Which Dining Program is best to join?
 

I'm planning to join a dining program, and trying to choose an airline to register it to. Is anyone aware of any current promotions for joining/first time use?
Here's what I could find online:
United nicely lists all the restaurants in the program so I could verify enrolling in this is actually going to be useful to me--but there's no special promo I could find.
American lists nothing on their site - just a phone number to enroll, and a promise (which I think has been there for a year or so) to update "locator maps" - BUT there is a promo of 500 bonus miles per month for dining at three different restaurants, through 2/2001.
So I guess the question is, are both programs run by the same organization - is the list of restaurants going to be the same for American? Then I would go for the promo. If you know any more or have any experience in the dining programs, please let me know. Thanks a lot.

Sasha: It sure looks to me that both programs are identical. I haven't done a thorough comparison, but in Denver anyway the restaurants are the same. So, I think you could do both programs by registering a different credit card with each. Have you heard of Trnsmedia's program? It works a little differently, but lets you apply your miles to CO, US or UA. Plus, you have TM bill a mileage card so you get 11 miles per $. Also, where did you see the info on the AA 500 mile promo?

(Posted also in the United thread)

Continental also has a dining program available.

800 555 5396 is the program's telephone number.

DL also has a program. DL and Transmedia participants are similar, but not identical (I got directories from both by mail yesterday). Transmedia's standard option is to get 20% (cash) off, which to me generally beats miles--except that one must use a special card. The airline programs tend to be linked directly to a credit card, which means that instead of a conscious decision the points can be a nice surprise.

Myleguy is probably right; I have heard that many of these programs are run by the same company.

All the dining programs are run by Dining A La Card, which has their own 20% off program, but for a fee. The dining programs are free and they are the same restaurants for UA, AA and DL. The Current AA promo is for elite members, that you get an additional 500 miles if you dine at 3 different restaurants. You can only dine at each restaurant once a month, so if you have several credit cards, and there are some restaurants you really like, then it is best to have a different airline program on a different card. AA is my primary program, and with the bonus I do that one the most, but I have other programs on other cards. What airline program NEEDS miles? That would be your choice for your other cards. Also you can change programs at any time, so if in 2 1/2 years, if there hasn't been activiity in a particular account, then you can attach a card to that program and extend your miles for another 3 years.(Because my husband has just become elite as well, I've begun to ask for separate checks when we eat out so we each can get the bonus.)

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DtG

[This message has been edited by dgordon (edited 04-25-2000).]

Actually, the restaurants aren't all in all programs. I'm in UA and US - there are some restaurants that will grant miles for UA but not US, and visa versa. I found this out the hard way; I used my US-registered card at restaurants in the UA plan, but didn't get credit because they weren't also in the US plan.

The nice thing about UA is that the restaurants are listed on-line. I wish the other airlines would follow suit.

Also, be sure a particular restaurant is in the plan on the date you visit. In reality, the only way to be sure is to call the particular plan's 800 number. The printed directories are out of date as soon as they are printed. Another great reason to put the up-to-date listing on-line. In my case, a local restaurant seems to drop out and come back almost bi-weekly. Again, sad experience is the teacher (I lost 1000 points).

Still, with all its quirks, it's a great way to build up miles. I try to actively seek out restaurants in the plan.

DON'T forget with the Dining Ala Card airline mileage programs that they have the FAX BACK service. Whereby you can call a tollfree number 24 hours a day .. And simply punch in your fax number and be faxed the LATEST participating restraunts.. I have been VERY satifisfied with the Delta Skymiles Dining program... BTW.. Prompt posting of miles.. And reasonable selection of restraunt in major metropolitan areas...

Regards,

Mike

My AA, CO, and NW booklets all arrived this week. The format and restaurants are identical.

Dining a la card, which I believe was taken over by transmedia ( or took them over) last year handles the United and some of the other airlines programs. When Transmedia and DALC merged I put all the cards on the United program, didn't see any reason to pay an annual fee.

Besides the faxback, you can go to dalc.com (for dining a la card) and search for resturants by a bunch of methods, so if you are in a new town it's real easy to find ones that participate (though the book is getting smaller and smaller every time it comes out).

Thanks for your answers!
Some followup questions:
I checked out transmedia site (transmediacard.com) as well as dalc.com - can't find any info on actually getting miles with these programs, only cash back. (mileguy mentioned, "lets you apply your miles to CO, US or UA".) Either way, they're $49/yr, and I'll probably barely make that up by eating at the participating restaurants, while the airlines' mileage programs are free...
dgordon, you're right, I overlooked the fact that 500 miles bonus is only for elite members. (That info is under special offers in earning miles section of aa.com.)
I think the verdict is, register one card for one airline's program, and another card - for another.
If I register a mileage card (such as Compubank debit Visa) for an airline's dining program, I should get 11 miles per dollar, correct?
Thanks again.

Hey, thanks for the great tips! I've used SkyMilesDining for awhile now with DL, but have been frustrated for some time over the impossibility of listing restaurants on the web, depending rather on the fax and voicemail systems. Though somehwhat clunky, at least the http://www.dalc.com site does provide maps with the restaurant listings.

My main problem is that I always seem to end up in towns that have no restaurants that participate. Shoot, my entire home state of Virginia has very few to speak of.

Just received today in the mail my Delta Airlines Skymiles Dining program booklet.. Volume 2 for 2000 Valid through July 2000.. It's true.. It is thinner.. BE CAREFUL.... Be sure to double check via either VIA a phone call to Dining A Card customer service,faxback, or website WHETHER the restraunt you want miles from is STILL participating.. And to see ANY new additions...

Regards,

Mike

Often with such a paucity of restaurants to choose from, and with the shrinking lists of eligible establishments, it would seem like there is an opportunity for some competition.

There is a need for better programs in the market niche of dining and miles.

Sasha: Don't know why Transmedia's website doesn't mention their Frequent Flyer program. They've had it for years. The annual membership is $9.95 and I've had miles posted in each of the 3 programs I originally mentioned. Their toll-free # for customer service is 800-422-5090.

My experience has been, as long as a restaurant is listed in a book, even if they have dropped out of the program, they have honored it and added the miles. It doesn't happen automatically, you have to call and fax them a copy of your receipt or craedit card statement. Also, I've only done the free Transmedia card for 20% off. what is the mileage version of their card. Are details at their web-site. something I missed. I have found that AA. UA and DL are the same restaurants - DALC. In fact, if you call any programs phone number, you could change credit cards or airline programs.

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DtG