With the new world of IDine, there are a number of ways to "game" the system. First of all, since you already have "elite" status with Delta IDine, you should be aware of the Delta bonus that starts tomorrow.
Delta IDine Bonus for August and Sept.
Earn More Dining Miles from Delta
Between Aug. 1 and Sept. 31, Delta SkyMiles members can earn up to 3,000 bonus miles through SkyMiles Dining.
Earn 1,500 bonus miles by spending $150 or more on qualifying dines during August, and another 1,500 bonus miles by spending $150 during September, for a total of 3,000 during the promotion period.
Bonuses are in addition to normally earned miles-for-dining.
Registration is required. Offer valid only for SkyMiles Dining and Hotels members with online accounts at skymiles.rewardsnetwork.com.
Register at
https://skymiles.rewardsnetwork.com/...L09&src=DL09VU
Please note that you must register for the bonus before any charges count towards the bonus for August or September.
Now we get to the ways to "game" IDine.
1. Right now, all they require is 12 charges in a calendar year to qualify for elite status for 5 miles per dollar plus the 5 mile bonus. There are ways to get to the 12 charges more quickly. Many restaurants allow multiple charges during a month up to a total of $600.00. If you and your husband are going to have a drink before dinner, stop at the bar, order separately, and each of you pay for your drink separately utilizing your own charge card. Then, when you are seated for dinner, ask for separate checks if the restaurant will allow it. Thus, with dinner and drinks for the two of you, you can have four separate charges of the 12 needed to reach elite status.
2. Hunt for some cheap places to eat occasionally where you can accumulate small charges until you reach elite status. For example, there is a burger and custard stand near our home that currently is on IDine. My wife and I go there for a burger and each order separately and pay with a charge. Then, we go back for an ice cream cone for dessert. At $5 for the burger, fries and soda and $2 for the cone, we rack up 4 qualifying charges for about $14. There is another place where we can get breakfast (again with separate checks) for about $5 each.
3. Talk friends into going out to dinner with you who aren't into miles and points. Quite often, you will be able to get them to let you pay with your credit card and they will give you cash for their portion of the bill. This is great if you pay your credit card bill in full each month and don't pay interest charges. This will also work very well towards accumulating the $150 per month needed for the Delta bonus mentioned above. If you have an upscale restaurant in your area, you may be able to get close to (or exceed) the $150 total to qualify for the 1500 mile bonus with only one meal.
4. Remember, try to pay the small charges on programs that you don't have status on, and pay the big charges with the program where you have status to get the maximum number of miles.
5. Be careful to be sure the restaurant you are going to offers miles on the day you are going there. Some restaurants don't offer miles on Friday or Saturday, so if you are going there on one of those nights, stop in during the week before and buy a gift certificate, using your charge to pay for the certificate. This can change a non-qualifying Saturday meal into a qualifying purchase on Tuesday or Wednesday.
6. If you are at the end of the month and don't have enough charged to qualify for a bonus, buy a gift certificate this month for the difference and use it next month. Also, if you are going for a bonus similar to the one Midwest is offering in August and September (eight qualifying dines of at least $25 each) you can convert one $120 charge into four gift certificate charges of $30 each. One meal that would not qualify for the bonus is suddenly converted into a meal that earns 1000 bonus miles.
7. Finally, keep an eye on the forums for bonuses. Right now, there are bonus programs listed for Delta, Continental and Midwest Miles that I know of.
Good luck, and build up those miles. My wife and I have gotten over 70,000 combined miles in the last 4 years on American, British Airways, Delta, Northwest and United.