Ladies , is a solo female FF who frequents First Lounges a rare breed indeed?

[Grooba]

This thread wins the Most Pointless Thread Of The Week award.

More like some comments belong in a "pointless remarks of the week" thread.

The OP has a very valid point. I do regularly see solo female travellers out on the road however they are generally in the minority.

 

[Moody]

Thanks to this forum I have managed to gain and maintain platinum for the past few years off the back of an annual trip to the US plus a few other short international adventures, and achieved by a combination of circuitous routes , ASAs before their demise and occasional tickets purchased in Biz including to the USA ex various cheap Asian cities on one world carriers. There is not much domestic travel and my trips are entirely for leisure not business.
I am nearing the end of a whirlwind trip that has included FLounging in SYD, HKG (x2) JFK (various terminals) and NRT (x2).I had not really noticed that first lounge clients are so overwhelmingly male until this trip due to the pondering time afforded by a couple of long connections, but I presume that is a statistical fact anyway, and the solo female FF is not that common?

In Australia the ratio of female to male "elites" is understood to be 1 in 20. People here seem mostly comfortable with that fact.

 

[pagingjoan]

In Australia the ratio of female to male "elites" is understood to be 1 in 20. People here seem mostly comfortable with that fact.

Some of us would be even more comfortable if the ratio were a little more balanced.

 

[LACE]

I tend to agree with the observation there aren't many solo female travellers in the business lounges worldwide.

That sort of tells me something and I hope it is not taken as sexist.

Men are comfortable travelling alone.

I agree, most of the women I know aren't even comfortable going to the movies alone. They all think I'm strange traveling overseas (or domestically for that matter) by myself. And most of my friends have never even heard of status credits.

 

[Katie]

I noticed that I was the only woman in the QF BNE J Lounge a few months ago before my Monday OMG o'clock flight to MEL. It didn't last that long, but premium lounges don't seem to be places that represent the full variety of society - both in the representstive number of the sexes, and also racial diversity.
In my trips to the BNE and SYD Flounges, I'd generally say there are relatively few solo women travellers. There are assumptions we could draw from this observatio; not sure what's valid.

* There are fewer women WPs and above than men WPs and above (highly likely, not really an assumption)
* Fewer women participate in occupations requiring frequent travel that allows them to easily earn status (or not easily with lots of BIS kms!)
* Some women do not like travelling alone (I don't understand that, but I guess if any person were like that, they would be unlikely to earn status on an airline, unless they are able to travel at the pointy end all the time and with a friend/relative/companion)
* AFF, FT, and other sites have not marketed themselves sufficiently to women, so women travellers don't know how they can earn status more easily. <remove tongue from cheek somewhat ....>

and all kinds of other theories we could postulate on, which may or may not have any data or bare anecdotes or assumptions behind them.

FWIW, I know very few women who wouldn't love to visit the FLounge and its spa.
Some of the J Lounges during peak road warrior travel times *may* feel somewhat like a pub or bar environment, so anyone a bit shy or who wouldn't want to share a block of 4 seats with strangers may be disinclined to enter the lounge. But I'm assuming and extrapolating, as I've boldly walked up to groups in the BNE Intl QP and asked to sit in the unused seat of 4 when 3 men were sitting in the other seats.

Looking forward to my next BNE and SYF FLounge solo visits ....

 

[Pushka]

I've had quite a few friends saying they couldn't possibly travel alone. What a lot of missed opportunities and experiences.

 

[Travelqueen]

I've had quite a few friends saying they couldn't possibly travel alone. What a lot of missed opportunities and experiences.

i quite like traveling alone, as my husband does not get the excitement I get from travel, and so can sometimes dampen the mood!!
however, I agree that solo women are the minority in 'J' class, and sometimes I have felt a bit out of the "boys club" traveling.

not that I am bothered by it at all though.....I still love my lounges and travel.

TQ

 

[Pushka]

i quite like traveling alone, as my husband does not get the excitement I get from travel, and so can sometimes dampen the mood!!

I totally understand. I love cruising, MrP, not so much. He gets a bit green although is fine on med cruises where it's usually calm. I love it rough - rougher the better.

 

[JohnK]

I've had quite a few friends saying they couldn't possibly travel alone. What a lot of missed opportunities and experiences.

But that is reality. I decided a long time ago that I wasn't going to let people spoil my travel plans.

 

[knasty]

My last trip on CX First - outbound 4 ladies, 2 men (inc me), inbound 2 ladies and me (plus both FAs were ladies). In each case the ladies were travelling alone. Was a very nice change from J where it's usually 95% male. I say more ladies in the F lounge!

 

[Heleigh]

Either 2012 or 2013 HKG-SYD QF F 13 males and I quite a surprise after changing in to PJ's walked back from loo - 13 guys and I have to say there were a lot of really nice/good looking and handsome guys. Sorry Knasty, I’d rather look at guys.

 

[Pushka]

Either 2012 or 2013 HKG-SYD QF F 13 males and I quite a surprise after changing in to PJ's walked back from loo - 13 guys and I have to say there were a lot of really nice/good looking and handsome guys. Sorry Knasty, I’d rather look at guys.

Maybe. But you were wearing jammies!

 

[Isochronous]

So, any ladies need guesting into the F Lounge? I might just be keen to oblige....

 

[Pushka]

So, any ladies need guesting into the F Lounge? I might just be keen to oblige....

I'll keep that in mind.

 

[Quickstatus]

Either 2012 or 2013 HKG-SYD QF F 13 males and I quite a surprise after changing in to PJ's walked back from loo - 13 guys and I have to say there were a lot of really nice/good looking and handsome guys. Sorry Knasty, I’d rather look at guys.

Lower oxygen levels and alcohol can do wonders to one's perception

 

[blackcat20]

I'm perfectly comfortable travelling on my own, and always have been. Being female travelling solo tends to have more risks but I've never felt unsafe anywhere. Even my very first OS trip was done solo. These days I'm lucky enough to have someone to travel with.

And the J cabin on this trip looked slightly more female-dominated...

 

[NFF]

http://livelearnevolve.com/buy-that-damn-plane-ticket-already/

 

[JohnK]

I say more ladies in the F lounge!

Totally agree.

 

[jedinite]

I have no issue travelling alone, certainly makes the decision making process easier with no one to consult with Do I go straight to the lounge. browse duty free, want the window or the aisle seat.

I'm often the only female in sight in the J/F lounges or the first 10 rows onboard. Doesn't bother me. What does bother me, is I have now got to the age where people are addressing me as Mrs "surname"

At first, the Perth friday afternoon lounge crowd was the only time I felt a little uncomfortable, as hi vis city starts to get one too many under their belts, but I've discovered they are harmless, and nothing fazes me now.

 

[medhead]

There are a few solo female FF's here and on FFA. Emily Howard springs to mind.

Emily Howard is a lady!