Is AAdvantage Dining completely worthless?
#16
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: California, USA
Programs: traveltostlucia.com
Posts: 2
Delta Skymiles Dining Bonus worked great!
I recently singed up for the Delta Skymiles dining program on 1/30/11. Completed two dines and received my 1100 miles bonus on 2/20/11. So I received my bonus miles in less than a month. Not bad!
#17
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Don't forget some airline programs have a double dine program giving 10 miles per dine for up to five dines by the end of March. And, yes, the miles seem to post more rapidly now, though the bonuses like the double miles often require more steps (in this case, rating the dine within 30 days of dining) and may be "swept" periodically, such as monthly and when the offer ends.
If one needs to build status, break the bill down (e.g. a drink prior to dining in the bar, on the credit card; the meal on the credit card, and oh, wait, I forgot I wanted dessert and a coffee, let's run it on the credit card!) If one were worried about this strategy, which has been reported as working several times in this forum, merely use different registered credit cards. You will be up to eleven spends in no time at all.
If one needs to build status, break the bill down (e.g. a drink prior to dining in the bar, on the credit card; the meal on the credit card, and oh, wait, I forgot I wanted dessert and a coffee, let's run it on the credit card!) If one were worried about this strategy, which has been reported as working several times in this forum, merely use different registered credit cards. You will be up to eleven spends in no time at all.
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,932
But the bigger point is, if you need to dine every week, you can do both, so if you collect with that other airline, why not do that one until the middle of March and then switch to AA for only your last 5 bigger dines in March.
#19
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,550
Long ago, I was very active in the base iDine program - it was at one time quite rewarding.
Now I'm passively involved in AA dining...that is, I have all of my CC's linked to it until I need to peel one off for one of the other dining programs to tweak some expiring miles.
The program has been so thoroughly gutted over the years that I don't really bother looking at the restaurants. But I know 2-3 local joints that are longtime participants so why not accept a few (effectively) free miles when I go there?
Anytime I've gone out of my way to eat at a new iDine restaurant, I've been disappointed. Many of them are total stinkers - that's why they need iDine.
Frankly, I'm surprised iDine still exists...I figured it was on the brink of bankruptcy when they began gutting all of their programs.
Now I'm passively involved in AA dining...that is, I have all of my CC's linked to it until I need to peel one off for one of the other dining programs to tweak some expiring miles.
The program has been so thoroughly gutted over the years that I don't really bother looking at the restaurants. But I know 2-3 local joints that are longtime participants so why not accept a few (effectively) free miles when I go there?
Anytime I've gone out of my way to eat at a new iDine restaurant, I've been disappointed. Many of them are total stinkers - that's why they need iDine.
Frankly, I'm surprised iDine still exists...I figured it was on the brink of bankruptcy when they began gutting all of their programs.
#20
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
We still use RN / iDine opportunistically. E.g. I did sign up for the "double" bonus for AAdvantage and did five dines (selected higher price restaurants for these) and the two first "double" bonus miles have posted to my AA account. (Remember, the dines have to be rated first.)
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
If one needs to build status, break the bill down (e.g. a drink prior to dining in the bar, on the credit card; the meal on the credit card, and oh, wait, I forgot I wanted dessert and a coffee, let's run it on the credit card!) If one were worried about this strategy, which has been reported as working several times in this forum, merely use different registered credit cards. You will be up to eleven spends in no time at all.
#22
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Great idea! And, yes, a few places try to establish "minimums" for credit card charges, an ongoing problem.
I've found staff very understanding about a request for "alcohol as a separate charge please"; they infer that you're only going to "expense" the food, and cover the booze out-of-pocket. I have run into a couple of instances where the bartender (server) balked at charging a single beer at RN joints.
#23
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA EXP; HH Diamond
Posts: 191
They are pretty flaky about which restaurants are on the program and when.
I was denied points for several occasions on the reason "the restaurant was not on/has stop participating the program", which I am sure is wrong since I went to the restaurants minutes after I checked their online listing.
I guess that you have to save a screenshot to prove that the restaurant IS on the list when you go there.
I was denied points for several occasions on the reason "the restaurant was not on/has stop participating the program", which I am sure is wrong since I went to the restaurants minutes after I checked their online listing.
I guess that you have to save a screenshot to prove that the restaurant IS on the list when you go there.
#24
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: SoCal; DO-RAGS: Old Gold tagged, PIP, LatPass 1/2, AA 4MM, HH LT Diamond, Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, Omni
Posts: 9,180
Unless you were using an Amex for a M/C & Visa only eatery, your experience defies explanation, and is not the norm and I hope that your luck changes.
#25
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA EXP; HH Diamond
Posts: 191
At best it is that they have a computer glitch that works in their favor. At worst it is they do it on purpose.
I'd suggest everybody pay more attention to those restaurants with "leaving soon" remarks. For myself, from now on I won't bother to visit those "leaving soon" ones - not worth the headache dealing with rewardsnetwork.
I am still fighting for the ~750 miles that I should get from one visit to a particular restaurant.....
I'd suggest everybody pay more attention to those restaurants with "leaving soon" remarks. For myself, from now on I won't bother to visit those "leaving soon" ones - not worth the headache dealing with rewardsnetwork.
I am still fighting for the ~750 miles that I should get from one visit to a particular restaurant.....
Sorry to hear about your frustration, SanAngeles. My experience from 2010 above has continued to hold up, and on the few occasions that there has been a problem...typically it has been the restaurant not running the credit card correctly because they are soon leaving R.N....I have never had an issue getting credit by either emailing a screen shot of my credit card statement or by faxing the same.
Unless you were using an Amex for a M/C & Visa only eatery, your experience defies explanation, and is not the norm and I hope that your luck changes.
Unless you were using an Amex for a M/C & Visa only eatery, your experience defies explanation, and is not the norm and I hope that your luck changes.
#26
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 208
I would always check the listing before I use a restaurant for Aadvantage dining purposes. Several of my favorite restaurants seemed to have disappeared off the list without any "leaving soon" warning. Otherwise I do find the miles usually post in a timely manner and the one time they didn't a quick email straightened it out. But I haven't used it much this year, in fact, trying to get in 6 "dines" before the end of the year so as not to lose my higher credit.
So may have to stop by some places just for a good cup of hot chocolate!
So may have to stop by some places just for a good cup of hot chocolate!
#27
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Now that dining miles won't count towards Million Miler status, I think it's become more worthless for me. It's harder and harder to find restaurants in areas I travel to and the 200-250 miles I earn don't really help much with my balance. I used to say "they add up! You'll be a 1 MM in no time!" but I don't even have that anymore
#28
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,108
Can anyone direct me to a list of cities and restaurants that are eligible for AAdvantage Dining Rewards?
I only see the following on their website:
Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, St. Louis, Washington DC
Are these the only cities with participating restaurants? Are there any international destinations?
Thanks!
I only see the following on their website:
Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, St. Louis, Washington DC
Are these the only cities with participating restaurants? Are there any international destinations?
Thanks!
#29
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: PBI / JFK, ISP, LGA
Programs: AA, AS, AV, B6, DL, F9, WN
Posts: 866
Can anyone direct me to a list of cities and restaurants that are eligible for AAdvantage Dining Rewards?
I only see the following on their website:
Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, St. Louis, Washington DC
Are these the only cities with participating restaurants? Are there any international destinations?
Thanks!
I only see the following on their website:
Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, St. Louis, Washington DC
Are these the only cities with participating restaurants? Are there any international destinations?
Thanks!
I believe one can only earn miles for dining through Rewards Network in the U.S. As far as I know, Canada used to have a few places but that ended a few years ago.
#30
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 18
AAdvantage not giving credit seems to be part of the system
I registered for the AAdvantage Dining program almost two months ago, and promptly dined at one of the NYC participating restaurants the next day to attempt to get the 1000 bonus points.
Waited for about a week and still didn't see any updates to my account. Contacted [email protected] and didn't hear back until 6(!) days later. The customer rep requested a bunch of information and then told me:
"Our records indicate that the transaction(s) in question did not capture to your account. Although the program is automated, occasionally we may not catch a particular restaurant visit due to technical difficulties."
So I emailed [email protected] (as directed) a copy of my credit card statement according to the instructions. This was on 12/11. I sent a follow up email on 12/16 after getting no response. As of today, I still have not gotten any response.
What I'm wondering now is, is this a fluke or should I just write off this dining program and not waste any more effort or money dining at the participating restaurants, which consist of a bunch of mediocre restaurants that I would normally never go to if it weren't for this program.
Incidentally, I also registered for the UA dining program, which seems to be run by the same company on the back end. I am not optimistic about that program either given what I have seen so far.
Any comments or recommendations on how to at least get my 1000 bonus points? I don't think I've encountered customer service this poor recently. Usually they just say no, instead of completely ignoring me
Thanks
Waited for about a week and still didn't see any updates to my account. Contacted [email protected] and didn't hear back until 6(!) days later. The customer rep requested a bunch of information and then told me:
"Our records indicate that the transaction(s) in question did not capture to your account. Although the program is automated, occasionally we may not catch a particular restaurant visit due to technical difficulties."
So I emailed [email protected] (as directed) a copy of my credit card statement according to the instructions. This was on 12/11. I sent a follow up email on 12/16 after getting no response. As of today, I still have not gotten any response.
What I'm wondering now is, is this a fluke or should I just write off this dining program and not waste any more effort or money dining at the participating restaurants, which consist of a bunch of mediocre restaurants that I would normally never go to if it weren't for this program.
Incidentally, I also registered for the UA dining program, which seems to be run by the same company on the back end. I am not optimistic about that program either given what I have seen so far.
Any comments or recommendations on how to at least get my 1000 bonus points? I don't think I've encountered customer service this poor recently. Usually they just say no, instead of completely ignoring me
Thanks