Qantas lounge shoe policy - this is concerning

[Deleted member 29185]

On planet Cotton Wool

I know you have a smiley face there, but I hear that comment a lot. Part of my job sort of involves electrical compliance and I regularly hear the comment made "why do we have so many regulations when the stats say we're so safe"? My answer is fairly simple........"How do you think we got to the point of being so safe"? I've worked in different countries that aren't "cotton wool" countries and death rates (at least the ones we hear about) are alarmingly high.......

 

[offshore171]

, n't "cotton wool" countries and death rates (at least the ones we hear about) are alarmingly high.......

Sure but how many were the result of wearing open toed footwear in airline lounges?

 

[JohnK]

Ok, so plenty of arguments both sides here. I don't see it as a sense of entitlement I see it as 'what is the accepted norm around the world'? Can anyone else name another company that has this policy?

My place of employment. It was only just recently they allowed jeans to be worn to office everyday otherwise it is smart casual.

I could be wrong but a person wearing thongs/sandals has a greater chance of walking around the lounge without footwear, putting bare feet up on tables/chairs than someone wearing shoes and socks?

Entitlement? I can assure you that only applies to those who refuse to accept this policy. I don't want to see thongs in lounge and I certainly don't want to hear the flip flop sound as people walk around in the lounge and I try to relax.

And the same goes for those "classy" hideous thongs that were posted in this thread earlier.

It really isn't that difficult to wear shoes when travelling unless of course you have some serious medical condition but even then some loose slipon shoes do the same trick.

 

[medhead]

Well not really - the rules are under Qantas club. So if you are not a frequent flyer and go to Qantas' website and have a look at the info on business lounges (both domestic and international), under business airfares there is not a word about dress rules. You could easily be caught out.

Qantas clearly do not want to enforce the rule for international customers, but have either not thought about international customers connecting to/from a domestic port, or have put it in the too hard basket.

As I've tried to outline, I'm firmly on the fence for this one. But all that is required is to check all of the information provided. That is available by going to the Qantas website and clicking on: "Fly", "At the Airport", "Airport Lounges", "Find out more about eligibility and access to our lounges"
That last click takes you to the Qantas club page with the dress rules being fairly clear on the left hand side list.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Sure but how many were the result of wearing open toed footwear in airline lounges?

Hmmm, I see the point was missed.

 

[Pushka]

Cord jeans make annoying noises when walking.

 

[burmans]

Sure but how many were the result of wearing open toed footwear in airline lounges?

I think the argument that this is a safety issue is frankly so thin its see through!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I see it as 'what is the accepted norm around the world'? Can anyone else name another company that has this policy?

Assuming you mean any "airline related" company (as a list of "any" company that has a dress regulation would be more encompassing than Douglas Adams' "Hitchhikers Guide"), than yes I can. I fly about 52 sectors per annum with an airline that will not allow boarding unless enclosed footwear is worn.

Further, who says it is about what's the norm around the world? I hear all the time that Australia's two main domestic carriers have the one of the best domestic J products in the world, so should we downgrade that achievement to meet "world norms"?

If anyone can answer how this policy is actually achieving the desired aim I would love to hear it,

Perhaps patience is a virtue? QF has really only just started actively policing their dress standards. In time, most will come to understand the standard required to access the lounge. Desired aim, achieved. QF staff will make mistakes, that's for sure, but those should in time diminish but whether QF have the desire to ensure this policy is long lived is anyone's guess. Perhaps tomorrow it will all fall by the wayside.......I hope not.

 

[offshore171]

Hmmm, I see the point was missed.

Right back at you.

There is absolutely a time and a place to play the OH&S card. This is not it.

Type of footwear in airside lounge is not such a scenario. It's a safer environment than your own home and the choice of footwear has no genuine safety implications.

As mentioned earlier, if Qantas tried to justify the lounge thong ban based on OHS grounds, they would be laughed at. And it would make a mockery of genuine OHS programs.

 

[Shinkz]

Pack your thongs in your bag for use on your arrival. I do not pay money to see your feet before or during the flight. I love this rule and love the types of people that it keeps out of the lounge - also a pet hate is when people put their feet on the bulkhead or between seats...

 

[mannej]

Pack your thongs in your bag for use on your arrival. I do not pay money to see your feet before or during the flight. I love this rule and love the types of people that it keeps out of the lounge - also a pet hate is when people put their feet on the bulkhead or between seats...

Feet on the bulkhead?

 

[Flying mermaid]

As I've tried to outline, I'm firmly on the fence for this one. But all that is required is to check all of the information provided. That is available by going to the Qantas website and clicking on: "Fly", "At the Airport", "Airport Lounges", "Find out more about eligibility and access to our lounges"
That last click takes you to the Qantas club page with the dress rules being fairly clear on the left hand side list.

Absolutely not attacking you . But it is entirely possible for someone buying a business class airfare to just go Fly business class lounges and read that and have no idea. If Qantas want to be consistent and clear then they need to put their rules in that description as well.

 

[burmans]

Right back at you.

There is absolutely a time and a place to play the OH&S card. This is not it.

Type of footwear in airside lounge is not such a scenario. It's a safer environment than your own home and the choice of footwear has no genuine safety implications.

As mentioned earlier, if Qantas tried to justify the lounge thong ban based on OHS grounds, they would be laughed at. And it would make a mockery of genuine OHS programs.

You've hit the nail on the head, I've yet to see this rule enforced on boarding, yet it is in the lounge? It's definitely not a genuine OHS issue.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Right back at you.

There is absolutely a time and a place to play the OH&S card. This is not it.

I think you may find I've never actually mentioned OH&S in this thread and once more I can say you've missed the point.

 

[kyle]

I want to see a poll done and see the ages and occupations of those who support the QF policy. Is it generally the older generation (usually stereotyped as the more conservative) who's in support? My local pokies used to have the sign requiring neat casual, and no thongs/singlets, etc. Since a few years ago, it just kept the neat casual part. No problems with entering in thongs now. It's moving with the times. Some talked about dress codes at RSL Clubs? Is it even a relevant comparison to QF? Do people still go there?

Proponents have argued that they don't like seeing feet or thongs, or the slapping sound of thongs. Forget OHS. Is it simply a case of 'I don't like' from the crowd that QF surveyed? Hey there are types of people I don't like too (overweight, those with bad odour, comb overs, too much body hair, etc). But I'm not making a fuss about it and just get on with my life. I don't lose sleep over it after such an encounter.

 

[blackcat20]

My place of employment. It was only just recently they allowed jeans to be worn to office everyday otherwise it is smart casual.

I could be wrong but a person wearing thongs/sandals has a greater chance of walking around the lounge without footwear, putting bare feet up on tables/chairs than someone wearing shoes and socks?

(snip)

It really isn't that difficult to wear shoes when travelling unless of course you have some serious medical condition but even then some loose slipon shoes do the same trick.

I wear jeans to work, and sandals. I live in sandals as I dont enjoy closed shoes. They are uncomfortable on my feet (wide feet, skinny heels = blisters). I dont walk about a lounge without footwear, ever. I dont put bare feet up on tables/chairs, ever. Nice work on the generalisations.

FYI, sandals are shoes. Whether you like it or not.

 

[JohnK]

I wear jeans to work, and sandals. I live in sandals as I dont enjoy closed shoes. They are uncomfortable on my feet (wide feet, skinny heels = blisters). I dont walk about a lounge without footwear, ever. I dont put bare feet up on tables/chairs, ever. Nice work on the generalisations.

FYI, sandals are shoes. Whether you like it or not.

I didn't generalise and I wasn't referring to you.

I did say someone in thongs/sandals has a greater chance to walk around barefooted than someone in shoes/socks. I didn't say they will do it.

And no sandals are definitely not shoes and neither are thongs. They are footwear but that is where the similarity ends.

 

[RichardMEL]

Yet again this policy is a joke.

Not the policy itself - in my view QF can do whatever they like in their operated lounges - but the implementation.

And the inconsitency

That's the thing that drives me INSANE about QF in general (and most customer service type organisations in general such as airlines)... not just shoe policy but most aspects of the customer experience is that most of the time it's fine, but then things get inconsistent and it's confusing and irritating, but I digress.

This year I've flown 11 sectors so far on QF and with the exception of ADL and OOL which I do not think fall under this policy, I have been multiple times in J lounges in MEL, SYD and CBR - at peak and non peak times weekdays and weekends.

I've seen it all.

I've seen thongs in lounges and I've seen people tuned away.

I have NOT seen a lounge agent going around "policing" footwear (per the FT thread suggestion - who has time or desire for that rubbish?)

I agree with most people there that it's not about the thongs or shirt or whatever, but the behaviour and hygene of guests (though I do agree the flip flop sound of people walking around can be bothersome but that's what headphones are for right? )

More than that though and what leads to most of this angst is the inconsistent application of a rule. I don't care that much that QF has the policy, but if you're going to have the policy then damn well enforce it in a consistent manner. I mean I just roll my eyes and sigh when I see the thongs and stuff in lounges where it's supposedly banned.. I don't get that angst ridden and pissed off, but more sad that a policy is being ignored

now yes, it could well be that someone has come in the lounge in closed footwear and changed into thongs... seriously though that's fair lengths to go to to actually wear your thongs in a lounge for a few minutes.. who can be bothered (in general) with carrying around multiple pairs of shoes in carry on? Not me.

Each to their own of course but as I say the issue for me is not about thongs or sandals or back straps or toe dividers or whatever the hell but the application of a policy and it's all over the shop - given that it should just be done away with because it just annoys everyone and don't the staff have better uses for their time?

(aside I came to enter a lounge one day recently and it so happened that someone I knew personally from another facet of life was manning the door-not their usual job-and this person made a joke about the thongs issue with me ....it's clear they think it's ridiculous)

 

[offshore171]

My local pokies used to have the sign requiring neat casual, and no thongs/singlets, etc. Since a few years ago, it just kept the neat casual part. No problems with entering in thongs now. It's moving with the

Just the fact that you have brought a reference to your local pokie den into this discussion, confirms that QF is on the right track.

If pokie dens banned thong wearers, they'd lose half their revenue.

 

[UP4014]

I want to see a poll done and see the ages and occupations of those who support the QF policy. Is it generally the older generation (usually stereotyped as the more conservative) who's in support? My local pokies used to have the sign requiring neat casual, and no thongs/singlets, etc. Since a few years ago, it just kept the neat casual part. No problems with entering in thongs now. It's moving with the times. Some talked about dress codes at RSL Clubs? Is it even a relevant comparison to QF? Do people still go there?

Proponents have argued that they don't like seeing feet or thongs, or the slapping sound of thongs. Forget OHS. Is it simply a case of 'I don't like' from the crowd that QF surveyed? Hey there are types of people I don't like too (overweight, those with bad odour, comb overs, too much body hair, etc). But I'm not making a fuss about it and just get on with my life. I don't lose sleep over it after such an encounter.

The RSL point was they enforce a dress code rule with ease. QF should do the same, enforce with ease that is, what ever the rule may be.

I'm a member of a club that still requires suit and tie even for children, coats can be removed during the period of daylight saving! If I didn't want to abide by the rule obvioulsy I would join another club. If someone doesn't like the lounge dress code don't go there or fly Virgin. There are choices if you wish to take them instead of complaining about QF's dress code rules in their lounges.

Matt