RSA MEL F Lounge Qantas Official Response (Refused Drinks)

[Flying mermaid]

I thought they served you in the F lounges ?

They do - hence the problem.

 

[Muriel]

I agree with Qantas staff…there's nothing worse than intoxicated passengers on any flight…and sometimes its easy to think you are not unreasonably intoxicated when in fact you are. The lounge is not a "free for all bar" Its somewhere that members can sit in quiet contemplation, enjoy A beverage & something to eat, read a magazine, work on their computer or have some quiet conversation with friends before their flight departure. Even if after a 4th drink, people consider themselves "sober" they might then go on to continue drinking on board the flight - and then what? Other passengers often have to put up with loud animated voices and behaviour - although the "offender" may still see themselves as behaving normally. As a lounge member and having experienced the above, I'm with Qantas on this one!

 

[Rebekkap]

They specifically ask to see your boarding pass before serving you so they know which airline to charge.

I was there last Sunday, and not only did they not ask to see my boarding pass in the restaurant, they didn't even ask me what flight I was on. When I was there at the end of December, they didn't ask to see my boarding pass either, though they did ask for a flight number.

 

[TomVexille]

I was there last Sunday, and not only did they not ask to see my boarding pass in the restaurant, they didn't even ask me what flight I was on. When I was there at the end of December, they didn't ask to see my boarding pass either, though they did ask for a flight number.

Based on responses here and elsewhere, that seems to be the exception at MEL.

 

[medhead]

RSA MEL F Lounge Qantas Official Response ( Refused Drinks)

I agree with Qantas staff…there's nothing worse than intoxicated passengers on any flight…and sometimes its easy to think you are not unreasonably intoxicated when in fact you are. The lounge is not a "free for all bar" Its somewhere that members can sit in quiet contemplation, enjoy A beverage & something to eat, read a magazine, work on their computer or have some quiet conversation with friends before their flight departure. Even if after a 4th drink, people consider themselves "sober" they might then go on to continue drinking on board the flight - and then what? Other passengers often have to put up with loud animated voices and behaviour - although the "offender" may still see themselves as behaving normally. As a lounge member and having experienced the above, I'm with Qantas on this one!

To repeat the point. They are enforcing a guideline that is designed to keep a person's blood alcohol concentration below 0.05. Anyone who considers that to be intoxication is insane. It also isn't that the person considers themselves to be sober, but that the law considers them to be sober.

As for what might happen once someone leaves a licensed premises that's completely irrelevant to that licensed premise. It is an issue for the next venue/aircraft staff to assess and respond.

 

[mannej]

As for what might happen once someone leaves a licensed premises that completely irrelevant to that licensed premise. It is an issue for the next venue/aircraft staff to assess and respond.

Is that fact in law or opinion?

 

[blackcat20]

Even if after a 4th drink, people consider themselves "sober" they might then go on to continue drinking on board the flight - and then what? Other passengers often have to put up with loud animated voices and behaviour - although the "offender" may still see themselves as behaving normally. As a lounge member and having experienced the above, I'm with Qantas on this one!

Four drinks in four hours; not only do I think I'm sober, I am sober.

 

[AA KAZ]

... As a lounge member and having experienced the above, I'm with Qantas on this one!

Of course every one can havetheir view.

Having that view, it is not surprising you list Royal Brunei(RoyalSkies) as one of your programs considering they don't provide Alcohol on their flights.

 

[pagingjoan]

Based on responses here and elsewhere, that seems to be the exception at MEL.

That has not been my experience.

Apart from at the Reception Desk, I do not recall ever having been asked to show my BP in the MEL F Lounge, and that's over many trips and quite a few years.

I have a vague memory of once having been asked where I was travelling to, when I was ordering food, but that was when one - or perhaps more than one - flight was nearing boarding. Usually, I'm not asked, although occasionally, I may volunteer the destination, if boarding time is approaching.

Will be be there again in a few weeks, so will be interested to see if there is a different approach. (My most recent visit was a month or so ago.)

 

[serfty]

Through their opening in 2007 to maybe 2009 it was the nomral thing for the waitstaff to ask you name and flight number / request to see your boarding pass.

Since then such requests have been sporadic.

 

[blaz]

I thought they served you in the F lounges ?

Not the ones I have been in....wines are available for helping yourself after 11 am...champagne has to be asked for though ...no wonder, as they start at $50 a bottle, and can go flat if neglected (this is not the case in BA first lounges though)

 

[mannej]

Of course every one can havetheir view.

Having that view, it is not surprising you list Royal Brunei(RoyalSkies) as one of your programs considering they don't provide Alcohol on their flights.

But they are happy with BYO.

Irrelevant point bordering an attack on the members view.

 

[andye]

Oh no it's not (said in a crowd rousing manner ).

The RSA monitor's behind you

 

[Rebekkap]

Through their opening in 2007 to maybe 2009 it was the nomral thing for the waitstaff to ask you name and flight number / request to see your boarding pass.

Since then such requests have been sporadic.

I've been platinum since 2010, and although most of my travel has been domestic until recently, I've still had occasion to use the first lounge 2-3 times a year. I've never once been asked for my boarding pass in that time, although it does seem they used to ask for my flight number more often (but never my name).

 

[pagingjoan]

Through their opening in 2007 to maybe 2009 it was the nomral thing for the waitstaff to ask you name and flight number / request to see your boarding pass.

Since then such requests have been sporadic.

Serfty: Do you mean they asked for the name of the passenger? Or the destination?
Hard to imagine why they would need the pax name - or what they would do with the information? Did they record it, along with the food order?

I don't recall precisely the date of my first visit to either of the new F Lounges but it would have been soon after their opening, so I must have been visiting in the period you mention, but don't recall ever being asked for my name or BP. Do you recall if that happened in both SYD and MEL?

Perhaps my aged memory is failing even faster than I thought!

 

[Flying mermaid]

Not the ones I have been in....wines are available for helping yourself after 11 am...champagne has to be asked for though ...no wonder, as they start at $50 a bottle, and can go flat if neglected (this is not the case in BA first lounges though)

Qantas F lounges in Australia are waiter service.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Through their opening in 2007 to maybe 2009 it was the nomral thing for the waitstaff to ask you name and flight number / request to see your boarding pass.

Since then such requests have been sporadic.

I think you might be right - went to the F lounge in July 2007 and I have a vague memory of being asked for a boarding pass. Not in more recent times though.

 

[medhead]

Is that fact in law or opinion?

You tell me. Does Myer have to not sell kitchen knifes to someone in case they go and stab someone?

How about? in my opinion,if I looked up the licensing laws, I will find they make the holder of the liquor licence responsible for their own licensed premises only. As a general principle I doubt legislation makes people responsible for matters beyond their control.

 

[Mr_Orange]

The RSA monitor's behind you

Oh no (s)he's not........

 

[serfty]

Serfty: Do you mean they asked for the name of the passenger? Or the destination?
Hard to imagine why they would need the pax name - or what they would do with the information? Did they record it, along with the food order?
...

In the very ealy days it was the BP that was requested while being sat at the table. On querying this I was told it was so the staff could prioritise service.