Perth Qantas lounge

[Flying Fox]

I need to get this off my chest. I occasionally fly in and out of Perth (four times this year) and I have been shocked by the state of the Perth Qantas lounge.Not only is it crowded and often difficult to get a seat, its food offering is like a school canteen. I realise that it's essentially the transit point for steel capped boots FIFOing to/fro the fields, but Perth is a major Australian city and warrants a decent lounge, especially if you've paid a ginormous J fare and want somewhere quiet to work before being rendered offline for 4 hours before flying back east.Qantas must be making a bomb out of Perth flights. So, it's really about time they started investing in reasonable infrastructure to support the people who are paying lots of money for fares. This has got to include a reasonable J lounge where businesspeople can work.

You should have seen it before it was expanded (IIRC prior to Aug 2010). It was much worse back then!

 

[userlame]

I'm in the PER lounge now, having endured a group of thong-wearing tattooed bogans having a loud discussion where the 'F-word' was thrown around like punctuation. I'd have had a word if there weren't six of them and one of me. It's really not up to me to complain about this - surely Qantas should be proactive about maintaining standards in what is meant to be a premium lounge.

We need a bogan lounge and a business lounge. Let them eat party pies out of a trough downstairs. I'll be up here trying to work.

 

[RWJ777]

I'm in the PER lounge now, having endured a group of thong-wearing tattooed bogans having a loud discussion where the 'F-word' was thrown around like punctuation. I'd have had a word if there weren't six of them and one of me. It's really not up to me to complain about this - surely Qantas should be proactive about maintaining standards in what is meant to be a premium lounge.

We need a bogan lounge and a business lounge. Let them eat party pies out of a trough downstairs. I'll be up here trying to work.

Oh, they must have been the same guys that were there last night when i was subjected to simiar behaviour; and a few weeks before that when I last flew out of Perth and availed myself of the Qantas club sardine can. What a remarkable coincidence!

It's simply not good enough. Maybe enforcement of (existing but unenforced) dress standards would help.

 

[Sprucegoose]

There should be a resources only club with hi viz dress standards. Too much riff raff in Perth for my liking.

 

[EmilyHoward]

I think the Perth Domestic Lounge is called the 'Flouro Lounge'. At least that's what I call it. There is really nothing Qantas can do however. As has been said, even if they do have a J lounge, it would be just as full with Flouro people because many of them are Platinums. Sometimes I do go in the lounge as it does have a great view but mostly I don't get food there and usually I just buy a paper downstairs, or a magazine and read it down there. It is so much quieter. But I don't see that there is really anything Qantas can do.

EH

 

[Canny man]

Most high viz shirts have the company logo and the name of the individual on them. If people are truly being offensive (as opposed to just wearing high-viz) I would imagine that a letter to the CEO citing the date, time, and perhaps even names of the people and suggesting that the company's reputation is being sullied would have quite an effect.

One of my employees was reported to me for being rude to staff and drunk (not in a lounge, but in our local bar). He is no longer with us.

 

[11sjw]

I'm in the PER lounge now, having endured a group of thong-wearing tattooed bogans having a loud discussion where the 'F-word' was thrown around like punctuation. I'd have had a word if there weren't six of them and one of me. It's really not up to me to complain about this - surely Qantas should be proactive about maintaining standards in what is meant to be a premium lounge.

We need a bogan lounge and a business lounge. Let them eat party pies out of a trough downstairs. I'll be up here trying to work.

Had you thought of relocating yourself so you could work? Yes QF could do something, however I'd hate to be the lounge "angel" that had to do it.

Again the people wearing the Hi-Viz gear generally aren't the issue as they tend to be day trippers/overnighters or in the very least senior managers on their site. The guys in the "TapOut" gear with the Tatts are the guys that work "Up North" and tend to be the rowdy ones.

 

[The Rok]

Most high viz shirts have the company logo and the name of the individual on them. If people are truly being offensive (as opposed to just wearing high-viz) I would imagine that a letter to the CEO citing the date, time, and perhaps even names of the people and suggesting that the company's reputation is being sullied would have quite an effect.

One of my employees was reported to me for being rude to staff and drunk (not in a lounge, but in our local bar). He is no longer with us.

Companies reputation is being sullied by wearing company uniform while on company duties? Do you really think that is helpful.

It is not an offence to wear hi viz attire, I fail to see why some people are offended by it. Unless the individual is doing something wrong then I really cannot see what all the fuss is. I don't wear hi viz when travelling but thats because we get allocated time for a shower & change of clothes prior to leaving site and we don't work on the day of mobilisation but I can still not fathom peoples complete yuppie attitude of "I don't want hi viz in MY lounge" Get over yourselves.

Those Hi Viz wearing thugs flying on fully flexible Y & sometimes J fares are subsidising those of you on El Cheapo fares… They have earned status and have every much an entitlement to use the lounge as anybody else…

 

[drewbles]

Companies reputation is being sullied by wearing company uniform while on company duties? Do you really think that is helpful.

It is not an offence to wear hi viz attire, I fail to see why some people are offended by it. Unless the individual is doing something wrong then I really cannot see what all the fuss is. I don't wear hi viz when travelling but thats because we get allocated time for a shower & change of clothes prior to leaving site and we don't work on the day of mobilisation but I can still not fathom peoples complete yuppie attitude of "I don't want hi viz in MY lounge" Get over yourselves.

Those Hi Viz wearing thugs flying on fully flexible Y & sometimes J fares are subsidising those of you on El Cheapo fares… They have earned status and have every much an entitlement to use the lounge as anybody else…

Qantas Club rules state attire must be neat and respectable. People in singlets, thongs and hi-viz jackets are not, IMHO, neat and respectable.

People should have the right to enjoy the lounge in comfort. A group of people swearing constantly and loudly is not acceptable, be it a lounge, on an aircraft, a bus, anywhere. It's common manners and courtesy (regardless of what you're wearing).

Many of the 'hi-viz' brigade in PER are flying on charters or aircraft that are 95% or more all miners. QF are making a fortune on them, and they're not offsetting anyones fares.

It's down to 'do unto others' here. I still believe QF should enforce a policy of people being respectful, quiet and at least know what deodorant is.

 

[11sjw]

There should be a resources only club with hi viz dress standards. Too much riff raff in Perth for my liking.

Perhaps excluding the suits from the existing Lounge would be an easier task. They can get a coffee downstairs and work there easily enough. With so few of them why cater to them at all?

 

[Cynicor]

Companies reputation is being sullied by wearing company uniform while on company duties? Do you really think that is helpful.

It is not an offence to wear hi viz attire, I fail to see why some people are offended by it. Unless the individual is doing something wrong then I really cannot see what all the fuss is. I don't wear hi viz when travelling but thats because we get allocated time for a shower & change of clothes prior to leaving site and we don't work on the day of mobilisation but I can still not fathom peoples complete yuppie attitude of "I don't want hi viz in MY lounge" Get over yourselves.

Those Hi Viz wearing thugs flying on fully flexible Y & sometimes J fares are subsidising those of you on El Cheapo fares… They have earned status and have every much an entitlement to use the lounge as anybody else…

I completely agree with you, but the post you have chosen to quote does not contradict your own in any way. It seems a bit like you are attacking Canny Man, when really there's few posts in this thread that suggest Hi-Vis should be banned altogether in the lounge.

Personally, I feel the QP would be improved by opening a business lounge just to spread the load of people. I fly domestic only rarely and visited the QF business lounge in Syd yesterday. I was amazed at how large it was, and feel they need at least this for Per.

 

[11sjw]

I completely agree with you, but the post you have chosen to quote does not contradict your own in any way. It seems a bit like you are attacking Canny Man, when really there's few posts in this thread that suggest Hi-Vis should be banned altogether in the lounge.

Personally, I feel the QP would be improved by opening a business lounge just to spread the load of people. I fly domestic only rarely and visited the QF business lounge in Syd yesterday. I was amazed at how large it was, and feel they need at least this for Per.

Give it 3 years and that will be the case. Pity buildings don't just pop up overnight, isn't it?

 

[anat0l]

Most high viz shirts have the company logo and the name of the individual on them. If people are truly being offensive (as opposed to just wearing high-viz) I would imagine that a letter to the CEO citing the date, time, and perhaps even names of the people and suggesting that the company's reputation is being sullied would have quite an effect.

One of my employees was reported to me for being rude to staff and drunk (not in a lounge, but in our local bar). He is no longer with us.

I assume your employee is "no longer with you" for the said reasons you have implied (and not other reasons, or primarily for other reasons).

I actually think that's a great idea, though suffice to say many people will not do this, and I'd say even less CEOs / line managers will take it on board (present company excepted, who seems to set a fine example of enforcing a particular standard).

Qantas Club rules state attire must be neat and respectable. People in singlets, thongs and hi-viz jackets are not, IMHO, neat and respectable.

No thongs? Ha! You're going to be a riot with everyone who uses the QP when they go for holidays or non-work purposes. (Not me - I always travel in shoes - work or holiday).

Fundamentally I don't have an issue with hi-viz in the lounge. Hi-viz does not make the bad patron. That said, if you do enter a lounge, of course make sure that even if you are in hi-viz, you are fairly decent. If your hi-viz is dirty, change it.

It's down to 'do unto others' here. I still believe QF should enforce a policy of people being respectful, quiet and at least know what deodorant is.

I wonder how would QF (indeed, any company that owns a premises of sorts) enforce such a policy. It could easily backfire on QF through media channels (read: "Man Oppressed by Qantas for being a regular Aussie" or something along that tripe); it's very, very easy to accuse QF of being prejudicial / biased / "un-Australian" or what not and QF will never have a right of reply (or at least people will never believe QF).

I do agree that QF should enforce a standard in the lounges, but I just don't see how they can do it. This is not like a nightclub where bouncers can be sent in and literally toss people out the door and onto the street as they see fit, with a good kick in the backside for the road.

 

[Canny man]

Companies reputation is being sullied by wearing company uniform while on company duties? Do you really think that is helpful.

It is not an offence to wear hi viz attire, I fail to see why some people are offended by it. Unless the individual is doing something wrong then I really cannot see what all the fuss is. I don't wear hi viz when travelling but thats because we get allocated time for a shower & change of clothes prior to leaving site and we don't work on the day of mobilisation but I can still not fathom peoples complete yuppie attitude of "I don't want hi viz in MY lounge" Get over yourselves.

Those Hi Viz wearing thugs flying on fully flexible Y & sometimes J fares are subsidising those of you on El Cheapo fares… They have earned status and have every much an entitlement to use the lounge as anybody else…

Must be my grammar. I am not one of the high viz haters, I wear it myself in the lounge if on a day trip.
I don't get how you find I am implying that the wearing the uniform is sullying the reputation. We're talking about the offensive behaviour of individuals and I was merely pointing out that if someone was offended there are other avenues than confrontation.

 

[RWJ777]

Had you thought of relocating yourself so you could work? Yes QF could do something, however I'd hate to be the lounge "angel" that had to do it.

Again the people wearing the Hi-Viz gear generally aren't the issue as they tend to be day trippers/overnighters or in the very least senior managers on their site. The guys in the "TapOut" gear with the Tatts are the guys that work "Up North" and tend to be the rowdy ones.

Space is at such a commodity in the lounge, relocation is often not an option. Forbearance and suffering are the required reactions.

 

[YQY]

I have been to Perth thrice over the last two weeks. I completely agree that that the Qantas Club is far too small in Perth. The high viz crowd can be boisterous at times, however I did not find the crowd rude or offensive in any way and most were willing to share a table with me.

Most miners don't have any option than to wear high visibility gear when they arrive or depart a mine (OH&S) - this includes when they are transported to the local airport etc and it's unreasonable to request them to change before they enter the lounge. Qantas will not be able to ban miners due to their attire due to OH&S Issues and due to number of charter aircraft they fly for the mining companies.

As stated by Rok above, most miners (their companies) pay a premium for flights and most miners from the eastern states will be mostly Gold and Platinum frequent flyers. By having a Domestic Business Lounge, it will not change the mix in the lounges one iota but will hopefully spread the load make it more pleasant experience for the mining and non-mining travelers.

We also need to keep in mind that Australia has sailed through the GFC nearly unscathed largely due to the mining industry.

Note: I don't work for the mining industry, but I have in the past and I'm a white collar suit wearing traveler.

 

[anat0l]

Most miners don't have any option than to wear high visibility gear when they arrive or depart a mine (OH&S) - this includes when they are transported to the local airport etc and it's unreasonable to request them to change before they enter the lounge. Qantas will not be able to ban miners due to their attire due to OH&S Issues and due to number of charter aircraft they fly for the mining companies.

Having travelled to mine sites before, I know this is very true. One time I had to go to KGI for a day meeting at a site and I had no choice to rock up to the QP in my work regalia with steel capped boots (no hi-viz; we had vests given to us on site).

I don't expect a change before entering the lounge or even at all. But if your attire is very dirty then that could be an OHS issue in itself (hygiene, contamination, etc.).

Probably most importantly as most people have expressed here, it's the conduct which is very important. Doesn't matter if you're in a suit or hi-viz.

We also need to keep in mind that Australia has sailed through the GFC nearly unscathed largely due to the mining industry.

That has nothing to do with this topic.

 

[EmilyHoward]

This whole lounge issue from my point of view is not Flouro vest thing. I'm happy to sit with anyone as long as they don't smell (too bad). For me, when I go to a lounge it should be a place you can relax, work if you want to, read a paper if you want to or just look out of the window in peace.

The Flouro lounge in Perth is this: It is mostly overcrowded, everywhere in it is noisy, there are queues for the food, there are queues for the Barista, all the papers are taken, most of the seats are taken, there is nowhere to be peaceful. Hence I don't go there! Simple.

I'm still at a loss to know just how Qantas could fix this.

EH

 

[Ausbt]

Personally I find the corpulent stomachs that spill over many a woollen trouser of some of the arrogant suits rather offensive. I should note I'm a suit wearer myself while in the lounge. I may only have a one-pack, but at least it sees the gym on a regular basis.

 

[Happy Trails]

I'm still at a loss to know just how Qantas could fix this.

How about fixing it for P1s by letting them into the CL.