iDine (aka Rewards Network) has a new Delta dining for miles bonus that offers both redeemable miles and elite qualifying miles (registration required). Four qualifying dines of $25 or more in October and November earns a bonus 1000 miles that even count towards status.

Now, it’s just 1000 miles. But the notable thing is that the bonus offers the opportunity to earn elite status for something other than flying.

Already increasingly common (and in some measure pioneered by Delta) is elite status through credit card spending.

And last year USAirways offered its ‘Everything Counts’ promo at the end of the year where most miles (credit card spending excluded) counted towards status. Some Dividend Miles members became Chairmans Preferred 100,000 mile ‘flyers’ by sending a whole lot of flowers.

So this is another step in that direction, one that clearly recognizes the value of frequent flyer program partners and partner revenue. We’ll likely see more offers of this sort, and from more airlines, over time.