Whether you’re going domestic or international, flying for the holidays or a much-needed vacation shouldn’t have to drain your bank account.
This man says he’s figured out how to travel for free, and his workaround is quite simple. Some commenters say they’ve been doing the same thing for years.
Man Shares Delta Dining Program Secret
In a viral video with more than 1.3 million views, content creator @dudeinthedurag broke down that he’s managed to rack up enough points using Delta’s dining rewards program to cover his flights without spending extra cash. Most people don’t even know the program exists.
“This is something that I’ve been doing for a while now, and I’m really shocked at the amount of people that don’t know about this,” he says in the clip.
The process is straightforward. First, you need a Delta SkyMiles account—the free one works fine, though having their credit card sweetens the deal. Then you head to Google and search for “Delta Dining Club,” which’ll take you to the SkyMiles dining section of Delta’s website.
Link a debit or credit card you already use regularly. Delta then provides a list of participating restaurants. Every time you eat at one of those spots and pay with your linked card, you automatically earn three SkyMiles for every dollar spent.
“Before anyone asks, no. It’s not expensive places either,” the creator clarifies.
He rattles off some of the chains on the list: Firehouse Subs, Marco’s Pizza, Gusto, and Hudson Grill.
“Regular degular places,” he emphasizes.
The program works based on your ZIP code, so available restaurants vary by location.
The math adds up quickly. But here’s his pro tip for maximizing the benefit: if you’re dining out with friends, offer to put the whole bill on your card and have everyone Venmo you their share so you get the points for the entire tab.
“And if you have the Delta credit card, oh, baby. Baby, you just locked in for real,” he adds.
What Is the Delta SkyMiles Dining Program?
The Delta SkyMiles Dining program is a free rewards program that lets members earn airline miles simply by eating at participating restaurants. According to NerdWallet, most dining rewards programs work on a “set it and forget it” basis. You create an account, link a credit card, and automatically earn points whenever you dine at eligible locations.
Delta’s program operates similarly to other airline dining programs. Members link a debit or credit card to their SkyMiles account, then earn three miles for every dollar spent at thousands of participating restaurants across the country. The beauty of these programs is that they stack with credit card rewards, meaning diners can essentially double-dip on their restaurant spending.
What makes dining programs particularly attractive is their accessibility. Unlike airline credit cards that require approval and often come with annual fees, dining programs are completely free to join and open to anyone with a SkyMiles account. Major cities typically have hundreds of participating locations, ranging from national chains to local favorites.
Other Dining Rewards Programs Worth Considering
Delta isn’t the only airline running a dining rewards program. NerdWallet reports that multiple major airlines offer similar programs, all administered by the same parent company. This means you can’t link the same credit card to multiple programs, but you can choose which airline’s miles you’d rather accumulate.
Southwest’s Rapid Rewards Dining program follows the same three-miles-per-dollar structure. American Airlines offers an AAdvantage Dining program, while United has a MileagePlus Dining program.
Hotel chains have gotten in on the action too. Marriott runs an “Eat Around Town” program, and IHG has its own dining rewards offering.
These programs typically feature thousands of eligible restaurants nationwide, from fast-food joints like Jack in the Box to upscale dining experiences. Some programs even include entertainment venues that serve food, giving members creative ways to rack up points beyond traditional sit-down meals.
Commenters React
“As a girl who’s in a long distance relationship, God bless you,” a top comment read.
“If they did Amazon I would be flying every month,” a person said.
“Haven’t paid for flights in 3 years because of Delta flight points,” another wrote.
@dudeinthedurag @delta This is something i’ve been doing for a while now with Delta.
BroBible reached out to @dudeinthedurag for comment via TikTok direct message and comment and to Delta via email.