The Homeless Burger King

According to American/United/Delta Dining Rewards, almost every Burger King location in Denver is considered as an eligible restaurant in their program. You receive 3 Miles/1 Dollar spent as an online member. On top of that, United/Delta is currently offering additional bonus miles for a $30 minimum transaction (including tax/tip) done within 30 days of signing up. And then, if I swipe with my Chase Sapphire, I earn 2 Points/1 Dollar spent; as it being a restaurant purchase.

Liiiightbulbbbbb!

Let’s use Delta SkyMiles for this example. Burgers can be valued at $1 each, meaning, if I buy 30 burgers: 1) I get 30 burgers! 2) I get 90 miles through the dining program; 3) it meets the $30 minimum for a bonus 500 SkyMiles; and 4) I get 60 points to Chase Sapphire.

By the way, if you make a second $30 minimum transaction (including tax/tip) done within 60 days of signing up, you get a bonus 1000 SkyMiles on top of the first 500.

Here is the best part! I don’t eat Burger King. Ha. But that’s such an easy problem to fix. I drive by at least one “bum” every day. I am sure they’re hungry and now I’ve got a bunch of burgers to give out.

Okay, so you’re technically paying more per mile (30/590=$0.051) when you can just buy SkyMiles at $70 for 2000 miles ($0.035/mile) off their website. So, it wouldn’t be the best thing to do all the time, but at least you’re getting food in return. The program is more for foodies who are already eating out a lot and they gain perks in return. I wouldn’t recommend purposely going out to eat every time solely just to gain miles; especially if there’s no bonus promotion ($0.33/mile). But that’s up to your discretion. With that being said, my purpose of using the dining program this time is to get some food circulating to the homeless community.

So, how’d it go?

Surprisingly, it took longer than expected (more than an hour).  The 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver typically inhabits those without shelter, so it was exactly where I needed to go. I invited my good friends Kelly and Nick to accompany me.

We went to a close by Burger King and I purchased 15 chicken sandwiches and 15 cheeseburgers; which the cook in the back kitchen yelled out, “Seriously?” afterwards, haha. We fit on our Burger King crowns as we waited and then we were on our way.

We were able to give all the burgers away while walking around in circles; two burgers went to two super adorable homeless dogs and only one burger was denied by a man in full blown camp out gear. My favorite guy, who I ended up giving two burgers to, was such a sweetheart. He said his name was Arkansas and that he was from Arkansas. He was missing all his teeth but his smile was the happiest!

Arkansas

Honestly, who cares about the points and miles? Let’s do it again.

 

No one has ever become poor by giving.
– Anne Frank