Frequent flyers become frequent diners in Qantas' new points scheme
Qantas is plating up an all-new way to earn frequent flyer points while you wine and dine.
By David Flynn, August 5 2019
Qantas will launch a new points-earning restaurant strategy next week, as the second wave in an ongoing refresh of the airline's Qantas Frequent Flyer scheme.
The program is described as "a delicious new way to earn Qantas Points", and may still involve The Rockpool Dining Group, which will notably close its current points-earning partnership with Qantas on Friday 16 August, 2019.
That arrangement spans over 60 brand-name outlets across Australia, with the ability to earn between one and two Qantas Points per dollar spent at the likes of Fratelli Fresh, Spice Temple, Rockpool Bar & Grill and Rosetta Ristorante.
The 'earn points as you wine and dine' proposition has proven a somewhat bumpy road for Qantas Loyalty.
A Qantas Restaurants scheme, launched with great fanfare in February 2014 to allow diners to book a table and earn frequent flyer points with every meal, was shuttered in January 2019.
“Our research has shown us that the majority of our members have great enthusiasm for dining on a regular basis and do so both personally and professionally," espoused then-Qantas Loyalty CEO Lesley Grant when the scheme debuted.
The new initiative follows the mid-June overhaul of Qantas Frequent Flyer from the core perspective of the airline: including an increase in the number of points-based 'reward' seats made available plus reduced 'carrier charges' on international Qantas flights, although this was allied to an increase in the number of points need to snare a premium seat or upgrade.
Read more: How the Qantas Frequent Flyer 'overhaul' will affect you
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
23 Apr 2015
Total posts 24
It was a surprising partnership in the first place and insignificant compared to the previous appealing partnership with Dimmi which awarded 100 points per guest per booking. I used the Dimmi platform frequently in the past, however didn’t even bother to provide my frequent flyer account number at Rockpool, Spice Garden etc for all the minimal points it would have provided.
07 Mar 2017
Total posts 63
The partnership gave 2 points per dollar at the restaurants you listed.
Unless you somehow ordered <$50 per person, which is possible but I'd suggest atypical, then you'd be getting more than the 100 points with Dimmi.
For most people it would be fewer points with Dimmi than with the Rockpool partnership.
05 Dec 2018
Total posts 146
Wonder if this means Neil Perry may no longer be the Qantas food guy, in the future. Most likely I’m reading too far into this.
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2560
I'd say zero impact in the ongoing relationship between Neil & Qanats.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Nov 2018
Total posts 117
I wish Qantas would drop NP. Sick of his rubbish.
21 Apr 2017
Total posts 19
Couldn't more with Concordel 1990. Time for QF to jettison NP and find someone who can prepare normal food. Rabbit and arty fart food is not my go. I find his restauants are way overpriced and the food is average at best. Not being able to gain points won't worry me as I have given his restauants up.
02 Aug 2018
Total posts 15
I always though the best thing about Neil Perry were his various marscapone berry trifles, which never found their way onto the Qantas menus. I agree that the partnership is old getting. I reckon the only involvement Mr Perry has with the Qantas kitchen these days is picking up his monthly cheque
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Nov 2016
Total posts 64
It was worth a few hundred points here and there. I had more than one occasion where the machine to credit points didn't work and lost a few. Followed up with management but no one cared. Not worth the hassle.
10 Apr 2012
Total posts 5
Heads up... I dined at Sake on Tuesday (2/7) and they informed me that they no longer accept QFF points to redeem or earn
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 Nov 2013
Total posts 475
And I see Qantas has also off loaded their golf program.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Mar 2011
Total posts 270
I still prefer the former way where you or I or any QFF member, could just walk into a restaurant with the Qantas Frequent Flyer tag/label on the door post glass.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Aug 2014
Total posts 168
I'd have to say that the ability to earn points or not has zero impact on where I choose to dine.
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