Qantas operated LAX First/oneworld lounges at TBIT

[Foreigner]

Tipping is ingrained in American culture it seems. What's next...coins/bills on tables as you are sat down?

 

[BAM1748]

What about a small sign in the bathrooms saying "this is a QF lounge, we are proud to serve, tipping is not required".


That is of course if staff are remunerated above the award rate.


Matt

 

[DC3]

Well, tipping in the USA is certainly part of the system. I don't know how some in the hospitality industry can survive on a $7, or so, an hour. Who, here, could survive on that?

I don't begrudge anyone for expecting a tip.

Regarding the FL at TBIT, when I was there recently I can happily say that I was extremely well looked after. Among other things, the waiter pro-actively suggested that I may like to try the ice wine, which I had never tried before and enjoyed this as part of the drinks sampling. I did tip the waiter as I've travelled to the USA enough to understand expectations.

No experience of the showers as I didn't need to make use of them, which probably turned out for the better.

 

[Himeno]

Re: QF/CX/BA open new Los Angeles Business Lounge

Agreed, don't get me wrong, I have no problems in leaving tips for waiters, bar staff etc for good service but I did notice while I was there that the service in the likes of airport hotels etc was pretty poor, so much so that I actually didn't leave a tip for one waitress at the Crowne Plaza LAX. She did follow me out and tell me that I had not left her a tip and was argumentative when I told her that IMHO when I leave tips or gratuities it is an indication of appreciation of good service and that her service was less than satisfactory. She basically replied that it ( service ) doesn't really matter as they won't ever see me again.

Does she not understand that reports of poor service travel faster/more then reports of good service? Even if you only ever go there once, if you have a bad experience, it is more likely that you'll tell others about it and fewer people will go there.

 

[RooFlyer]

It may have been mentioned upthread, but I have seen references that the staff turnover at the *O TBIT lounges has been quite high - apparently due to the lack of tipping.

Sounds possible.

Thanks for your response Red Roo and your efforts to passim feedback to management is appreciated.

However I think the underlying issue/question is if tipping is not expected, then do the wages paid to staff reflect the lack of tipping income compared to normal hospitable venues or even the AA lounges.

Culturally most Australian visitors understand the system and tip service staff, to ensure they make a living, but this understanding may stop when they are in a international airport lounge.

Agree.

Thanks for this feedback opusman, RooFlyer and Katie.

This type of behaviour is absolutely not on, and not at all what is expected of our staff. These examples of tip-fishing (or should I say phishing!) have been passed on to our International Customer Experience manager responsible for overseeing all our international lounges. They will be following up internally with the relevant local managers and individuals concerned.

I've also included the feedback about your recent experiences with service in the restaurant, and suggestion about reintroducing the bathroom buzzers.

Once again, I'd like to reiterate that tipping is personal preference, however not necessary at any of our lounges. All services are provided as part of our premium offering.

My thanks also to RedRoo for taking up this issue.

That said, I too would hope that the wages paid in this lounge would be commensurately higher than in similar airport lounges where tipping would be more the norm both in terms of people willing to do it and also remembering to do it. If there is high staff turnover because of low gross income then it doesn't assist the provision of premium service which is obviously what QF are trying to achieve.

 

[serfty]

California mandates a minimum wage of $9 per hour - there is no special level for tipped workers.

Federally, the minimum hourly wage for tipped workers is $2.13, although the employer must make it up to $7.25 per hour if an employees income falls short.

 

[JessicaTam]

California mandates a minimum wage of $9 per hour - there is no special level for tipped workers.

Federally, the minimum hourly wage for tipped workers is $2.13, although the employer must make it up to $7.25 per hour if an employees income falls short.

There is a growing push for a real minimum wage, the Fight for 15.

Fight for $15 swells into largest protest by low-wage workers in US history | US news | The Guardian

 

[Timtammi]

I thought I would add a quick review to this thread after spending several hours at the new F lounge at TBIT last Thursday evening. We arrived at LAX at 4pm on an SY flight from MSP and were delighted to find the QF early check-in counters open already. We were travelling on QF94 and I had anticipated that we would have to hang around and wait for them to open, never much fun when you have your baggage in tow. Having travelled through LAX many times I was looking forward to trying out the new F lounge and figured it would be similar to the new SIN and HKG lounges but I was very pleasantly surprised!

I should add here that our Y+ to J upgrades x 2 had come through so always a good start to any long haul flight. With hours to kill we spent plenty of time in the lounge. Its really SUCH an improvement on what they had before! There are some very nice velvet covered seats with footrests that look out over the atrium shopping area so we parked there for a while and had a few drinks. After that we headed for showers and that was the only downer. The showers work fine, but they are really ugly. I couldn't help but feel that without spending any more money they could have had something a little more stylish looking. They are really institutional looking, think all ugly white tile and no redeeming features, like a hospital or boarding house.
Anyway, they were clean and there was no touting for tips!

After a shower, we headed to the restaurant area. The service and food really shone here. It was pretty much just like the SYD or MEL flounges with a menu that looked pretty much the same albeit with a californian bent I guess. Sorry no pics but a nice minute steak, chips and salad were had as well as a few nice Penfolds reds.

Lounges did get busy closer to the Aussie flight departure times, not sure how you would have gone getting a table at the restaurant or a shower then.

All around, good job QF!

 

[Sdtravel]

So something interesting happened yesterday when i went to use the lounge

I was flying out of T4 but wanted to use the lounge. Got into TBIT fine. I even used my QF11 boarding pass SYD - LAX and security didnt bat an eye.
Went to the One world lounge and presented my QC card and boarding pass for next onward flight having the AA flight number. Interestingly even though it was a QF number on AA metal. The boarding pass i got in SYD had the AA flight number on it.
When i entered the lounge i was told that technically i wasnt allowed in as i was meant to be in T4. BUT the lady said that since its not busy as an exception they will let me in. I said thats fine i just want to take a shower.

I had spoken to QF customer service weeks before who said it was fine to enter. So this whole "special exception" thing is not true. I should be allowed. QF needs to educate the lounge staff on rules.

Note i did see buzzers near the shower rooms but didnt need one as they were free. So looks like that may have been brought back if anyone is interested.

 

[danza108]

I had spoken to QF customer service weeks before who said it was fine to enter. So this whole "special exception" thing is not true. I should be allowed. QF needs to educate the lounge staff on rules.

Note i did see buzzers near the shower rooms but didnt need one as they were free. So looks like that may have been brought back if anyone is interested.

I completely agree! I posted a page or two back around not being allowed in while flying AA out of T4 and raised this with QF customer service who called to apologise for the actions of the LAX staff and said that as SG/OWS access should be granted when flying any Oneworld carrier. They even said they would be speaking with the lounge manager! QF definitely need to educate their American staff running this lounge

 

[jimmylikesitwet]

When i entered the lounge i was told that technically i wasnt allowed in as i was meant to be in T4. BUT the lady said that since its not busy as an exception they will let me in. I said thats fine i just want to take a shower.

If you were just after a shower why not use the Admirals Club in T4? The showers there are no worse than those in the OW lounge. Saves having to the then re-clear security.

 

[Sdtravel]

Agreed. I read in htere i think and agree that the lighting could be better in the showers. HK lounge showers are better setup and kitted out.

It also came down to food as well though. As I understand it T4 has pay for food other than small pastries.
I didnt mind the extra security run.

 

[Kefci2000]

The T4 Flagship lounge has decent food, beer and spirits

 

[blackcat20]

The T4 Flagship lounge has decent food, beer and spirits

The OW lounge has great coughtails and proper food (that doesnt cost anything).

 

[Himeno]

The OW lounge has great coughtails and proper food (that doesnt cost anything).

Flagship lounges have free food. (maybe why they only have them at JFK, LAX and ORD with rumored returns to DFW and MIA)

 

[blackcat20]

Flagship lounges have free food. (maybe why they only have them at JFK, LAX and ORD with rumored returns to DFW and MIA)

I can't get in there, so the OW lounge is a win for me. From my one visit to a Flagship lounge, the food wasnt that great anyway...

 

[amaroo]

I can't get in there, so the OW lounge is a win for me. From my one visit to a Flagship lounge, the food wasnt that great anyway...

FWIW, I think your wording "proper food" is spot on.

 

[Kefci2000]

Agree there is daylight between QF F lounges and AA F lounges in terms of food quality, just pointing out it is free

Self serve so no tips either

 

[blackcat20]

Agree there is daylight between QF F lounges and AA F lounges in terms of food quality, just pointing out it is free

Self serve so no tips either

No tipping in the OW lounge either, its against policy.

 

[DC3]

No tipping in the OW lounge either, its against policy.

Has anyone experienced this? How would we be prevented from tipping? Thrown out?