Velocity and OpenTable are going their separate ways. As a result, as of 20 July 2019, you will no longer earn Velocity Points when you book through OpenTable.
Bookings made by 20 July will be eligible for points. If you book after 20 July, then you will not be in line for any points.
Earn Points while Dining Out
There are many ways of earning points in the various Loyalty programs. This can be through flying, staying in hotels, shopping and so on.
Not surprisingly, there are a number of ways to earn points when dining out. Recently, there have been some changes to the partnerships that will change where you can earn points in some programs. As a result, I thought it was time to update this article to bring it up to date.
Qantas used to have run a Qantas Restaurants program, although that has been shut down. At present, the main way to earn Qantas Points while dining is through their relationship with the Rockpool Group restaurants.
Earning Points at Restaurants
Earning points at restaurants is done broadly in two ways – either by awarding points for making a booking, or through your spend in the restaurant.
Velocity and IHG Rewards offer points when using the services of OpenTable.
Qantas ave a relationship with the Rockpool group. The number of points you earn is based on the amount that you spend, and the restaurant that you are dining at.
The various programs all have different earnings structures. As a result of the different structures, the points earning will vary between programs depending on the specifics of the booking.
One very important point is that in order to earn, you will need to book through the relevant booking page for the program. If you just go to Dimmi or OpenTable, then you will not get the points.
Qantas Frequent Flyer – RockPool group
[The Rokcpool Group will no longer participate in the Qantas Frequent Flyer program from August 15]
From 2019, Qantas Restaurants will be closing down, leaving the Rockpool group restaurants as the main way of earning Qantas Points while dining.
Earn is based on spend, and you will earn as follows:
- Earn 4 points per $1 spent (Premium and Casual restaurants)
Options include: Jade Temple, Sake Restaurant & Bar, Spice Temple, The Cut Bar & Grill, Rockpool Bar & Grill, Rosetta, Ananas, El Camino Cantina, Fratelli Fresh, Bavarian Bier Cafe, The Bavarian, Munich Brauhaus and The Argyle.
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent (Fast Casual restaurants)
Options include: Burger Project, Fratelli Famous and Saké Jr.
Velocity Frequent Flyer – OpenTable
[OpenTable will no longer participate in the Velocity Frequent Flyer program from July 20]
| Offer | |
|---|---|
| Points Earn | 300 Velocity Points per booking |
| Booking Partner | OpenTable |
| Credit Time | Up to 4 weeks after dining |
| Bookings | Booking link |
| Terms | Full terms and conditions |
IHG Rewards – OpenTable
IHG Rewards members can earn up to 300 IHG Rewards points per booking. You can earn 500 IHG Rewards points on your first booking.
| Offer | |
|---|---|
| Points Earn | 150 IHG Rewards Points per booking. 300 IHG Rewards Points per booking at participating IHG restaurants |
| Booking Partner | OpenTable |
| Credit Time | 6-8 weeks after dining |
| Bookings | Booking link |
| Terms |
Which is Better?
The choice of program is ultimately going to be determined by the specifics of your booking. In some cases, it may be decided by the actual choice of restaurant. The selection of restaurants is not the same between the various booking engines, so this may decide which way to go.
The IHG Rewards offer is not as strong as the Velocity Offer. However, if you were after some IHG Rewards points, this could sway you.