From the AAdvantage Dining website: Program changes are coming in 2008
 

The only thing that concerns me is the lack of discussion on the extra 5 miles (for a total of 10 miles per dollar):

On January 1, 2008, new rewards guidelines go into effect. Only members who have signed up to receive emails and provided a valid, deliverable email address will be eligible for our top dining rewards levels. To avoid losing benefits and maximize your AAdvantage® miles, please familiarize yourself with the new guidelines.

Look for new Membership Level guidelines effective January 1, 2008.

http://aa.rewardsnetwork.com/promo.jsp?id=14600044

Well, if the miles are really cut down from what it is this year, I may well then just start using my wife's AMEX card that is signed up for the 10% to 20% dinign discounts instead.

There are hints - in the FAQ, NO mention of the five bonus miles; this, IMO, does not bode well for us, nor for iDine.

E.g. "Q.Will I keep my earned 2007 status in 2008?
A.That really depends on you.

If you're a member earning 1 AAdvantage® mile per dollar spent today, you can earn 3 AAdvantage® miles per dollar spent by simply setting up an online profile and electing to receive emails to your valid, working email address.

If you're currently earning 3 AAdvantage® miles per dollar spent, you can continue earning 3 AAdvantage® miles per dollar spent simply by electing to receive emails to your valid, working email address. If you have already done so, you're set! You can reach even higher and achieve VIP member status in 2008 - which enables you to earn 5 AAdvantage® miles per dollar spent - by having at least 12 qualified dines in 2007.

If you currently have AAdvantage DiningSM Elite Member status earning 5 AAdvantage® miles per dollar spent, you can achieve VIP member status in 2008 simply by electing to receive emails to your valid, working email address AND making sure you have at least 12 qualified dines in 2007. Again, if you have already accomplished these goals, you're set for 2008!"

And...

Rewards Network Elite Member Bonus
Earn an extra 5 Midwest Miles for every dollar spent.
Expires: 12/31/2007

OTOH, they say they will e-mail us weekly - with bonuses and special offers. :rolleyes:

Don't want to get upset over something that hasn't happened, but I will end up sending $10K worth of meals, to iDine, in 2007.

It really would not be worth the effort I go through, if the standard rate goes to 5 miles.

I would probably drop to $2K or so.

United, and Delta pages, have the same announcement.

Which program are you referring to?

The "regular' Rewards Network dining program which costs $49/year.

Somehow we were grandfathered in and it costs us nothing.

Click on the BA link and there seems to be a trial run for it for free.

if it goes 5 vs 10 i simply wont make the effort to go to idine restaurants then instead.

if i get some, sure. if i dont, oh well.

If it goes from 10 to 5 the only thing this program will be good for is keeping miles from expiring in your ff accounts that you have no activity in.

The occasional bonus offers will probably yield 10 miles vs the now 15-20.

Sent RN e-mail on this topic
 

I've sent an e-mail requesting status of 5x5 for 2008..so we'll see. I'll post response here.

Technically, even the 2007 program says you earn 5 miles per dollar. Getting a total of 10 is part of a bonus.

*AAdvantage Dining elite member bonus: Earn 5 additional miles per dollar spent at all participating restaurants, for a total of 10 AAdvantage miles per dollar. Bonus valid through 12/31/07.

At the end of the year they always announce that this elite bonus is being extended into the next year. Hopefully this will happen again.

Last year (2006) they announced the extention (for 2007) on the 5+5 bounus in July.

Ive been signed up through BA Exec Club but as of Oct. 1 BA dropped the dining program. I am changing my credit cards over to AA however it sounds like something is changing....

So far I've not had any luck changing cards from BA to AA. The AA site says 'card in use on other site'.

You have to call RN and ask them to manually remove the card from the BA account. Then, you will be able to use the card for AA.

I was somewhat surprised that they kept the requal level the same for 2008 - I'd been thinking they'd be switching to a spending-based threshold and/or raising the current number of (no minimum) visits.

The fact that AA.RN is currently offering up to 20 miles/$ (+5 for email, +5 for feedback) makes me think they're less likely to just drop the 5+5 Bonus we currently have. If they do drop it, I see it providing more promotional periods to make up for the lack of a constant 5+5.

On a side note... I dined at a restaurant on 9/29 and noticed on 10/1 that it was listed as "NEW" on iDine. I don't know when they joined, but I was excited to see them on there. Do most restaurants join on at the beginning of the month? I was curious on whether miles would hit for my 9/29 dine... It was never mentioned in any of my RN e-mails that they were joining the network and I didn't notice they were on the network 'til 10/1.