Are alcoholic drinks free?

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ffhound

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Hi all

I recently gave a couple of spare lounges passes to a family relative and the subject came up as to whether the alcohol served there was complimentary or not. I was not sure. I know it is during business class flights but I have never asked for alcoholic drinks in the lounge.

So are alcoholic drinks complimentary in either the domestic or international lounges for Qantas or Virgin?

Thanks Peter
 
Hi all

I recently gave a couple of spare lounges passes to a family relative and the subject came up as to whether the alcohol served there was complimentary or not. I was not sure. I know it is during business class flights but I have never asked for alcoholic drinks in the lounge.

So are alcoholic drinks complimentary in either the domestic or international lounges for Qantas or Virgin?

Thanks Peter
Complimentary and copious. Qantas and Virgin.
 
Hi all

I recently gave a couple of spare lounges passes to a family relative and the subject came up as to whether the alcohol served there was complimentary or not. I was not sure. I know it is during business class flights but I have never asked for alcoholic drinks in the lounge.

So are alcoholic drinks complimentary in either the domestic or international lounges for Qantas or Virgin?

Thanks Peter

Yes they are
 
Hell yeah they are free. Be aware though that VA domestic has beer and wines only. QF has spirits too.
 
To be clear:

QF Domestic - Generally Alcohol is available from Noon (can vary a little).
QF International - If the Lounge is open, so is the Bar.
VA Lounges (Domestic only) - Alcohol from 11am.
 
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Australian lounges are very mollycoddling. When I flew a lot in Britain, BA and British Midland lounges had beer, wine and spirits on a help yourself basis, morning noon and night. I guess they thought that if their passengers could cope with open spirits bottles at home, they's be able to cope in an airline lounge too.
 
The other issue with bar not opening to 11am in domestic QP at Sydney, is that because the sparkling water is in the locked bar, you cant get that before the bar opens. The soda fountain has soda water, but that is not sparkling (taste is completely different).

At least with the refurbed QP at Melbourne domestic, they have a self serve water fountain that can dispense cold still, boiling still and cold sparkling water any time it is open.
 
Australian lounges are very mollycoddling. When I flew a lot in Britain, BA and British Midland lounges had beer, wine and spirits on a help yourself basis, morning noon and night. I guess they thought that if their passengers could cope with open spirits bottles at home, they's be able to cope in an airline lounge too.
RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol Legislation) might have something to do with this? Perhaps - airside Domestic Lounges need to comply with state regulations, whereas airside International Lounges don't.

So, for example at Qantas; in the Domestic Business Lounge the bar attendant will pour me a scotch (using an appropriate measuring device) but in the International Business Lounge, I will serve the scotch to myself by pulling the spout off the bottle, enabling a generous (nonRSA approved) free pour.

If you really want a double nip of spirits in a QF Domestic (Qantas Club or Business) Lounge perhaps just ask for a second glass neat (and then when you get back to your seat, pour the contents into your other glass).

Of course with all things QF, there are various caveats of inconsistency: e.g. First Lounge = they pour for you, Domestic Regional Lounges = grab your own fridge beer....
 
And internationally that's mostly the case with some exceptions.

Eg. The Air Asia X lounge in KUL where alcohol is chargeable, and most AA lounges where basic drinks are free but premium ones aren't (although you should get vouchers as QF Club/Elite)
 
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