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.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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.

Maybe - and who knows - there might have been someone like a supervisor or something on board, making sure SOPs were being followed? Qantas follows RSA and maybe the crew were being marked on this flight.

Normally crew are very proactive in offering top-ups.

I wouldn’t take this personally! Can understand how you’d feel deflated… but just put it down to a one time thing, out of your - and maybe the crew’s - control.

 

[Hvr]

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. <snip>

Well actually you've said you'd only had two drinks when you'd actually had four. 2 whiskies and 2 wines. Understating the amount of alcohol consumed is a consideration when determining if more should be served.

As someone who has previously had RSA responsibilities and have advised the relevant people to cut off customers I probably would have cut you off as well. Especially since you can't leave a plane mid-flight.

An over abundance of caution is better than resolving conflict.

 

[DejaBrew]

Maybe - and who knows - there might have been someone like a supervisor or something on board, making sure SOPs were being followed? Qantas follows RSA and maybe the crew were being marked on this flight.

Normally crew are very proactive in offering top-ups.

I wouldn’t take this personally! Can understand how you’d feel deflated… but just put it down to a one time thing, out of your - and maybe the crew’s - control.

For all you'd know the crew may have already had to cut someone else off further down the back of the bus and the message had been relayed to remaining crew to be conservative in their approach to alcohol service. So many variables at play, so completely agree it's best to not take it personally and just chalk it up to a quirk of that flight and/or crew member.

 

[Moy]

Well actually you've said you'd only had two drinks when you'd actually had four. 2 whiskies and 2 wines. Understating the amount of alcohol consumed is a consideration when determining if more should be served.

As someone who has previously had RSA responsibilities and have advised the relevant people to cut off customers I probably would have cut you off as well. Especially since you can't leave a plane mid-flight.

An over abundance of caution is better than resolving conflict.

I was clarifying with the FA that I’d had 2 whisky’s and not several but yes, you are correct I had 4 drinks over 3.5 hours which I thought was fine. I did RSA a long time ago and it was 2 drinks in hour 1 and 1 there after. Anyway, I bore no ill feelings, the FA was polite and just doing his job. Just felt a bit judged and then sort of embarrassed/ cough afterwards. A shame as the 1st flight was polar opposite.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Well actually you've said you'd only had two drinks when you'd actually had four. 2 whiskies and 2 wines. Understating the amount of alcohol consumed is a consideration when determining if more should be served.

As someone who has previously had RSA responsibilities and have advised the relevant people to cut off customers I probably would have cut you off as well. Especially since you can't leave a plane mid-flight.

An over abundance of caution is better than resolving conflict.

Also keeping in mind that airline pours don’t reflect RSA units. Each whiskey is probably the equivalent of 1.5-2 units you’d get in a bar or pub, and the same for wine. So the four drinks are probably closer to 6-8!

But it’s still an unusual occurrence on airlines in premium cabins. In F you’d have a couple glasses of champagne before takeoff, another drink after takeoff… and they don’t then cut you off for your meal! Business class wouldn’t be far behind!

 

[Moy]

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...

Also keeping in mind that airline pours don’t reflect RSA units. Each whiskey is probably the equivalent of 1.5-2 units you’d get in a bar or pub, and the same for wine. So the four drinks are probably closer to 6-8!

But it’s still an unusual occurrence on airlines in premium cabins. In F you’d have a couple glasses of champagne before takeoff, another drink after takeoff… and they don’t then cut you off for your meal! Business class wouldn’t be far behind!

Yeah, good point about the standard pours. You’re probably right, I may well have had 6 standard drinks. This was my 5th return business class trip to Europe in the last 2 years and I’ve never had this happen and I’ve definitely had more drink in the past - my wife and i had a honeymoon trip in JAL and it felt like the crew were on a mission to get us very drunk. Anyway - appreciate all the kind replies. Maybe next time I’ll just ask for a hot chocolate! Thanks legends

 

[Invisible Monkey]

Yeah, good point about the standard pours. You’re probably right, I may well have had 6 standard drinks. This was my 5th return business class trip to Europe in the last 2 years and I’ve never had this happen and I’ve definitely had more drink in the past - my wife and i had a honeymoon trip in JAL and it felt like the crew were on a mission to get us very drunk. Anyway - appreciate all the kind replies. Maybe next time I’ll just ask for a hot chocolate! Thanks legends

Be careful, it's 50/50 whether you'd get a positive reaction.

One FA was delighted I requested it and went as far as making me a second one when she saw how average the first one looked. I'll give her credit, the one she brought me was fantastic compared to the first one.

On other occasions, the FA seemed put out with my request... that's the luck of the draw when it comes to crew, their personalties and other factors.

 

[shuuy]

interesting - my 8 sake SIN-LHR on SQ was how I met my wife!

 

[muppet]

Yeah, good point about the standard pours. You’re probably right, I may well have had 6 standard drinks. This was my 5th return business class trip to Europe in the last 2 years and I’ve never had this happen and I’ve definitely had more drink in the past - my wife and i had a honeymoon trip in JAL and it felt like the crew were on a mission to get us very drunk. Anyway - appreciate all the kind replies. Maybe next time I’ll just ask for a hot chocolate! Thanks legends

6 standard drinks in 3.5 hours and I could legally drive! You weren’t expected to land the plane were you?

Also, those wine glass pours are tiny on QF - would be amazed if they were 2 standard drinks.

I’d feel pretty deflated as well to be honest, it’s not nice to accused of drinking too much.

 

[DejaBrew]

Also, those wine glass pours are tiny on QF - would be amazed if they were 2 standard drinks.

Somewhat grasping at straws here, but let's also not forget the added effect of altitude.

Again, wouldn't read much into the situation itself - likely a crew member exercising an abundance of caution rather than being anything personal.

 

[Seat0B]

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...

Yes it’s the same look I get when asking for still water and turning down all alcohol on flights (QF26 I’m looking at you). Often followed up with “are you sure?” I haven’t really been drinking since chemo screwed up my sense of taste a few years back. I hate being made to feel weird, so I really understand how you felt @Moy

 

[Layslow]

That's why I love BA. When I asked for a G&T from Heathrow to Istanbul the only question I got asked was - two or three? Mini bottles (!) It means they have a happy customer who doesn't pester them. One of the reasons I love SQ is they have never declined a drink request, no matter how early in the morning - or even during a 16 hour daytime flight - where I did nothing else but surf the net and drink. I think you just lucked out on QF, don't take it personally. At least martinis are back in the lounge

 

[justinbrett]

I think there is an element of "stop bothering me!" if I'm being completely honest. Liberal with booze during meal times but it's much more difficult when most of the cabin are sleeping.

A very different approach to BA/AA you give you two minis at a time in the hope you stop asking for things.

That said, I accept as an Australian flying an Australian airline, there's a reason we can't have nice things. We do love to drink to excess.