One problem with this new method is the fact that many people use different airlines - I may use iDine 12 times a year, but sometimes I may credit to UA or CO or NW or DL - which means that in their eyes, I only may go 3-4 times a year which limits my awards. :td: to iDine!

I suspect it's one per calendar month, though I have never been able to find an exact interpretation on the iDine web sites.

The only time I have used Idine is during the NW Fly Free Faster promos. I hope it will be possible to continue using Idine in future FFF programs. Dining out five times after qualifying has earned me 10,000 NW miles each time the program has been offered.

I wanted to say 'Thank You' for the posting here, also. I would not have seen the news otherwise until much later.

Whenever I travelled in the US, I almost always tried to compile a list of IDine restaurants (there were none here in Canada, I think there may be some recently though). It really did affect my restaurant choices. But probably not so much anymore.

Lol :)

To my question on:

I just read that as of July 1 2005, the rewards for those in your
airline miles programs will go down (from 10miles/$ to 5,3,1 depending
on member status). Do you know if there are plans for a similar
reduction (or increase in membership fee) for the cash rewards program?
Thanks.


Their reply was:

Thank you for writing Rewards Network!

The CashBack Savings program will not be changing its program like the
mileage program.

If you have any other questions or comments, please feel free to
contact
me.


Jeff

So much for joining.
 

Wow that sucks. I was just about to join up for this year. It's not worth eating at subpar restaurants for half the amount of miles.

dissapointing
 

I just saw this as well...

And i just moved near one of my favorite restaurants that also gives 20 miles/dollar, unlimited visits per month....

dissapointing.

Not joining is like leaving miles on the table--even if the program won't be as valuable come July.

Did you move to be closer to the restaurant and get more miles? :D We recently bought a new place that's being built right now and is next door to an idine place! But, we won't move until after July. :(

I agree. Even though I'm disappointed I'll be getting less miles/$ for my efforts, it's still easy miles. As long as I have clients to entertain, I'll keep using idine. ^

I think the question now (indirectly implied by others) is, "Do I stay in the mileage program, getting much less miles, but costing nothing, or should I move to the rewards program, where I pay the annual fee, but get on average 20% rebate?" If you are dining out that often at iDine restaurants, it's difficult to see how you wouldn't at least break even in rewards to cover the membership, with them all subsequent visits being money in your pocket.

Jeff

I guess it depends on how many idines you were doing. I do not have enough of them where I live that I eat at regularly. I will just take the miles without worrying about it. At these new earning rates, I will make no effort to seek out idine places.

Thanks to the one who posted this on FT, or I would have not known. Even the idine website did not make this news easy to find.

How do you credit different visits to different airlines? Do you register a different card for each airline? I have 3 cards registered, but they're all to AA. But, in all fairness, they are the company that sent me the promo, and they probably aren't going to highlight the fact that it can be used with their competitors...

iDine will tell you when you go to register a card in one program that it is, "already registered in another program...". However, even though they are all iDine programs, you still have to go to the specific affliate websites (ie. http://skymiles.everydaymiles.com/), unregister the card there, them go back to the desired program, and register it there.

Jeff