Dining for miles

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

For those of you that are members of any of the airline affinity dining programs that give you an average of 3 miles per dollar spent at their list of restaurants, the program I use has a VIP status where after 12 'dines' you attain VIP status and those 3 miles/dollar dines become 5 miles/dollar dines. You have to 're-qualify' every calendar year. So, depending on what you have in the way of 'fast food' restaurants on the list in your area.... three visits to California Tortilla or Baja Fresh in January in my area with a family of four making individual orders is a quick way to get to VIP before dropping a wad on a nice restaurant!

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

Oh yeah, and my way is quicker than the program's Fast track method but you don't get their 1000 bonus miles. But, at a nominal 2cents/mile the bonus miles are worth $20. My method only spends about $70 to get to VIP while 5x$25min = $125 - $20 bonus miles = $105 so it's probably close to a wash with your two extra meals eaten.

Want to know the quickest way to reach VIP dining status and start earning 5 miles per dollar instead of 3? Register for our Fast Track to VIP Bonus*. We'll even throw in 1,000 bonus miles!
Just follow these easy steps:

1. Register for the Fast Track to VIP Bonus*.
2. Dine 5 times at participating restaurants by 3/31/09 and spend $25 or more each time.
3.You'll be upgraded to VIP dining status through 12/31/09 and earn 5 miles for every dollar spent. Plus you'll receive 1,000 bonus miles... our way of saying "congratulations!"

Fast Track to VIP Bonus Details

*This bonus is open to Online members only. You must opt in to receive emails in order to qualify; so make sure you have elected to receive emails from the Dividend Miles Dining program and that you have provided us with a valid, deliverable email address when you register. You must continue to satisfy other VIP level criteria to maintain VIP status.

To qualify, a dine must be $25 or more (including tax and tip) at a participating restaurant, bar or club after your advance online registration in the Fast Track to VIP Bonus (via the link above) and by March 31,2009. Dines must occur on days when a benefit is being offered, and paid for with a credit or debit card registered in the Dividend Miles Dining program. Limit one qualified dine per participating restaurant per member per calendar day toward this bonus. Offer is combinable with the Dividend Miles Dining New Member Bonus that will be in effect from 1/11/09 - 3/31/09 for new Dividend Miles Dining members and Dividend Miles Dining members with no online profile only. Limit one Fast Track to VIP Bonus per member. All account inquiries related to this bonus must be received by May 31,2009. Please allow 6-8 weeks for any bonus miles to post to your Dividend Miles account.

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

There are few, if any European restaurants included, and relatively few in eastern NC when I am home. I signed up two of my credit cards last year when I had a business trip back to the states to DC, on different airlines that are secondary mile accounts that I just wanted to keep active. I did one dine on one card, and two on the other, all places I probably would not have chosen if not for the program but generally okay. Not a single mile posted in either program.

On small mile amounts, my attitude is that it is not worth the time and hassle to put in a claim. I just quit using them. So, for this program, as far as I am concerned, it is three strikes and they are out! They can get stuffed!

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

I've never had one not post, I suspect operator error.

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

I got confirmations back that both cards were registered. I find it hard to believe that it would be three restaurants and two different ff programs that made mistakes.

Some years ago, I had used this program on a different cc that I no longer use for DL miles. DL had a bonus program going where they gave bonus miles based on how many times you used a SkyMiles partner and each dine counted. I went to a conference in a city with a lot of restaurants and used lots of them. Some of those posted and some didn't. So this is not a new problem. That time more did post than did not.

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

I find it hard to believe that it would be three restaurants and two different ff programs that made mistakes.

Me too, the common denominator is you.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

I believe you also get bonus miles if you rate your dine. I like the program just be sure to keep your receipt because the miles do not always show up.

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

I believe you also get bonus miles if you rate your dine. I like the program just be sure to keep your receipt because the miles do not always show up.

Exactly as I posted. On small miles amounts, I don't hassle with keeping receipts and complaining. I just quit using them. On my earlier card with this program, some miles never turned up, although a majority did. On my last effort, the system acknowledged registration of my cards, but was 0 for 3 in awarding miles. I am done with them! Not worth the hassle! There are other, more reliable ways, to keep accounts active.