Airline Dining Programs - What's the Problem?
Jul 20, 1999 | 12:34 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 1999
Posts: 422
Airline Dining Programs - What's the Problem?
July Inside Flyer has a piece on DINING DILEMNAS DIAGNOSED, regarding the above.
My recent experience with NWA/DELTA only is:
Since 1/99 both have changed to the Dining ala Card program. http://dalc.com
Used NWA for visits 1/99, 2/99, 3/99 & 4/99 & all visits were posted correctly by the end of the next month.
Used DELTA for visits 5/99 & 6/99 and all visits were correctly posted. In fact, visits on 6/30/99 were posted to Delta acct on 7/13/99. I expect 7/99 visits will be posted by 8/99.
The only problems are:
1-The 800# call in service is a little slow to respond.
2-Both the NWA & DELTA promo stuff promises at least 3 written directories/year if you use the program. I've used the program & have called about the directories & have never received any. HOWEVER, you don't need the directory since the listings @dalc noted above have been 100% accurate.
In summary I like the NWA & DELTA programs. Why all the kvetching?
My recent experience with NWA/DELTA only is:
Since 1/99 both have changed to the Dining ala Card program. http://dalc.com
Used NWA for visits 1/99, 2/99, 3/99 & 4/99 & all visits were posted correctly by the end of the next month.
Used DELTA for visits 5/99 & 6/99 and all visits were correctly posted. In fact, visits on 6/30/99 were posted to Delta acct on 7/13/99. I expect 7/99 visits will be posted by 8/99.
The only problems are:
1-The 800# call in service is a little slow to respond.
2-Both the NWA & DELTA promo stuff promises at least 3 written directories/year if you use the program. I've used the program & have called about the directories & have never received any. HOWEVER, you don't need the directory since the listings @dalc noted above have been 100% accurate.
In summary I like the NWA & DELTA programs. Why all the kvetching?
Jul 20, 1999 | 1:30 pm
#2
Original Member and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Programs: DL PM/MM, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia, National ECE, Hertz PC
Posts: 16,619
I have received a directory for the DL program, and according to the directory they mail you a knew directory each quarter if you had activity in the previous quarter in the program.
Jul 20, 1999 | 3:04 pm
#6
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CH-3823 Wengen Switzerland
Programs: miles&more, MileagePlus
Posts: 27,043
I am glad some of you can profit from these dining programs. I "stand" under the (hopefully wrong) impression that those guides of Restaurants giving miles is a good guide for "where not to go". I hope I am wrong with that prejudgement.
Jul 20, 1999 | 3:53 pm
#7
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: The shape-shifting urban sprawl that is El Lay. FT member #71.
Programs: UA Gold & MM; DL & AA credit card dirt status; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Fool's Gold
Posts: 4,837
I checked my United Summer dining guide. There are 17 restaurants within a ten mile radius of my house. Only five I would go to without the prompting of the miles, and three of these are fast food.
The one I go to most often, is also on the Transmedia discount card. When confronted with ten miles per dollar spent or a 20% discount on the meal, the $$ wins over every time.
[This message has been edited by Craig6z (edited 07-20-1999).]
The one I go to most often, is also on the Transmedia discount card. When confronted with ten miles per dollar spent or a 20% discount on the meal, the $$ wins over every time.
[This message has been edited by Craig6z (edited 07-20-1999).]
Jul 20, 1999 | 7:13 pm
#9
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: New York
Posts: 2,115
I've been using Continental's Dining program for about 6 months with no problems. It's also run be DALC. Some of the postings take a while. As for the restaurants, some of them are top notch. Tennessee Mountain in NY and Tommy Tang's in LA are 2 excellent places that are in the program.
Jul 20, 1999 | 8:17 pm
#10
Join Date: Jun 1999
Posts: 539
I had a pleasant surprise with UA's program recently. I was checking over my most recent "current" statement, which contained April 99 activity. There was a dining mileage credit on a date I didn't recognize. A check of my credit card statement revealed that it was for a restuarant in NYC that I had visited with a friend, completely without any knowledge that it was part of UA's dining program. A nice little unexpected bonus.
And the restaurant name (I'm not kidding):
"Serendipity".
p.s. It was great food as well. The absolute best vegie burger I've ever had. (As a vegetarian, I feel at least somewhat qualified to pass judgement on that.) And positively divine sundaes.
And the restaurant name (I'm not kidding):
"Serendipity".
p.s. It was great food as well. The absolute best vegie burger I've ever had. (As a vegetarian, I feel at least somewhat qualified to pass judgement on that.) And positively divine sundaes.
Jul 20, 1999 | 8:52 pm
#11
Join Date: May 1998
Posts: 3,069
I have also had no problems getting credit on AA or UA. Some of the restuarants are marginal, but some are quite nice. One of our favorite places to go in DC is Perry's in Adams Morgan, which participates in the DALC-run programs. Great Sushi and an excellent rooftop dining area.
Jul 20, 1999 | 9:26 pm
#12
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Programs: AA2MM
Posts: 1,754
I had been using AA's program in the past, but haven't used it recently. Then, about a month ago, I get a postcard from AA saying that if I didn't use the program by this Aug that my membership would end. Anyone else get this? With AA the membership is free, why would it end? Unless their thinking of charging for it in the future...
Jul 21, 1999 | 9:16 am
#14
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CH-3823 Wengen Switzerland
Programs: miles&more, MileagePlus
Posts: 27,043
All Mileage Plus members residing in the U.S. are invited to participate in the Mileage Plus Dining program at no charge. To join, please call 1-800-555-5116.
(from http://www.ual.com ,mileage plus, Dining program)
(from http://www.ual.com ,mileage plus, Dining program)
Jul 21, 1999 | 9:22 am
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: May 1999
Posts: 46,817
burkey- They are trying to reduce their administrative costs and possibly scare you as well! If you're active on AA anyway, I don't know why they would bother. Similarly, if DALC is doing the work, I sure don't know why they'd care.
By the way, if you folks like this kinds of things/programs, you can also sign up for IGT (In Good Taste, Florida; 1-800-4-IGT-USA) and Transmedia (Transmedia Network, Florida 1-800-422-5090). They offer rebates for 25% or 20%, respectively. No references thanks!
By the way, if you folks like this kinds of things/programs, you can also sign up for IGT (In Good Taste, Florida; 1-800-4-IGT-USA) and Transmedia (Transmedia Network, Florida 1-800-422-5090). They offer rebates for 25% or 20%, respectively. No references thanks!
