Qantas getting hard on RSA

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N860CR

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Had a fairly solid day of flying today (unfortunatley). NAN-BNE-MEL-BNE-ROK, all sectors except (obviously) BNE-ROK in J.

Funnily enough, I was hit up for ID to show I'm over 18 (to order drinks) on the BNE-MEL and BNE-ROK flights. Now, I'll take any compliment I can these days! However I am on my way to 30 and I thought it seemed a bit odd (given I've never, ever, been asked for ID on an aeroplane before).

The FA in the J cabin on BNE-MEL managed it very well and for the next two hours remarked about how good I looked (I mean, seriously, I was very close to proposing by the time we got to MEL!) however the Qlink lady was a bit of a cow and seemed very put out when she discovered I wasn't 17.

Doesn't really matter... but seemed interesting that's all. Am I the only one who is looking spectacular for my age? Or has Qantas started a crack down?
 
Don't start me! On a recent rtn to LHR ( in J) the first drink offered ( apart from the truly awful bubbles on the tray) was with the entree, " red or white Princess Fiona"
Is this the death of the Aperitif ?
By contrast 2 BA sectors in J had been offered two drinks prior to meal service.
As per the asking for ID, I think some cost cutting measures are afoot :(
They never asked me for ID but I guess I have too many wrinkles ;)
 
I suspected it might be a bit of a cost cutting measure (seems odd to have it happen twice in the same day when it's never happened in hundreds of flights before). Interesting approach... I've only done a little bar work in my time but I know that a poorly handled ID check (as per the QLink flight) can really leave a bad taste in the customers mouth (so to speak).

I'm still pleased with the BNE-MEL request and compiments though. To the point the other half has stormed off to bed and told me to get over myself!
 
I suspected it might be a bit of a cost cutting measure (seems odd to have it happen twice in the same day when it's never happened in hundreds of flights before)

How can an ID check be considered a cost cutting measure? Your eitehr under 18 and thus can't have booze, or your over 18 and you can.
It could have simply been that the crew had recently redid their RSA course and thus it was forefront on their mind. Or they may have been finding some 16 and 17 year olds have been trying it on of late and thus QF don't want to be hit with a fine.
 
I suspected it might be a bit of a cost cutting measure (seems odd to have it happen twice in the same day when it's never happened in hundreds of flights before).

I doubt it's a cost cutting measure. I've had this happen to me a few times, and I'm even older than you. Generally the crew handle it well - most are a bit surprised at first. For all you know, some have just received a memo that they need to be more vigilent because some bad incident happened.
 
On a recent flight in J my 14year old daughter (who was sitting next to me) was surprised to be offered wine with dinner (she declined) but then a bit shocked when addressed as "Mrs" cat... Not as offended as her 11 year old sister seated behind her who was twice addressed as "Sir":p
 
Don't start me! On a recent rtn to LHR ( in J) the first drink offered ( apart from the truly awful bubbles on the tray) was with the entree, " red or white Princess Fiona"
Is this the death of the Aperitif ?
By contrast 2 BA sectors in J had been offered two drinks prior to meal service.
As per the asking for ID, I think some cost cutting measures are afoot :(
They never asked me for ID but I guess I have too many wrinkles ;)

PF, if they're not asking you for ID it's because they need their eyes checked! The general idea is if you look under 25 then you need to be asked - I would be lodging a formal complaint here about poor RSA practices and you're my secret weapon :)
 
Try being is the USA where there are states that have legislated that anyone purchasing retail liquor get's to be "carded".

That's Anyone - irrespective of apparent age ...
 
On a recent flight in J my 14year old daughter (who was sitting next to me) was surprised to be offered wine with dinner (she declined) but then a bit shocked when addressed as "Mrs" cat... Not as offended as her 11 year old sister seated behind her who was twice addressed as "Sir":p

It used to be that kids over 14 in the UK could be served alcohol with a meal...
 
Try being is the USA where there are states that have legislated that anyone purchasing retail liquor get's to be "carded".

That's Anyone - irrespective of apparent age ...
I was at the baseball in Atlanta about 5 years ago and got asked for ID when purchasing alcohol. (100% ID chech was required)

The problem was the young lady serving could not understand Australian English and I could not understand her deep southern English. We managed with hand signals and by pointing at signs :!:
 
That's very true, and given I was coming in from the US it almost seemed the correct custom.

It's entirely possible that it's a way of cutting back alcohol distribution, however as stated above, they've probably just had a "crack-down" memo go out. I found it odd, that's all, that it happened on 50% of flights yesterday when it's never happened before.
 
Slight tangent but what law does Qantas (and other airlines for that matter) adhere to when departing from another country? For example, on the departures from LAX, HNL and DFW, is Qantas required to adhere to US law and thus minimum age of 21 for service of alcohol, or is it Australian law?

And what about the purely internal QF107/108?
 
I believe like ships, it's "Flag Law".

i.e. The country of registration. This I have been led to believe is generally true, even for sectors like JFK-LAX on QF108 (when Airbourne).

Of course that's is the default situation; other more local regulation can apply in relation to destination/arrival ports.

(e.g. The Australasian ban on smoking for flight segments to/from Australia.)
 
I believe like ships, it's "Flag Law".

i.e. The country of registration. This I have been led to believe is generally true, even for sectors like JFK-LAX on QF108 (when Airbourne).

Hmmm. Good news for post-secondary students looking to fly to the other side of the country for spring break or something.
 
I believe like ships, it's "Flag Law".

i.e. The country of registration. This I have been led to believe is generally true, even for sectors like JFK-LAX on QF108 (when Airbourne).

Interesting - not sure ho wit works on other carriers. For example ex-JED (Saudi) CX do not serve any alcohol but as soon as you get to DXB it is booze ahoy on take off!
 
Of course that's is the default situation; other localised regulation can apply in relation to destination/arrival ports and/or countries traversed en route.

(e.g. The Australian ban on smoking on flight segments to/from Australia.)
 
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It used to be that kids over 14 in the UK could be served alcohol with a meal...

And in New Zealand it comes down to the parent or guardians choice, so long as they aren’t intoxicated. I’m guessing JetConnect flights would therefore be allowed to serve those under 18 so long as the parent/guardian gives the all clear.
 
I don't know what the law is in Chile, Brazil or Argentina but my then 14 year old son was routinely offered (and occasionally accepted) alcohol when dining with us. Was also, iirc, offered alcohol on LAN flights.
 
I have been told by an extremly reliable source, that the reason is, wait for it, be surprised, cost cutting!:eek:
 
Slight tangent but what law does Qantas (and other airlines for that matter) adhere to when departing from another country? For example, on the departures from LAX, HNL and DFW, is Qantas required to adhere to US law and thus minimum age of 21 for service of alcohol, or is it Australian law?

Flying in J on United SYD-LAX in June (the day before my 28th birthday), I was asked if I was over 21. My answer of 'yes' was sufficient - no need for proof apparently.
 
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