Qantas Lounge Dress Standards- a QF response at last.

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graxx

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Two years ago I started this thread (there have been others too):
[h=2]Qantas Lounge Standards[/h]
Qantas have tried to keep their International and Domestic Lounges up to a very high, 'up-to-the-international-competition' standard and they are mostly pretty stylish.
Coming through the Los Angeles Lounge this week however, I was struck with a very obvious, very sad, very depressing and appalling lack of quality in the standard of one element- the passengers.
Is there any point in maintaining great, sophisticated, international quality lounges when a fairly large proportion of the inhabitants are in singlets (to show off your tattoos), shorts and thongs (i.e. flip-flops if your are American). I haven't seen it in other European or American lounges.

Seriously, there were a high proportion of really offensively badly dressed people.

It's not snobbishness (even I wear jeans to travel in these days), and the jacket and tie days are well gone, but it is quite grotty to litter the place with bad taste and sloppy dress and it significantly drops the feeling of 'specialness' of these facilities and indicates an insulting attitude to the airline.
These guys (sadly, generally guys only) wouldn't dress like that to go to a restaurant, so why Qantas Lounges??
Should Qantas introduce some sort of dress code like nightclubs and bars?


and at last Qantas have acted!! It took a long time but they are enforcing the (fairly informal) dress standards that have always been a condition of entry. A victory for common sense and the Australian Frequent Flyer?
 
and at last Qantas have acted!! It took a long time but they are enforcing the (fairly informal) dress standards that have always been a condition of entry. A victory for common sense and the Australian Frequent Flyer?

What people wear passively don't annoy me; it's their active behaviour in the lounge that does eg. holding long mobile phone conversations or video conferencing so that everyone within a 10 metre radius of them can hear clearly.
 
What people wear passively don't annoy me; it's their active behaviour in the lounge that does eg. holding long mobile phone conversations or video conferencing so that everyone within a 10 metre radius of them can hear clearly.

My favourite are full volume video chats with screaming kids on the other side and dad talking to them like a retard.
Hello, all the adults in the lounge can hear you...
 
What people wear passively don't annoy me; it's their active behaviour in the lounge that does eg. holding long mobile phone conversations or video conferencing so that everyone within a 10 metre radius of them can hear clearly.

Even when the ones in singlets lift their arms?
 
Flame suit on and secure....
Do we need another level, i.e. Change the business lounge to cater for the suits etc, change the current QP name to lounge bar for mums and dads on holiday, and create a new bar which we could call a public bar for the "others". Perhaps with lingerie girls, maybe strippers on a friday afternoon for the FIFO's.....

No, maybe some common decency, which would include decent behaviour, no bad language, no binge drinking,
 
and at last Qantas have acted!! It took a long time but they are enforcing the (fairly informal) dress standards that have always been a condition of entry.
Dress "standards" which are not defined beyond a subjective term.
A victory for common sense and the Australian Frequent Flyer?
No, it's a victory for stupidity and bigotry.
 
I almost fell foul of this today. After a long trip from CDG/DXB I made it to BNE and having changed into something more "comfortable" prior to landing into BNE (shorts, polo top & thongs) I did soon realise that I was the most underdressed in the BNE domestic business lounge. I haven't been there before so can't say whether it has had an effect on lifting the dress standard etc.

I was more horrified that the bar did not open until 12pm.
 
No shirt, no shoes, no service. It works all over Australia , so I can't see why not in the Qantas lounges. The idea of a "graduated" access appeals.
Level one: welcome to Qantas club waiting room, tea coffee and sandwiches. Footy on TV.
Level two : welcome to Qantas Lounge, enjoy wine beer hot food etc oh and thank you for wearing a shirt , trousers / jeans and footwear.
Level three: welcome to the J lounge. You only get in here by qualification ( gold plat etc or traveling in J) and by making it past level one ( regardless of status) based on dress standards .
Could be a problem for a group , where on goose wears stubbies and thongs. But for me , that's his look out.
And one more thing, a soundproof room for those who want to make phone calls. Otherwise texting only in the main lounge.
I reckon I could push the singlet brigade across to VA in 6 months .
The problem with all this is that the "elite" tag that once applied to the lounge has been replaced with the frequency tag and so the great unwashed are invading.
But the airlines are their own worst enemy here, they let their standards slip in the beginning, so correcting this is going to be tough.
I flew from AKL to BNE last night , I had my "mobility challenged" 81 year old mum with me. We were first on. More over I upgraded her ( it was a last minute decision for her to come with me) so we sat in 1A and 1C
VERY few sitting in Y were dressed in much more than T Shirts, cargo shorts and thongs.
But no overtly scruffy pax. I suspect it's more comfortable to wear loose clothing if you are going to be jammed in a Y seat.
 
The problem with all this is that the "elite" tag that once applied to the lounge has been replaced with the frequency tag and so the great unwashed are invading.

But isn't that why we have business class lounges and Qantas Clubs to start with? They are a separate tier for comfort rather than any sense of luxury (as afforded by First lounges).

Have a look at the blurbs from the QF website.

This on QF Clubs and business lounges:

Start your international journey in the comfort of the International Business Lounge


and

Relax and unwind in the Qantas Club before your next domestic flight.

compared to First lounges (my bolding of words and phrases designed to invoke 'luxury'):

  • A Concierge and First Host ready to assist you with your travel needs.
  • Our award winning Marc Newson-designed lounge+, with multiple seating arrangements to suit your mood.
  • A signature menu created by leading Australian restaurateur, Neil Perry.
  • Complimentary treatments at our luxurious Aurora Day Spa.
  • Private business suites equipped to help you continue working.
  • A library, magazines, newspapers, internet access and plasma screens to keep you entertained.

One is simply to relax, the other is aimed somewhat more upmarket.

Can't we just be happy with the distinction we already have? If people want higher standards they might find them in the appropriate lounge?
 
The Frequent Flyer Concierge team takes the hard work out of finding reward seat availability. Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, they'll help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.

AFF Supporters can remove this and all advertisements

Even when the ones in singlets lift their arms?

Errr that's a BO issue, and BO will happen regardless of what they wear.

Many people can wear singlet tops and smell nice - in fact, I will go smell my fiancee who's wearing a sleeveless top right now just to prove that point ;)
 
I'm opposed to any onerous dress standards. The Qantas dress standards come off as being too vague to me (WTF is "smart casual???) and put too much power on the staff, who can pick and choose who to let in like some nightclub bouncer. I think that beyond making sure that people are wearing some sort of footwear and at least shorts and a singlet, there isn't much reason for dress codes. Better in summer to have someone comfortable in shorts and a singlet rather than sweating like a pig in a suit.
 
Errr that's a BO issue, and BO will happen regardless of what they wear.

Many people can wear singlet tops and smell nice - in fact, I will go smell my fiancee who's wearing a sleeveless top right now just to prove that point ;)


How was it?
 
As someone who lives in the tropics, smart casual to us IS T Shirt and shorts and your good thongs.

I wonder if people in cold places whinge about slobs in the lounge wearing tracksuits, hoodies and ugg boots...

So long as you are neat and tidy...and well behaved I don't care.
 
I wonder if people in cold places whinge about slobs in the lounge wearing tracksuits, hoodies and ugg boots..

For some people whinging is their destiny and God given right, they are not under represented in this forum.
 
What about if you are well dressed you are let into the J Lounge and if not then its the QP. At least this way as a Gold I'll always get J Lounge access :D
 
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