No espresso martinis in the Qantas First Lounge?

[Mattg]

This thread is partly inspired by this post on VFTW:

Full Service Airlines And Hotels Have Forgotten They're In The Hospitality Business - View from the Wing

Here's an interesting take I came across from the former owner of Eleven Madison Park restaurant in New York. He was able to create a 'moment' for diners one time by going outside to a hot dog cart and plating it for the guests. And that was the memory for them of the night.

viewfromthewing.com

The First Lounge is the flagship lounge for Qantas. To get in there, you need to either be flying First or have spent thousands of dollars with Qantas & partners to get Platinum status.

In almost every respect, the Qantas First Lounges are excellent. I like the food, the ambience and amenities are great, and the staff are usually focused on providing outstanding service.

So, I was a bit surprised recently when my request for an espresso martini was rejected. They had all the ingredients available to make one, but I was told that I could only have one of the five specific coughtails listed on the menu.

As a test, another time, I tried to order a common coughtail that wasn't on the menu in a Qatar Airways lounge. It wasn't a problem at all, and within a few minutes the server brought it over with a smile.

First world problem? Absolutely! You bet it is. It didn't ruin my day, and I simply ordered something else.

But it did make me wonder - would it really be that hard for Qantas' top lounge to make an espresso martini if that's what the guest feels like? I'm not sure I see the logic in refusing such a basic request in the airline's flagship international lounge.

Thoughts? What am I missing here?

 

[SYD]

It’s a post Covid enhancement. This was discussed a few months or more ago. Maybe in the QF F menu thread?

They certainly did them pre Covid but not anymore….

Edit: Dang! I should have raised this in my post flight survey recently. An Espresso Martini was my go to morning coffee for early departures! Also, afternoon coffee…

 

[RooFlyer]

Maybe to protect staff from unreasonable requests and subsequent complaints. They make one that's not on the menu, no problem, easily done, but when someone asks for something more exotic, because the other guy got what he wanted and is refused, then complaints follow.

Easier to have a set menu.

 

[dajop]

Reminds of the SIN lounge (albeit J lounge) pre Covid used to get a Margarita made no problems but now it has to be one of the specially curated (weaker?) coughtails. I’d thought that was part of the overall slight downgrading of the lounge F&B offer now they have a SIN F lounge too, but obviously not.

 

[RichardMEL]

Yes this changed a few years back. The rationalisation was that they wanted ppl to consume "lighter" mixes or some cough like that thus no double shots (mate) drinks.

I meant HKG used to do a delicious EM no problem.

Was funny that UA Oolaris lounge were happy to make them but QF F? Nope.

FWP? Sure, just odd. Penny pinching? Seems unlikely.. but then again the constant downgrade of bubbles iver the years....

 

[SheikYerbouti]

then complaints follow.

A bit sad that people can be such prima donnas, isn't it?

 

[Katie]

LAX QF Flounge refused one in late 2022, and a regular martini for Mr Katie IIRC. The bartender told us it was an LAX airport (LAWA) rule to not allow two shots or more in a drink.

Never mind all those other lounges with self-pour spirits!!!

 

[justinbrett]

I’ve been coughing about this for years

Current F Lounge Menu (SYD/MEL) and relevant topics

Even the French 75 was from a premix bottle containing only 1 standard drink I don’t think the attendant was supposed to hand me the bottle.

 

[Economy_Gold]

I also find the non-availability of coughtails disappointing and I have come to the realisation that it is strictly penny-pinching from Qantas (like all the other changes to the First Class Lounge over the years, from the champagne and wine downgrade, to not offer the self-service buffets anymore, shorter massage times, to even not having the menus in the leather folder anymore...).

 

[Milefest]

Maybe to protect staff from unreasonable requests and subsequent complaints. They make one that's not on the menu, no problem, easily done, but when someone asks for something more exotic, because the other guy got what he wanted and is refused, then complaints follow.

Easier to have a set menu.

They have liqueurs behind the bar that aren't even used in their coughtail menu, are they expecting people to shot them or are they just decorations?

As a consumer who is paying for an ultra premium product, it's not unreasonable to expect an F lounge bar to serve a classic coughtail, especially when it's a table stakes offering with QFs competitors.

"Unreasonable requests" can be rejected by the bar (like at any other bar in the world), if your concern is about complaints, why would you reduce the choice for customers?

 

[Big John]

A bit sad that people can be such prima donnas, isn't it?

DYKWIA

 

[twiningb]

The sole time I was in the QF SYD FLounge it was at breakfast time, with my wife, when I was briefly AAdvantage Exec Plat and was departing on AA72 to LAX. So I didn't try the coughtails at the time.

But I've certainly been made an espresso martini at both the QF/OW Business Lounge LAX and the House MEL. Of course those were both preCOVID so it's possible they've also cut back.

 

[opusman]

Honestly I would demand a refund. The outrage!

 

[jase05]

"Unreasonable requests" can be rejected by the bar (like at any other bar in the world), if your concern is about complaints, why would you reduce the choice for customers?

This absolutely. Any half competent bar person can make a huge range of coughtails with the ingredients they have. If they can they can just refuse to make it just like they do at every other bar you go to

 

[SheikYerbouti]

DYKWIA

So through my wife, who manages high-wealth individuals, I regularly meet plenty of genuinely top tier people. They are almost all humble, friendly, and personable. It's the halfway-theres who are ostentatious and loud.

 

[RichardMEL]

So through my wife, who manages high-wealth individuals, I regularly meet plenty of genuinely top tier people. They are almost all humble, friendly, and personable. It's the halfway-theres who are ostentatious and loud.

I'm going to agree with this as a general rule. I don't count myself as top tier (despite having P1 status - two different things imo). Now sure, there can be a degree of arrogance by some individuals and those that treat "the little people" (oe staff, employees etc) poorlu, but I'd like to think that is a kind of stereotype more than a reality.

This comment immediately made me think of a situation a few months back I witnessed at OOL waiting near the head of the priority line to board a flight. I was standing just behind a WP (I saw the colour of the BP in his app). Anyway this couple pushed past everyone and went right up to the gate desk and crowded the agent a bit (boarding had not been called) for some reason that was super important to them. They asked whatever it was then stood right there waiting in front of the EGR. Agent tells them to move away from the desk area to keep it clear (reasonable) and I clearly heard the line "But we're Gold..." at which point the guy in front and I just looked at each other with clearly the same thought and eyeroll. Lol. Iirc agent shoed them away but they still tried to push in front of those patiently waiting there correctly. A true DYKWIA moment.

How many do staff see per day I wonder?

 

[justinbrett]

So through my wife, who manages high-wealth individuals, I regularly meet plenty of genuinely top tier people. They are almost all humble, friendly, and personable. It's the halfway-theres who are ostentatious and loud.

Yep. I was once told the millionaire wears an Armani suit, the billionaire wears jeans and a t-shirt.

 

[SheikYerbouti]

I don't count myself as top tier (despite having P1 status - two different things imo).

I mean top-tier in life, not in frequent flyer programs. Like people you see on the front page of the paper.

 

[RichardMEL]

I mean top-tier in life, not in frequent flyer programs. Like people you see on the front page of the paper.

Which is what I meant exactly by "two different things"

Some equate things LIKE "status" be it airline, fancy club memberships or even who is seen at what parties or high ebd places as that.

I am absolutely a nobody - and thrilled to be just that lol

I have also met a few famous people over the course of my life from a number of different fields... some who have been on front oages etc.. and in the main very DTE and "normal" - specially when treated as such. With respect but not fawning or anything.

I've met a few well known AFL footballers for example. OK not the Gates or Bezos's of this universe but still.. and I found that what these guys really seemed to loce was NOT talking about their job, but the normal life stuff. How do you kick back during dowtime, hobbies, interests, talking about kids and family stuff that most people deal with etc. You know, because we all poop kind of thing.

Not just footballers, but others in arts and other areas, and again I agree in the main not arrogant DYKWIA types (but when everyone DOES KWTA it does provude for the expected treatment).

As a nobody though I do not expect them to KWIA or treat me as such. Indeed more than happy to be part of the hoi poloi.

 

[oz_mark]

I’ve been coughing about this for years

Current F Lounge Menu (SYD/MEL) and relevant topics

Even the French 75 was from a premix bottle containing only 1 standard drink I don’t think the attendant was supposed to hand me the bottle.

This thread title did indeed give me this sense of deja vu!