MilesBuzz! - idine - unlimited award visits

I am not sure if this is the correct forum nor if it has been posted before, but I just got off the phone with a lady at Idine. She said that when you create/use the online profile for idine (any airline) that the one visit per month limit is removed. She said that tradeoff is that I would no longer receive anything in the mail from them (which I prefer).

The only quirk is that you each idine partner accounts must have a unique username.

Thier phone number is 18008188339.

Great catch, but is this just for Prime members? From idine's FAQs: (http://www.idine.com/information/member_support/faqs.jhtml#rewardlimit)
Q. Is there a limit on the amount of rewards I can earn at participating restaurants?
A. iDine members will earn dining rewards on the first visit each month at most participating restaurants, up to $600. iDine Prime members will earn rewards on an unlimited number of visits each month at most participating restaurants, on the first $600 spent at each restaurant each month. To learn whether a specific restaurant has a limit on spending or the number of visits, check the "iDine Guidelines for this Restaurant" area on its restaurant information page (access a restaurant's information page from the Search Results page). If there are no limitations on spending, this area will read "No limit on spending or visits".

You may be able to get multiple visits by registering different cards with different airline affiliations.

She is wrong on several counts. I have created and use the online profile.

I still get mail from them, still get books from them, etc.

I only get one visit per month per account per restaurant.

I too noted the change from one visit/month to visits up to $600/mo. I spoke to idine and it clearly is a welcome dramatic change. My check of Las Vegas idine places suggests that about 1/2 or more of the entries allow multiple monthly visits - on the same credit card. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

I, too, called iDine recently over this, as I was confused by the "unlimited visits" on the one screen and some that said "1 visit per month" under the specific restaurant details. The rep explained that "unlimited visits" on the main listings means that the restaurant has no blackouts (weekends, the bizzare "reservations required", etc.) so that there is no restriction on when the client may appear on the premeses.
There are still a few that do actually have the one-visit-per-month policy. Do not assume unlimited visits without checking onmline first!
As a quick guess I'd say those are either ones the depend significantly on bar tabs and don't want regulars buying rounds at happy hour for miles, or a few new places that are just plain afraid to give unlimited benefits for fear that they'll get swamped with iDiners.

When only the first visit counted, I was fortunate to have a glitch in the system whereas multiple visits got miles. When transmedia and Idine merged, I was told it was going to be this way, but then they said no. Maybe they have had this in the back of their minds for a long time. My daughter's account still came up as first visit, and mine and my husband's came up unlimited visits. I didn't believe it at first, but then my husband ate at a restaurant a second time in the month so I started paying only with the credit cards associated with aa. NOw all our accounts say unlimited visits up to $600 with a few restaurants having first visit only so this is definitely a change. Very welcomed.

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Ms.DtG

Well,

I followed dgordon's advice and low and behold, it is true. On all awards that are not restricted to certain days of the week, the information now reads,

"Dining rewards available on unlimited dining visits to this restaurant each month."

example:
Old Crow, The
Pub Fare
TX, Dallas & Area
Dallas Lower Greenville, East Dallas
1911 Greenville Ave
Dallas, TX 75206
(214) 828-2769


The Old Crow, one of lowest Greenville's oldest bars, is popular with the college crowd. In fact, between the college kids and the locals, you may not find any standing room, never mind find a seat in these casual surroundings. The Old Crow features an eclectic venue for live music, which ranges from country and western to dance music to rock 'n roll. The menu features American-style fare.

Credit Cards: American Express - Discover - MasterCard - Visa

Dining Guidelines for This Restaurant: Unlimited visits, Benefit awarded up to the maximum spending of $600 per month.

I have a question about idine...if I already have my mastercard assigned to upromise for restaurant cash back, that means I can't sign up for idine right?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Prncs:
I have a question about idine...if I already have my mastercard assigned to upromise for restaurant cash back, that means I can't sign up for idine right?</font>

You are correct, you can't also sign up the MC for iDine - but you can sign up a different card.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Chetney:
You are correct, you can't also sign up the MC for iDine - but you can sign up a different card.</font>

I'm not so sure about that. I've had my Discover & Mastercard both registered with iDine for a couple years. About 10 months ago I also registered them both on Upromise. I've had something like $60 post to Upromise, and continue to get iDine benefits without a hitch.

These are two different companies, so I don't see why you can't reap both rewards...

There are several places I get miles for each visit regardless of how many time I go per month. This was prior to me setting up my online account, and has not changed since.

I still get the book posted to me.

Some places I only get once per month as well.

Anyone expect the 500 AA Elite bonus for dining three times in one month to post if you go to just one unlimited award restaurant three times instead of three separate restaurants once each?

[Edited for my usual atrocious spelling]

[This message has been edited by Biblioman (edited 04-20-2003).]

I recently spoke with a customer rep. regarding this issue as well. Here was what she informed me: almost all of the restaurants allow unlimited visits if the iDine option is used. That is getting the 15% or 20% cash back on the bill, depending on which of the iDine cash back you are enrolled in. With regards to the miles, she stated that most are limited to just the first visit a month, although she did say to refer to the website for complete details.

Clearly that rep is NOT up to date. I called, and it was as of April 8 that Idine with miles went to unlimited with most visits, with those few limited to first only so stated. Still does not answer the question whether 3 visits to the same restaurant would count. I would go three times before going to another retaurant, go to two others, then see when your bonus appears. It is the date of your third visit. I do believe that 3 visits will count but I would do the above to be sure.

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Ms.DtG

I looked back at my February visits. My first 3 visits included two to the same restaurant and the 500 bonus miles used the date of the third visit , which was the second visit of the same restaurant. So, it looks like if you went to that same restaurant 3 times in a month you would get the bonus miles. The date used to post those bonus miles is always your third visit.

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Ms.DtG