(Offer Expired) Here’s How I’m Earning 7X Points on Restaurant Spending Right Now

It’s raining points (or cash back) for those of us who enjoy dining at restaurants (or order taking out and delivery).

One of the 5% bonus cashback categories right now for the Chase Freedom Flex® is dining. (The others are purchases made with Amazon, Whole Foods, and hotels through Chase Travel℠.) Cash back is initially awarded as Chase Ultimate Rewards® points that can be redeemed as cash back, statement credit, gift cards, or other options.

But here’s the beauty: the no-annual-fee Chase Freedom Flex® already earns an additional 2% (2X) on dining purchases. That stacks with the 5% (5X) for a total of 7% or 7X! (Dining is usually a 5% bonus category at least once a year.)

I’ve earned 7% back on everything from fast food (including purchases made with the McDonald’s app) to Starbucks balance reloads to dining at sit-down restaurants (both chain and independents). I didn’t, however, earn the 7X on the birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese because it’s technically an arcade in Mastercard’s eyes.

(A maximum of $75 or 7,500 points can be earned back in cumulative purchases made across the bonus categories during a quarter. Enrollment is required and can be done here. The promotion also extends to cardholders of the legacy Chase Freedom® card, which is no longer open for new applications.)

Don’t worry if you forgot about this promotion. There’s still another month-ish to take advantage of it!

Why 7X and not 8X?

During non-5X times, the  Chase Freedom Flex® earn a total of 3X on dining purchases.

So, why doesn’t 3X stack on 5X? you might ask.

All eligible purchases earn 1X back. Dining purchases earn an extra 2X. Therefore, dining colloquially earns 3X.

The 5X promotion is basically taking the place of the “all eligible purchases” earnings. So, the 5X + 2X for dining = 7X.

Sure, 8X would be awesome. But 7X for anything is out-freaking-standing.

I normally use my American Express® Gold Card for dining purchases because that earns 4X Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S., on up to $50,000 in spending each calendar year, then 1X. (Terms apply). But until I max out the Flex’s bonus earnings or we reach June 30, I’ll use the Flex card for my dining purchases.

Turn 7X into 8.75X — or Even 10.5X!

You can transfer points between Chase Ultimate Rewards® cards. If you’re not familiar, the Chase Ultimate Rewards® program allows certain cardmembers to apply points at increased values for purchases made through Chase Travel℠.

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: 1 point = 1.5 cents
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card 1 point = 1.25 cents
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card 1 point = 1.25 cents
• (All information about the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Sapphire Prefered, and Ink Preferred was collected independently by Eye of the Flyer. It was neither provided nor reviewed by the card issuer.)

For example, you can transfer your Flex points to a Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Your dining purchases made this quarter are suddenly worth 10.5X in redemption when purchasing travel through Chase Travel℠. They’d be worth 8.75X when transferring them to a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.

Bonus Cashback Through Rakuten!

Rakuten awards bonus cash back for purchases made at restaurants participating in the Rakuten Dining program. All you have to do is add your credit card numbers (just the numbers, not the expiration dates or CVV) to your Rakuten account and use them to pay whenever you pay when dining out.

Final Approach

People with the Chase Freedom Flex® can earn a total of 7% cash back (7X points) on dining purchases through June 30. That’s a heck of a great deal — especially if you hold one of the Ultimate Rewards cards allowing you to redeem points at increased value for travel purchases.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please visit this link.