Agreed, I really have started to use Open Table a lot, but even though I'm a VIP I've never seen any additional benefits.

Another person chiming in to say I really like using this service, very handy.

VIP probably means opentable takes more money from the establishment....

Older thread, but might give you some inside what others experienced

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/dinin...opentable.html

Opentable makes $1 / booked reservation from restaurants regardless of customer status.

I have been an OpenTable VIP for three years running.
I have never receivied any specil offers.
I might(probably do) get better tables as a perk-which is great- but nothing else.
I usually end up with a check for $100 per year which I put towards a family event.

It was a very dry humor joke :D

As a solo traveller I'm finding the 1,000 point reservations on OpenTable are for two diners but does anyone actually check how many dine? Could I make a reservation for two at a 1,000 point times, show up and say the second person couldn't make it? Would I only be credited with 100 points or none at all?


Edit to add: just tried to make a reservation for two and the fine print says:

Upon dining, you will receive 1,000 Points. Please note that Bonus Points apply only to specific reservation times, and do not apply to all holidays or in conjunction with other offers or promotions. Two or more people must be seated, and each person must order a minimum of one entrée. If you change your reservation or arrive outside of the stated qualifying Bonus Point Reservations schedule, your reservation may no longer qualify for 1,000 Points.

I doubt restaurants universally enforce the "2 must dine" rule, though you have no recourse if they do. Worth a shot.

I use Toptable mainly and could care less about points earned, VIP status, or anything else. Just makes it so easy to make reservations that I don't care about any other ancillary benefits.

The reservation defaults to two people. When I was dining alone at 1000 point tables, I didn't bother to change it to one, and I never got busted, although they may have caught on by now.

Not sure if its targeted, but I occasionally get "double point" windows (200 point dining options instead of the regular 100; not eligible for 1000 point dines). I was also asked to be part of an Open Table focus group but declined. Perhaps everyone got these emails, and VIP is a whole lot of nothing...

IOS.7 has made Open Table even more user-friendly.

Agree - it is really easy to use.

I also am often a solo traveler/diner. I have made OT res. at times for 2 people not to get the 1000 points but because more than a few restaurants at peak times (and some all the time) will show no tables available for single diners while tables are available for couples (and larger). I usually include a note in the comments to the effect that it may be one or two people dining. Probably no more than twice in the last month at any restaurant was I seated at a table designed to seat only one person; the tables are usually the same tables they are using for couples.

And while I can understand that restaurants would prefer two people to a table instead of one, they should also prefer one person to an empty table. And if I have a list of restaurants to choose from when I put in one person, I will probably do so rather than seeking other restaurants that may have single dining blocked on OT.