Strange interaction on Qantas

[Moy]

I had a really strange experience on a recent flight. I was travelling business class on an eight-hour leg. About three and a half hours in, I’d had two glasses of wine and two small whiskies. When the cabin crew came past, I politely asked for a top-up and a snack. He responded by saying he could only serve me water because I’d already had several whiskies.

To be honest, I was mortified. It made me feel like I’d been labelled an alcoholic. I calmly explained that I’d only had two whiskies and asked whether I seemed inebriated. He replied, “You don’t actually, but I can only go off the information I’ve been given.”

I didn’t get defensive, I smiled, thanked him, and said not to worry, I’d have some water and get some sleep instead.

I’ve been flying for years and have never had anything like that happen. What made it even stranger was that on the first leg of the journey, the flight attendant was proactively topping up my glass and offering different wines to try, most of which I declined.

The whole interaction left me feeling pretty deflated. Now I’m even wondering whether something has been noted on my Qantas profile about drinking. I’m probably overthinking it, but I needed to vent.

 

[flyingfan]

It's definitely not a nice feeling but perhaps they're erring on the conservative side of responsible service of alcohol, and some FAs are more conservative than others? I'm guessing (without having an RSA myself) that people don't have to show obvious signs of inebriation to reach the need to be cut off, especially while in the air.

 

[Justinf]

I experienced this in the Perth international business lounge while waiting for the QF leg to MEL on the LHR-PER-MEL flight.
Had 2 G&Ts and was refused another and offered water instead. I hadn't had anything to drink other than those two for 14 hours.
Didn't overly bother me, and I accepted it, but I can certainly relate to how you felt.

 

[Invisible Monkey]

Makes a change from the looks I get when I turn down all offers of alcoholic beverages with a "thanks but I don't drink" and request a hot chocolate instead...

 

[DejaBrew]

Makes a change from the looks I get when I turn down all offers of alcoholic beverages with a "thanks but I don't drink" and request a hot chocolate instead...

There's always one troublemaker aboard any given flight...

 

[clifford]

Very much a flight attendant attitude thing IMO. I've found that in business on Qantas international flights they tend to err on the side of trying to give you too much rather than too little.

I've never been refused a drink on a plane, but some airlines (eg some of those from Islamic countries) do try and limit your intake by forgetting to bring the drink.

 

[Invisible Monkey]

There's always one troublemaker aboard any given flight...

It's my purpose in life to be the weird one no matter the place or situation.