the_traveler

By any chance are you "engaged" (or whatever it's called - 3/$), and not "elite" (10/$)?

I have found some restaurants are listed when you're elite, but not listed when you're engged. Previoulsy, a restaurant was listed on my UA account (where I was elite), but not on my US account (where I was engaged). But as soon as I became elite, it showed up on my US account!

The same thing is currently happening. A restaurant is on my UA account (elite), but not on my CO account (engaged). So this may be the same thing.

majikTib

I'd be interested in knowing if there are any Elite restaurants in 37128 or 15 miles within.... we've got about 7 on the list, none I frequent often and only one that can really accumulate any points. I'm only a few transactions from Elite (hopefully my Chicago trip this week will fix that)

nako

The search I came up with on my AA RN account showed seven restuarants as well, so it doesn't look like there are any elite-only joints there.

Mike

JDiver

OK, I think this is a good idea - a sticky (this re-titled thread) we can include restrictions we are aware of (airlines, program restrictions, credit card prohibitions, etc.) Maybe we can also add any prohibitions we are aware of to gardener's master thread on iDine restos; I'll add those to my SMF listings, as one only allows one dine per month, and at least one will award no miles on AMEX cards. (Daphne's only allowed one dine per month per property, iirc, but they are gone now, so...)

Thanks for the good idea, NJUP and PS...

Points Scrounger

Truly appreciate your setting up this sticky so promptly!

MikeInMass

Yep, I think you hit the nail on the head. Interesting.

ZeppoX

This is not exactly a restriction, but it has essentially the same result.

Solar Cafe in Washington DC is a place I frequent. And without exception I've had to follow up to get miles to post. Come to find out: somehow they are processing CC transactions as cash transactions, which does two things. One, iDine will not capture it. Two, your receipt is useless because it says "cash." I've had to fax in redacted CC statements to get credit.
Hardly worth it for the small amounts of a lunch counter, but if I'm going there anyway I might as well get miles for it.

Edit: never responded to Points Scounger's question in the next post.
Yes, Solar runs my CC through the CC machine. Yes, they provide a customer copy slip, as well as a merchant copy for me to sign. Yes, my CC is charged. But the slip says it is a cash transaction. And finally: yes I have stopped going to Solar Cafe.

Points Scrounger

You don't get an actual customer copy slip @ Solar? Either they run it through the cc machine or they don't? It got as far as your credit card statement. Sounds to me more like they have a non-iDine merchant account to bypass repaying their loan.

Macken7

You know I had the same problem with the Solar Cafe folks a year ago. Called several times on it and then IDINE told me that the person, who had handled my call had left, etc. Not even sure if it got posted, as I just moved on and forgot about it. Think they had a promition at that time like dine x amount of times and to grab a sandwich rhere was a good idea.

Stefan Daystrom

No such thing.

When programs differ by number of restaurants, it's typically in some particular city, eg, AS in Seattle (AS's home base). So nationally the difference between airlines is very small, tho in each airline's home base (or hub) cities it may be bigger.

Then, as evidenced in this thread, any program you're "elite" in has more restaurants than any program you're not yet "elite" in. Thus it varies for each person.

Finally, no airline or "elite" program really gets "more" restuarants. There's a maximum pie, and most airlines in most cities make all those restuarants available to "elite" members. Particular airlines in particular cities subtract from that, either for all or just non-"elite" members. And then RN itself may subtract from that from non-"elite" members (across all airlines).

So the answer is that in most areas "elite" members see exactly the same list for each airline most of the time. The exceptions are just that, exceptions.

timrick

Shogun (a sushi place) in Stockton, CA also doesn't give credits on AMEX card. Just noticed this today, missed ~350 miles. Oh, well, no big deal.

Points Scrounger

As of a few minutes ago, the AS elite dining list for Seattle matches my other elite lists exactly!

Points Scrounger

The Blue Mahoe (Jamaician fare) in NYC processed my tip separately from the base charges. I had just over $15 for AA promo without it, but it seemed to be a standard procedure for them (avoid declaring "wages" if run through as food?). Mentioning this in case anyone tried to use them for a minimum tab promotion.

colin1211

Many people are not aware that merchants must follow certain rules in order to be able to accept credit cards. For instance Visa and Mastercard both prohibit requiring a minimum purchase, or requesting to see ID - the two most commonly broken of the merchant agreement clauses. American Express does not have this requirement but has a non-discrimination clause which states that American Express customers must receive equal treatment as Visa and Mastercard customers. So a business which accepts only American Express could set a minimum but one that accepts Visa must treat American Express on par with Visa.

Therefore, your restaurant is violating its merchant agreement with American Express because it is discriminating against their card. If you have used your card there previously, you have the restaurant's merchant number so it should be relatively easy to complain to American Express. Merchants who consistently violate the policy can have their right to accept the card rescinded.
http://www.gofso.com/Premium/LE/06_l...merchants.html

ZeppoX

I always find the assertion about a prohibition on requesting ID curious because the credit card processor for my wife's merchant account recommends checking ID. Her merchant contract is silent on the topic.