Guys,

I too share some of the frustrations mentioned on this board, but.... it's just so easy to get hundreds or thousands of miles for doing nothing special! Just got 800 miles for an $80 lunch, 1100 miles for a dinner, etc. It's for what you have to do on trips - eat! Entertain! It frequently exceeds my mileage for the trip from butt in seat miles. I know this whole forum would be abuzz if we saw something like "now earn double booking miles for booking on aa.com" or such, well, this to me is just that. Gotta eat & sleep!

On a less positive note, i think aadvantage dining needs to upgrade the calibre of restaurants, or at least some way to sort out "bars" vs more upscale restaurants. I generally try to avoid eating where pool fights might break out.

We have two local participants in Seattle that are primarily bars, though both serve food: one is a country/western themed gay bar (Timberline Spirits) and the other [appears to be] a yuppie-ish Irish pub place (Patty Coyne's). The former is a once-a-month joint that does not take AMEX cards; I have not yet been to the latter as it is a newer addition. They are only a couple of blocks apart though.
As for scoring miles: a $100 gift cert at a place that only gives miles on Sun/Mon would currently yield DL 2200 miles: 100 (purchase) + 100 (double miles on DL AMEX this month) + 1000 (iDine elite) + 1000 (as 100/150 minimum for 1500 mile bonus).

Certainly, some are more fortunate than others to what city they live in and the number of participants. I suffer the same as Points Scrounger my city, although the capitol, is piss-poor and only has about 3 dining spots which all are basically totally across town. I yearn to gain these easy points and try on out of town trips but it's tough to scavage to find the locations.

I did not mean to imply that those are the only two iDines in town. But, the pickings are not great for a fairly large city. Several do not not take AMEX, and there are a few that have 1-visit-per-month and/or blackouts. In looking for where to get gift certs, there are only a couple of choices.

I agree that iDine is great if you have restaurants on the list that you actually like and would visit anyway even if they weren't iDine. I have 2 or 3 in Kansas City that are like that: I was going there long before they were iDine, willing to pay the regular menu prices, so to me it really is like a 20% price reduction on everything I order. (They are 20% on iDine prime, unlimited visits, no stupid blackout dates.)

I've used iDine to try new places that I wouldn't have otherwise tried. In those cases, if they later leave iDine or are no longer unlimited visit 20% restaurants, I simply have to decide if that price increase is worth it. If they leave the program, that's a 25% increase in my bill. Sometimes I return and pay the higher prices, sometimes I don't.

My only frustration with the program is the blackout dates. They should either set it up so a restaurant is IN or OUT. Keep the program simple.

All of the actions iDine has taken lately are bad for the end user (particularly on the miles-earning side of things), which makes me think that overall this company might be struggling to stay afloat.

I agree with the number and locations of some of the restaurants in the idine/rewards network (or whatever it is called today - it may be different tomorrow).

As an example, a couple of years ago in the southern RI area, there were (I think) about 10 locations. Of these 10, a total of 3 were in the same strip mall! The doors for all 3 were within 200 feet of each other (from the first door to the last one)!

BTW - In the time since, 1 has dropped out, leaving "only" 2 in the parking lot. And those 2 are located next to each other!

Another example is that of these 10, there are 2 that are in the same building. The restaurants are run seperately, so it's listed as 2 locations. When you enter the building, the (same) hostess asked you do you want to dine at (#1) or (#2) tonight. (One's on the left side of the lobby, and the other is on the right side of the lobby. Each has their own menus.)

Yes, the miles offered were lowered. But being "elite" most of the 10 milers still give 10 miles/$ (5+5). In fact, some are even better. A 7.5 miler that I go to became a 10 miler! (It lowered to a 5 miler, but with the "elite bonus", I now get 10 miles/$!)

There were a pair of participants in Grand Central Station food court. They shared counter space, and I believe they shared one transaction terminal though were listed separately. I never had to follow up on the once a month thing though. Had enough trouble with the Mexican place there that was in and out like a Hokey Pokey dancer.

In St Louis, try The Crossing or Cafe de France for good, upscale dining.

Due to the 250 mile per dine bonus, we have tried several "new" iDine restaurants in STL recently. Thunbs up to Felix's (in Dogtown) and Rizzo's South, we are neutral on Frailey's, and probably wouldn't go to Pat's (also Dogtown) again.

Old repeat favorites include Corwin's and Momo's.

The restaurants in San Antonio began dwindling about the same time all the talk about lowered earning started. I think we got down to about 62. I am pleased that now we are up to 80.

I am seriously and "creatively working" the new promos! I am having to "force" my husband to drive more than 10 minutes to try new places.

Even though the idineries that were within walking distance from my Long Beach, CA office have reduced from 10 to 3 (and only two are open for lunch), I appreciate that the (relatively pain free) points I have earned lifetime are more than enough to pay for 4 tickets I just obtained to Tahiti/Australia. Therefore, the idine glass is way more than half full. Moreover, the trend of disappearing restaurants seems to be reversing in my area, with a couple of good ones just coming on line in the last two weeks.

I wish there was a way to get restaurants interested in the program, or get Idine interested in signing them up.

Try Berkshire Grill on the Rock Rd in Bridgeton for nice euro style bistro dining. For non STL'sans, that's a short cab ride from the airport! For everyday food, can't beat Supersmokers or Cecil Whittakers! But I'll check out these ones you listed. And we haven't eaten there in years, but Portofino's or Agostino's are top notch N. Italian in W. County. Also ate at an classic Hill restaurant that is warm & cozy: Del Pietro's.

Yet, when I casually mention to friends who eat out and/or entertain a lot to check out the idine gravy train, I get the blank look of indifference, so I have stopped touting the program.

I agree, but I must be not dining out enough. I only earned 75,000 miles in the last couple of years!

Agreed. I funnel as much of my dines as possible through idine for an average of ~14-18K miles/month from idine alone. I've taken an even more aggresive approach now that the AA 250 mile promo is on until 10/31. I'm going to make a killing...
And these are dines I need to do anyways...