Qantas and RSA in J International what is the Go?

[Ansett]

Recently flew J MEL-SIN on QF35 went to get a glass of wine later in the flight only to be greeted by a completely empty bar, spoke to the CSM who advised that they were not allowed legally to have self serve drinks due to the requirements of RSA compliance.

I pointed out that self serve wine was available in the lounges in Melbourne and Sydney and he argued and disagreed with that.

The recent promotion of the new J lounge on the A380 does show self serve drinks available.

My questions are

1) What is the requirements for to ensure RSA and is the CSM correct or is it cost cutting or laziness on behalf of the crew.

2) What is the experience of other Members have they seen the demise of the self serve bar in J international.

I will say this is NOT a whinge just a query.

Look forward to members thoughts and experiences.

 

[Danger]

I've always found it odd that Qantas is apparently only able to provide alcohol by way of a bartender at domestic lounges but international lounges (the lower ones, like PER T1) are self-serve. The FA is clearly wrong about the lounge situation.

 

[whughes3]

Wine is, and always has been IIRC, self-serve in domestic lounges.

 

[Willy]

Wine is, and always has been IIRC, self-serve in domestic lounges.

I don't think Brisbane J Lounge is self service - may have changed in the past couple of months (or time of day).

 

[oz_mark]

Wine is, and always has been IIRC, self-serve in domestic lounges.

Perth domestic is not. I suspect that it is a license condition as part of a alcohol management policy for those particular lounges.

 

[TonyD]

Wine is self serve in every lounge I have been to in Oz to some degree - except Perth - oz-mark may be correct but i understood it was connected to the high numbers of fifo ( sorry but alot do like a drink or 3 ) as there is also and only there a 2 drink limit

 

[trooper]

Im trying to work out how it can be attributed to laziness.... I would have though setting up a SELF service bar would be the lazy option?

 

[Gremlin]

Presumably NOT setting up a self service bar is less work than setting up a self service bar. I'd imagine said self-service items would have to be stowed for take off...

 

[Austman]

I've been on dozens of QFi flights where there was free pour wine in J class on A380s, A330s and 747s.

It's been in the J class self-service snack bar.

 

[defurax]

IME the small bar at the front of the J cabin in the A380 is not even stocked with soft drinks on the shorter flights e.g. QF35/36.
I've seen champagne and wine available only maybe 1 out of 3 transpac flights.

 

[Austman]

I've been on many "shorter" (7 - 10 hours) QFi flights were the small J-class snack bar was stocked. But on some where it wasn't. It seems to be a crew decision.

The J class snack bar is certainly designed to hold wine bottles. It has metal bottle "holders" that you have to lift.

It seems to be nothing to do with RSA.

 

[Ansett]

Im trying to work out how it can be attributed to laziness.... I would have though setting up a SELF service bar would be the lazy option?

Lazy as in they dont need to get things out. The in flight service on the flight was bare minimal to say the least. The call button was ignored and when I did and or other passengers wanted something we ended up in the galley asking for it so draw from that what you will.

 

[RooFlyer]

Picture from OMaaT review of SFO-MEL flight, in J, last March. Obviously wine in the snack bar then:

 

[dajop]

Picture from OMaaT review of SFO-MEL flight, in J, last March. Obviously wine in the snack bar then:

Quite a spread. Would take a good 10 mins to set up and 10mins to pack up. MEL-SIN is only 7 hrs, obviously not enough time on the sector to set this up

 

[juddles]

I think this is a very grey area.

Over many dozens of long-haul SYD-SCL Qantas flights over the past few years, about half had the self-service bar stocked and encouraged, the other half not. Have never been able to get a coherent explanation from the crew...

IMHO one of the best examples of that glorious Qantas ability to be consistently inconsistent....

I am an "avid" drinker. I do not enjoy standard drinks. So despite having great status, I would invariably wander from the First lounge in Sydney to the mere business lounge - so I can pour my own drink. If Qantas can have two lounges next to each other, in the same airport, with different rules, then this shows that any claims of RSA etc are bull cough.

 

[oz_mark]

Wine is self serve in every lounge I have been to in Oz to some degree - except Perth - oz-mark may be correct but i understood it was connected to the high numbers of fifo ( sorry but alot do like a drink or 3 ) as there is also and only there a 2 drink limit

I think that's where it started..But licenses can have conditions and management plans associated with them. You'll find the no self serve in there somewhere

 

[juddles]

I think that's where it started..But licenses can have conditions and management plans associated with them. You'll find the no self serve in there somewhere

How do you explain the differences in SYD (international) business vs first lounges then? Am interested...

 

[oz_mark]

How do you explain the differences in SYD (international) business vs first lounges then? Am interested...

Don't know about Sydney - but it just may be a customer service thing..(and perhpas cheaper offerings in the business lounge!)

 

[RooFlyer]

How do you explain the differences in SYD (international) business vs first lounges then? Am interested...

Obviously the F lounge lizards can’t be trusted to drink in moderation!

 

[Vic]

How do you explain the differences in SYD (international) business vs first lounges then? Am interested...

WA liquor licensing laws probably aren't relevant to NSW.