Is 10 miles per dollar temporary?
 

Is the 'bonus' program of 5+5 FF miles per dollar only temporary. The following note from the website indicates it will continue through 2007 IF you get 12 dines this year, but why do they show it as a 5 point 'bonus' instead of making it just 10?

Elite Status* - Earn 10 miles per dollar spent.

Dine 12 or more times at participating restaurants within a calendar year and you'll reach Elite status which qualifies you for:

5 miles per dollar spent on the total bill at participating restaurants
An additional 5 bonus miles per dollar spent with the Elite Member Bonus valid through 12/31/07 ... for a total of 10 Mileage Plus miles for every dollar you spend**
Access to the greatest number of participating restaurants
Elite Member bonus mile opportunities
PLEASE NOTE: Members who had achieved this status as of 12/31/05 will maintain their Elite status throughout 2006. To qualify for Elite status in 2007, you must have 12 or more qualified dines at participating restaurants in 2006

Yes, it has been extended until 12/31/07, on most (if not all) programs! :D

Technically. the earning rates are 1/$, 3/$ and 5/$. To satisfy the elites that had been getting 10/$ prior to the change, idine is giving 5+5/$ (or 10/$).

It has always been that way since the rate change. Now the earning rates are 1/$, 3/$ and 10/$.

Because they don't want the other 5 included in other bonuses which "double", etc, your earnings. (And they want to be able to call those other bonuses simple terms like "double" instead of complex phrases like "double if you get 1 or 3, but one-and-a-half-times-normal if you get 10".)

And it's not unlike airlines and hotels, which separate the concept of "base" miles or points (which get doubled or tripled in "double miles" or "triple points" bonuses) and elite bonuses (which don't get increased by other bonuses).