks before I complained (per their instructions), but now it is 10 weeks later and it has never arrived!! No customer service number is listed on their website, and from other posts, it seems that their position will be “too bad” anyway. I don’t know about others, but I am not inclined to help promote any company that does not honor its promises and that could care less about customer service. They do make money from our use, after all. Very disappointing.