Rockhampton Qantas Club - Out of Order

[Ray5]

On a day trip to Rocky today, I was looking forward to a soothing ale or two in the little broom closet which passes for the Qantas Club in Rocky. While it's small, it's entirely functional and does the job very well I think, considering the circumstances.

My thirst was particularly keen as my meeting pushed me right up to departure and I was booked to Brisbane on a pre-4pm departing crash8-400...which, I was recently mortified to discover, does not serve alcohol. "Not on flights that depart before 4pm, sir", a helpful QF lass recently cheerfully explained to the open-mouthed disbelieving traveller with the blood slowly draining from his extremeties.

Anyway, this afternoon I get a good look at the renovations to the airport (which I totally ignored on my morning arrival) and discover a big 'Closed For Renovation' sign posted on the door of the Fitzroy Room.

No heads-up or explanation from counter staff and certainly no offer of a quiet orange whip at the main concourse bar, courtesy of QF.

I get to Rocky once every few weeks, have been a QP member for some years now, visit the QF site regularly and read the e-mailed QF advertising/information guff pretty thoroughly.....or so I thought.

Have I missed something? Does anyone know how long Rocky QP is down for the count? Any thoughts on helpless borderline alcoholic QP members being forced to fend for themselves, without the slightest hint of an interim balancing effort on the part of QF?

 

[flyer4703]

I was caught out ten days ago, arrived at the airport early, operating aircraft broke down in Townsville, so had to wait for a flight diverted from Emerald. Three hours later finally got off the ground.
Three hours at Rocky airport is a long time at any time, but during renovations it seemed an eternity.
I am in Rocky every couple of weeks but haven't seen anything advising the lounge would be closed.
I consoled myself with the up market facilities offered by the "renovation in progress" restaurant and bar
At least it was an evening flight so they were serving alcohol on board.
Made some enquires at QF check in and was told "renovations should be finished in October mate, if they are on time"
So I guess you can expect the lounge to open again about that time.

 

[justinbrett]

Hang on, hang on - let's go back a bit. No alchohol on Dash-8's before 4pm. WTF? I quite enjoy having a lunch time drink. What's the story?

 

[Groundfeeder]

"renovations should be finished in October mate, if they are on time"

Roy G Biv - The Rockvegas QP is my second home so this is a tragedy!!

I've been tolerating the reduced space while they support the QP roof from collapsing and even the plainly ignorant and rude people who stand in front of the fridge when the joint gets dry and crowded (every flight!). Why don't they stand in front of the TV for cough* sake?

I asked once if they were enlarging the QP but got the typical Rockvegas shrug from QF staffer as he didn't know either.

 

[freqbugsmasher]

I consoled myself with the up market facilities offered by the "renovation in progress" restaurant and bar

Ahh yes renovations. Having them done at home so don't get me started. Scheduling travel to be away/ on site for the most part.

 

[Ray5]

No alchohol on Dash-8's before 4pm. WTF?

reflecting on it now, i can't believe i didn't front the QF lass with a 'WTF' of my own. i must still have been in a shocked dry stupor.

.....this is a tragedy!!

combine it with a dry flight home and put them both on the back of a grinding day's work in rockhampton.....and tragedy quickly evolves into an event of suffering, specifically banned under the geneva convention.

Ahh yes renovations. Having them done at home so don't get me started. Scheduling travel to be away/ on site for the most part.

having neither the talent nor the energy for renovations myself, i can sympathise. just make sure your schedule doesn't include the capricornian beef capital.

 

[justinbrett]

reflecting on it now, i can't believe i didn't front the QF lass with a 'WTF' of my own. i must still have been in a shocked dry stupor.



combine it with a dry flight home and put them both on the back of a grinding day's work in rockhampton.....and tragedy quickly evolves into an event of suffering, specifically banned under the geneva convention.



having neither the talent nor the energy for renovations myself, i can sympathise. just make sure your schedule doesn't include the capricornian beef capital.

Maybe she was new and confused. There is a policy of no free alcohol before 4pm - but you can normally still pay for it. I know you can definitely get them on 737s and QFLink 717s - I'm a frequent customer!

 

[Ray5]

Maybe she was new and confused. There is a policy of no free alcohol before 4pm - but you can normally still pay for it. I know you can definitely get them on 737s and QFLink 717s - I'm a frequent customer!

thanks justinbrett. that would make eminent sense...and provides some hope for weary QP travellers out of RKY.

 

[DPG]

I was on a 5pm flight from GLT to BNE yesterday and received an announcement that: "Due to unforseen circumstances there will be no alochol service on this flight."

Sadly no QP in Gladstone, then again, no air-conditioning in the new departures 'hall'. :shock:

D P G

 

[Mal]

I was on a 5pm flight from GLT to BNE yesterday and received an announcement that: "Due to unforseen circumstances there will be no alochol service on this flight."

Was there a mini riot?

It's not like you can just head to your nearest bottlo for your 6-pack while in the air

 

[Ray5]

Sadly no QP in Gladstone, then again, no air-conditioning in the new departures 'hall'. :shock:

D P G

last time i was there (middle of may) the place still had the smell of new carpet and tiles...so when i saw the no air-con signs, i thought for sure it was just because it was still in the midst of construction. you're there two months later and no change?!? they can't possibly be thinking of not wiring it up.

then again, gladstone's not that bad in summer, is it?

 

[DPG]

Was there a mini riot?

It's not like you can just head to your nearest bottlo for your 6-pack while in the air

There was definately several small rumbles! I survived as I knew I was soon going to be in the BNE QP!

D P G

 

[Yada Yada]

Maybe she was new and confused. There is a policy of no free alcohol before 4pm - but you can normally still pay for it. I know you can definitely get them on 737s and QFLink 717s - I'm a frequent customer!

On a related topic... I've been on QF444 MEL-SYD a number of times which departs at 15:30. If the flight is a little delayed getting away, you should see the FA's hurrying like mad to get the food/drink service over and done with so that they do not have to hand out free alcohol!

 

[DPG]

On a related topic... I've been on QF444 MEL-SYD a number of times which departs at 15:30. If the flight is a little delayed getting away, you should see the FA's hurrying like mad to get the food/drink service over and done with so that they do not have to hand out free alcohol!

That said, it can't take the FA's too long to through out the nuts or biscuits at 3.30pm...

Some of the meals on QF are such a cop out!

D P G