Qantas Points on the menu for meat lovers

Calling all carnivores: there’s now a juicy new way to boost your Qantas Points balance at serious steakhouses including 6HEAD, The Meat & Wine Co and Hunter & Barrel, along with Ribs & Burgers (and even Italian Street Kitchen if you don’t fancy a cut of cow).

And coming just weeks after Qantas revealed plans to serve plant-based ‘fake meat’ at lounges and on flights, this is the real deal.

Australia’s Seagrass Boutique Hospitality Group, the parent company for all those restaurants, is the latest partner of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program, with points earning starting today at the following rates

• 3 Qantas Points per dollar at ‘premium’ venues 6HEAD, Hunter & Barrel and The Meat & Wine Co
• 2 Qantas Points per dollar at mainstream outlets Ribs & Burgers and Italian Street Kitchen 

Executive Traveller understands Qantas is also considering special ‘bonus points’ promotions focused on particular restaurant brands or when a new property opens. 

However, the arrangement doesn’t extend to the popular Five Guys burger chain, for which Seagrass holds the Australian franchise. Any decision on a Qantas partnership rests with Five Guys’ US founders (and yes, there are actually ‘five guys’ – all brothers – behind the ‘fast casual’ restaurant group).

“The ability to earn points towards their next dream trip while enjoying a meal in a restaurant will be a welcome addition for frequent flyers,” says Qantas Loyalty CEO Olivia Wirth, adding that research reveals Qantas Frequent Flyer members “spend 20% more on food and wine than non-members”.

And they’ll have plenty of opportunity to spend up across the Seagrass portfolio, which now stands at 45 outlets and is growing at a rate of “8 to 10 new restaurants per years in Australia, across all brands” says the company’s Chief Marketing Officer David Ovens.

An overseas expansion drive has seen The Meat & Wine Co open in London, with Hunter & Barrel in Abu Dhabi and Dubai – however, globe-trotting frequent flyers are not yet able to pocket points at any of the Seagrass restaurants outside of Australia.

As you’d expect, diners can also opt to pay for their meal using Qantas Points, in the same way they can now pay for petrol at BP service stations – but as any savvy frequent flyers will tell you, this rarely represents the best value.