Earlier this year we thought the dining program was stripped and our glory days of piling on the miles had evaporated. Then they threw in some bonuses plus kept the Elite Members at 10 miles per dining. I still have some dining miles due me (just made the 8 AA promotion dines for 3,000 miles). Here are my totals thus far:

AA
This year: 60,041 ^
Program total: 284,949

UA
This year: 526
Program total: 104,282

AA
You've earned 52,680 Miles this year by using Rewards Network
Program to date total Miles Earned: 86,496

YTD 36,420
Total 53,177

I still have 500 miles (AA elite bonus) that haven't posted from November, and I expect to do about 800 miles worth more of dining this year, and get the 3000 mile 8 dine bonus. I have two dines left to go. This will also score me a 500 pt bonus for December.

When I posted, I was pretty close to Paradocs (gotta LOVE that handle! Clever!)... but now to program date is >210,000. 101,277 miles YTD, with one Dine (New Year's Eve at my favorite restaurant, which amazingly enough is on iDine!) and some yet to post and the current (enning 31 Dec) bonus to post next year. I'll finish with just a tad over 100k. That'll cover my upgrade from D to A SFO-ORD-DEL and return next year.

I'm leveraging a little bit by using my HHonors AMEX to pay, thus also earning 5 HHonors points per dollar spent, as well as the ten miles.

I'm hoping for somathing decent to happen by July 1, 2006, with mileage awards, or I'm facing my next six months as my last with this program.


Happy holidays to all...

My AA Idine says: You've earned 94,620. So JDiver and I are real close!

We have also worked all the no minimum $ promotions for each of my family of four all year long.

I, too, hope that July 1 brings the good news that we will not receive less than 10/$. And in the meantime, Idine, keep the promos coming!

I'm including bonuses for which I've qualified but not-yet-posted, etc.


AA: 13,404 YTD 40,690 Lifetime

AS: 7,917 YTD 15,392 Lifetime

DL: 9,469 YTD 56,208 Lifetime

Priority Club: Under 1,000 but managed elite status after fulfilling all the other promos.


Paradocs: I would think those DL minimums would be easier with a family than as a single person, but I understand about "allocating iDine resources" and such. I used gift certs for some of them, but not sure it was really worth it to complete all $200 worth of required spending.

Points Scrounger: I didn't concentrate on any of the Delta promos. My big thrust right now is getting a million lifetime AA miles for gold status. Therefore I have wanted to spend as little as possible to get husband and sons their bonuses. The major miles (high dining bills) are directed into my AA account. I am nearing 700,000 AA miles. I have only flown on AA for about two years now. I am doing all the shopping I possibly can through AAdvantage EShopping as well. Off topic: along the way I have discovered what a fabulous company www.drugstore.com is. I just wish I had discovered shopping with them many years ago.

With my Idining done for the year, I�ll play:

Member since (late) 2001

Miles, YTD: 122,031

Total Program Miles: 352,420�All AA

I had 446 transactions this year, but it would take a forensic accountant to figure out how many dines that entailed, with all the bonuses, extra 5 miles per dine, etc. Speaking of bonuses, not counting the 5 + 5 = 10 miles premium, 26,250 miles of this year�s total were from bonuses, almost 22%.


Doubledocks, I�m anticipating a big fall off in my Idining next year, maybe 50%.

Jailer: Is that because you think Idine is going to cut back on the miles per $?

A bit of each, docs: this year has been unusually generous in terms of bonuses, and next year will almost surely be weaker�maybe even retreating back to 5 miles per $ for the last half. But also, I�ve lost the fire in my belly (so to speak) and having made LT Plat in the only airline that matters to me, there is less reason to continue the unabashed gluttony.

AA - YTD '05- 46,436, Lifetime-102,092
UA - YTD '05- 10,043, Lifetime-11,737
NW - YTD '05- 4,179, Lifetime-21,730
DL - YTD '05- 2,927, Lifetime 2,927

Cornroaster
AA - YTD = 6,490 Lifetime = 26,551
BA - YTD = 90 Lifetime = 780 - Just used to keep miles alive.
Delta - YTD = 8.356 Lifetime = 12,363
Midwest - YTD = 2,298 Lifetime = 2,298
NWA - YTD = 5,534 Lifetime = 16,249
UAL - YTD = 4,263 Lifetime = 13,439

Total - 2005 = 27,031 Lifetime = 71,680

Mrs. C(orn...)
AA - YTD = 9,116 Lifetime = 18,643
BA - YTD = 62 Lifetime = 750
Delta - YTD = 4,273 Lifetime = 5,206
Midwest - YTD = 6,802 Lifetime = 6,802
NWA - YTD = 6,218 Lifetime = 14,171
UAL - YTD = 3,270 Lifetime = 8,818

Total - 2005 = 29,741 Lifetime = 54,930

2005 Total = 56,772 Lifetime 126,610

I earn points in two programs:

United

YTD 41,918
Lifetime 262,000

Mypoints

YTD 26,034
Lifetime Their website has never been updated to include this total


For me, idine enables me the opportunity to upgrade most United flights I take. I personally am grateful for this program and look forward to another great year eating and earning miles.