The marketing gurus at Idine came up with a bonus that actually made me decrease my patronage. With two large restaurant checks looming, I immediately signed up. Now, with one bonus dine left, I’ve just hunkered down till another biggie comes along. It’s liberating eating….well, anywhere.

I'm on the road 45 weeks a year and eat out 5 nights a week on a per diem that permits around $50 per day. That works out to 112,500 miles per year. We have seven accounts, two Delta, two Continental, one AA, Midwest and Priority, so there's virtually always a promotion. Actual mileage last year was 135,000. I agree that it can be a relief in certain cities to go native where Idine's are not so great, but my current experience in Richmond has lot's of really nice restaurants.

I don't know...spending $2,200 for 135,000 FF miles is okay if you have a solid near-term use for the miles. I hope most of the 135k were AA and YX.

I've pretty much abandoned iDine except at a couple of neighborhood pubs that I know are palatable. I rarely intentionally try a new iDine place and, in fact, when I get the emails about new iDine restaurants in my area, I actually avoid them because I know there's a good chance it's going to be a lousy place.

It's the same for me. I signed up for the bonus, and now I'm avoiding going to any Idine places until I can get in a big dine. After I get in my first big dine, I'm sure I'll avoid going to another Idine place until I'm sure I'm ready for another big dine.

In contrast, in December, I went out of my way to eat only at Idine places. I think I only dined at nonIdine places 2-3 times, and friends had to drag me there. So this bonus works out well for my friends...

Or you could purchase large gift certificate.

Sounds like you're in only one iDine program, or else don't feel like juggling.

Me, I'm in 6 iDine programs (only 3 of which have this bonus or any bonus for that matter right now), 5 mile/point programs, and one cashback (through DC).

I'm rotating which of the 3 programs I am doing the bonus with. (It's a bit easier because I "created" the biggest biggie by doing a mass gift certificate purchase, and then only need a couple "moderlate biggies" to go with that.) While that program is tied up waiting for 3 high-value dines, I'm using the other programs to earn reguarly in the meantime. Then once I get the high-value dines done on one program, I'll register another.

I'm used to having to juggle anyway, because a lot of my favorite iDine places at the locations I'm at frequently are one/month places, which I can only get around by juggling EVERY month.

Btw, I chose a one/month for my massive gift certificate purchase, that way I can avoid the one/month limitation there in future months, and it won't feel like I'm "passing up miles" not to use my card on those occasions!

Thanks for reminding me to take some gift certificates out of my glove compartment to pay for today's lunch. I'm too capable of losing stuff to generally want to squirrel away gift certificates. Same with multiple airlines, too much brain work for a simpleton like I, er me, er I.

From the "Best Lade Plans.." playbook:

Rounded up some friends & kids to do a 'real-biggie' at a 1x place this week...

Orders seemed inordinately slow to arrive; when the floor-boss came around with the usual 'How's your meal?', I asked if someone in the kitchen had perhaps died.
He scurried off to investigate, and reported back that one order had been botched, & they held up serving until it was re-done, and please accept a 20% discount as an apology... Arrggghhhh.

As a 'save', we added a gift cert to cover the 'loss'. Even THAT got discounted

Man -- Any other time ..
/.

(no reason to start a new thread, eh?)

Anybody else still waiting for these to show up in your NWA account?
My 'first three' finally appeared @ iDine on 4/04, back-dated to 3/21 ~ correct dines & values ^

Beginning to think they're lost in the mail
/.