iDine/Rewards Network - Any 4th quarter promotion?

now that the 500 miles for new dines is over yesterday {at least by the calendar} and they cancelled the double points deal for monday,tuesday & wednesday dines back in august ---- what's up for 4th quarter which starts today. seems chintzy that only regular miles are available for us with no new promotion.
miles are being thrown around like crazy for credit card signups. how about a few for us diners.

I'd certainly like to see something too. There hasn't been a promo with Mileage Plus Dining since they cancel All Double No Trouble. And, with the exception of the for Hilton Amex holders only promo last month, there hasn't been anything on HHonors Dining either.

I know, I think it really sucks when I have about 6 dines scheduled next month (a lot of friend and family birthdays in the month of October and of course I'm taking them all to Idine restaurants :) ) and as of now, there are no bonuses! I'd love something for Mon, Tues, Weds again but I doubt we'll be seeing that again for a while.

miles are being thrown around like crazy for credit card signups. how about a few for us diners.

I was going to create a post just about this topic. With AAdvantage miles being given away so easily, 5 miles/dollar is paltry by comparison.
I'll still use iDine exclusively, but I'm not going to bother seeking new restaurants any more.
Back when AAdvantage miles appeared to be worth more, regular rewards were 10 miles/dollar (with plenty of 20 mile/dollar places to boot)...I miss those days.

I was going to create a post just about this topic. With AAdvantage miles being given away so easily, 5 miles/dollar is paltry by comparison.
I'll still use iDine exclusively, but I'm not going to bother seeking new restaurants any more.
Back when AAdvantage miles appeared to be worth more, regular rewards were 10 miles/dollar (with plenty of 20 mile/dollar places to boot)...I miss those days.

+1

For me, quite a bit, as I am highly RN bonus-elastic: during the last quarter when M-W 2X and/or restaurant hopping were running I gorged 32,234 RN miles. The first half of October, only 350 miles, and that was at a restaurant that somebody else picked. It’s hard to go back to 5 miles per dollar after getting used to over 20 miles per, as much as 30 per, in Q3.

I can’t control RN’s policies, only my response.

For me, quite a bit, as I am highly RN bonus-elastic: during the last quarter when M-W 2X and/or restaurant hopping were running I gorged 32,234 RN miles. The first half of October, only 350 miles, and that was at a restaurant that somebody else picked. It’s hard to go back to 5 miles per dollar after getting used to over 20 miles per, as much as 30 per, in Q3.

I can’t control RN’s policies, only my response.

Zero iDine dines for me so far this month. Come on RN...I'm getting hungry! :p

Zero ...! :p

Very cool, brother (or sister). Gandhi went on a hunger strike against the Brits, as did the some IRA prisoners. We will bring RN to their knees and I sense them breaking already...although I do feel a bit sheepish about Idine-ing this morning. But, I am pretty sure that cappuccino and waffles aren't on the list of prohibited foods and in solidarity with the cause I didn’t take a bag of muffins home.

Zero iDine dines for me so far this month. Come on RN...I'm getting hungry! :p

Uh-oh, I i-dined a couple of nights ago, but only spent $15. Since it's my birthday month, I only had to spend $10 to get my 500 mile bday bonus! ^

For me, I'm (1) eating at the cheapest participating places possible, and only when I need to eat out, while there are no bonuses like now, (2) getting more take-out food from grocery stores that have food bars, since I earn 4+ UA miles/dollar there (with a Chase card that I think may not be possible to get new but keeps working for me this way despite threats last year that it would stop earning 5 points/dollar at gas/grocery/drug), and (3) what earning I do do in RN is rotated for now to those programs where I hadn't requalified for elite for next year yet. (If I'm only going to earn 5 miles/dollar in every program I belong to, I might as well ensure that I don't slip back to just 3 miles/dollar next year in the ones that didn't attract me with bonuses so far this year! :) But of course I might as well spend the minimum necessary doing that...)

Oh, and (4) I'm also making increased use of gift cards I bought by the boatload as participating restaurants were dropping out in the past.

I too haven't been to any idine places since August...

Not that its too hard for that to happen... we lost a bunch of places in July and August :(

My guess is Idine is not doing so well...

The only bonus for me in October is the birthday bonus. I hope someone comes up with more bonuses soon!

The only bonus for me in October is the birthday bonus. I hope someone comes up with more bonuses soon!

Me, too ... had no idea this joint was so Libra-centric! ;)

Me, too ... had no idea this joint was so Libra-centric! ;)

I'm Scorpio. I am dying for a big steak and some cold beer, but I am not going to eat again until there is a bonus. :D

We did some significant RN dining out during the recent promos, but we have lots of options:

6 HHonors points per dollar spent at Whole Foods, Nugget and other markets that have decent takeout options;

restaurants offering 1,000 OpenTable points for reservations - add 3 HHonors points per dollar spent, or other options;

iDine cash back.

etc.

Most recently, we were in a Hilton property with a decent in-house restaurant, where we totaled 69 HHonors points per dollar spent AND earned 1,000 OpenTable points.

Maybe I got spoiled at ten miles per dollar, or maybe I have Adult Dining Deficit Disorder, but there are plenty of options out there when the reward is down to five miles per dollar spent.

Stepping out on a limb, I'm gonna try to answer the OP's question:

...what's up for 4th quarter....


Nothing.

"Open the floodgates. You're in line for a huge influx of bonus Rapid Rewards credits with the Accelerate Your Credits Bonus.
Once you register and spend $50 dining (all at once or over multiple dines), you'll start earning a bonus quarter (0.25) credit for every subsequent $50 you spend for the rest of the year. That's in addition to the quarter credit you normally earn for every $100 you spend.
That means every $100 will get you three times the quarter credits as normal. Your earnings will take off like a shot."

Well, it's something...

So I take it if AAdvantage miles are the goal, the pickings will be slim this Q4?

So I take it if AAdvantage miles are the goal, the pickings will be slim this Q4?
Of course (well, for Q4 so far anyway). In case you are new to this or haven't been following the promos overall for a while:

1. Not all airlines have promos at the same time in most cases. The Mon..Wed promo was the exception to that, but over the years it's been more typical for one airline to have a promo one month, a different airline to have a promo the next month. (I'm well aware of this as, even though AA is my primary, I collect secondarily with several other airlines, and keeping jumping which ones I dine for based on which ones have the promos.)

2. After a particular airline has a big promo like this 500 mile one, the tend to take a rest. This has happened time and again, and there's no reason I see to expect another big AA promo very soon after this last 500 mile one.

This thread was started about the lack of 4th quarter promos with any airline, not about the lack of 4th quarter promos specifically at AA. The main point was that since most other airlines were quiet during September, why didn't one of the others step up with a good promo when AA's promo ended?

Five miles per $ actually has simplified my life: in response to a request for a lunch meeting I replied, “Just name the place and I will be there.” In response to my wife’s request for a restaurant in a city she doesn't know, I sent her off to Yelp.

In response to my wife’s request for a restaurant in a city she doesn't know, I sent her off to Yelp.
Of course, a number of people consider the reviews/ratings on Yelp to be even more biased (or otherwise inaccurate) than the ones on RN.

I tend to go off to TripAdvisor, though it doesn't list every restaurant.

"Open the floodgates. You're in line for a huge influx of bonus Rapid Rewards credits with the Accelerate Your Credits Bonus.
Once you register and spend $50 dining (all at once or over multiple dines), you'll start earning a bonus quarter (0.25) credit for every subsequent $50 you spend for the rest of the year. That's in addition to the quarter credit you normally earn for every $100 you spend.
That means every $100 will get you three times the quarter credits as normal. Your earnings will take off like a shot."
Where did you see this? Do you have a link? Or does this appear on your Bonuses tab?

I only just registered for Rapid Rewards Dining this morning, so obviously don't have any dines showing yet, and at this point all that's under my Bonuses tab is the New Member Bonus. (That's all I found on the Southwest site too.)

And if I google "Accelerate Your Credits" all I find is this very thread! :)

Five miles per $ actually has simplified my life: in response to a request for a lunch meeting I replied, “Just name the place and I will be there.” In response to my wife’s request for a restaurant in a city she doesn't know, I sent her off to Yelp.

My friends and customers now appreciate that I no longer invite them for lunch 10 miles away from their office. :D

Of course (well, for Q4 so far anyway). In case you are new to this or haven't been following the promos overall for a while:

1. Not all airlines have promos at the same time in most cases. The Mon..Wed promo was the exception to that, but over the years it's been more typical for one airline to have a promo one month, a different airline to have a promo the next month. (I'm well aware of this as, even though AA is my primary, I collect secondarily with several other airlines, and keeping jumping which ones I dine for based on which ones have the promos.)

2. After a particular airline has a big promo like this 500 mile one, the tend to take a rest. This has happened time and again, and there's no reason I see to expect another big AA promo very soon after this last 500 mile one.

This thread was started about the lack of 4th quarter promos with any airline, not about the lack of 4th quarter promos specifically at AA. The main point was that since most other airlines were quiet during September, why didn't one of the others step up with a good promo when AA's promo ended?

Thanks for the clarification. I've been on the iDine wagon for a long time, but never ventured outside AA and didn't realize there was a pattern to the promos.

Where did you see this? Do you have a link? Or does this appear on your Bonuses tab?

I only just registered for Rapid Rewards Dining this morning, so obviously don't have any dines showing yet, and at this point all that's under my Bonuses tab is the New Member Bonus. (That's all I found on the Southwest site too.)

And if I google "Accelerate Your Credits" all I find is this very thread! :)

I got an email announcing it on 10/27 and it appeared in my Bonuses tab. Now that I look at the fine print on the promotion, it appears that it is targeted.

"* This bonus offer is by invitation only for existing Rapid Rewards Dining Members that have been specially selected to receive this offer. To qualify, you must register for the "Accelerate Your Credits" Bonus through the links on this page and remain opted in to receive emails from Rapid Rewards Dining with a valid, deliverable email address. You must continue to satisfy Online Member level criteria to earn this bonus."

I'm wondering if RN sees a drop in their revenue as a result of our using their restaurants less during these 'down' periods. During the no bonus periods, when dining alone or with one other person, I don't go out of my way to dine at an RN restaurant. However if I am with a larger group, I'll still try to use an RN restaurant. A couple of hundred dollars X 5 miles still adds up to something.

I'm wondering if RN sees a drop in their revenue as a result of our using their restaurants less during these 'down' periods.
Of course they see a drop in revenue. But that's not the right quesiton: The question is whether drop in revenue they see is bigger than the drop in the cost of issuing bonus miles.

Obviously, there had to be a cost reason to them cancelling the Mon/Tue/Wed bonus suddenly in August after previously announcing it had been extended to the end of the year. So I presume in that case, at a lower participation, their costs of the promo outweighed the increase in business from the promo.

Keep in mind that some certain percentage of RN's revenue comes from diners who "accidentally" earn with RN; ie, ones who would go to that restaurant anyway, but use a card registered with RN and so they earn whatever they're going to earn. If they are the almost the only ones participating in a bonus, the bonus costs a lot, because it gives out a lot of extra miles without bringing in new or extra business.

The whole point of promotions is to drum up new or extra business, and if they fail to acheive much of that, and most just reward existing business, then they may not be worth continuing (from the promo issuers' perspective).

So perhaps, due to the down economy or whatever, the promos have not been bringing in enough new/extra business for RN to be worth doing as many of them as perviously.

(And they have to take the time to digest the last AA bonus. It obviously had a new wrinkle they're testing, because it only worked for dines at restaurants you haven't dined at in at least a few years. So maybe if that was successful we'll see more promos in the future structured so that they don't work for "repeat" dine locations as "new" dine locations. But they need some to time to figure that out, since that promo ended just over a month ago. And among the things they need to figure out: Did that promo help new-to-you resturants in the long run, and did it increase RNs revenue or simply shift it from your "regular" restaurants to new-to-you restaurants?)

Well I am a diver and one thing I enjoy very much is diving with sharks; perhaps I learned by RN behaviors from them, because my dining patterns relate to RNs bonus patterns - this is called opportunistic predation. ;)

....(And they have to take the time to digest the last AA bonus. It obviously had a new wrinkle they're testing, because it only worked for dines at restaurants you haven't dined at in at least a few years. So maybe if that was successful we'll see more promos in the future structured so that they don't work for "repeat" dine locations as "new" dine locations. But they need some to time to figure that out, since that promo ended just over a month ago. And among the things they need to figure out: Did that promo help new-to-you resturants in the long run, and did it increase RNs revenue or simply shift it from your "regular" restaurants to new-to-you restaurants?)

I am almost afraid to try some new places in my area as I don't want to salt the fields.

I am going to a place this weekend that just joined the program in the Bay Area. Particularly in my area, I feel like there's few restaurants that I care for.

I certainly wish they would have at least one promotion to offer. It was odd to see All Double extended, and then removed almost immediately afterwards. They must have had a huge marketing blunder with that one. That promo definitely had me going because it literally helped me become a Million Miler.

5 miles per dollar is just not enough motivation to go to these restaurants as it was when there was even a small promo. Granted, NYC has better choices with the program than SF (imho), but if any rep from RN is listening-please start a promo to motivate me to dine again ;)

a few new places around town to try.

Worse, they have the chutzpah to send e-mails for the few dines asking for my review information like they expect it from me ("You're not done yet - aren't you forgetting something?" or the like.) Hah, you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours...

Worse, they have the chutzpah to send e-mails for the few dines asking for my review information like they expect it from me ("You're not done yet - aren't you forgetting something?" or the like.) Hah, you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours...

I know! And what stinks is that we have to remain on the email list to get the extra miles per dollar. I do find that they are sending less emails lately, (probably because my dining has gone way down since the new restaurant bonus / double miles ended), but every week or so it's "Hey, look, there's still restaurants in your area!" lol

I know! And what stinks is that we have to remain on the email list to get the extra miles per dollar. I do find that they are sending less emails lately, (probably because my dining has gone way down since the new restaurant bonus / double miles ended), but every week or so it's "Hey, look, there's still restaurants in your area!" lol

as the list in my area has been shrinking...

Still have 82 restaurants within driving distance from home. (Not all of them are worth visiting, needless to say.)

"Open the floodgates. You're in line for a huge influx of bonus Rapid Rewards credits with the Accelerate Your Credits Bonus.
Once you register and spend $50 dining (all at once or over multiple dines), you'll start earning a bonus quarter (0.25) credit for every subsequent $50 you spend for the rest of the year. That's in addition to the quarter credit you normally earn for every $100 you spend.
That means every $100 will get you three times the quarter credits as normal. Your earnings will take off like a shot."

Well, it's something...

I just got an email today announcing that this promotion was extended through 1/31/11.

but every week or so it's "Hey, look, there's still restaurants in your area!" lol

I'm amazed that I still get these emails even tho there now aren't any restaurants in my area still in the program. In the last few years there were around 12 -15 (not all at the same time) - closest one now is over an hour away ....:confused:

I'm amazed that I still get these emails even tho there now aren't any restaurants in my area still in the program. In the last few years there were around 12 -15 (not all at the same time) - closest one now is over an hour away ....:confused:

That's technically still your area. :p

I noticed that I tend to get more email from them the more I dine out. Since I haven't been doing it too much lately, I get one or two a month.

Still, it's designed to get me to go out and dine. I'll be glad to, as soon as I see a promo!

Just posted a new thread here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/idine-rewards-network/1168220-new-ual-mileage-plus-dining-twice-nice-bonus.html with details about the new UAL Mileage Plus double miles bonus offering.

Just in time 4 my new 50k mile UA CC. I wonder who told them!