RSA MEL F Lounge Qantas Official Response (Refused Drinks)

[TomVexille]

Surely once one has been granted entry into either F lounge, they should all be treated the same?

 

[Ansett]

How do they enfore RSA at the QP in Alice Springs or Launceston as an example? There is a big fridge full of wine and beer and is a free for all.
I could (but don't) have 8 beers in 2 hours if I wanted. No staff member would even notice. It is just the consumer thy is responsible?
I must say I'm not sure I have been in either of the F lounges and needed/wanted more than 3 drinks in 90 minutes. However, I'm sure sure I like the response from lounge staff and CC.

We certainly would not want 8 beers in 2 hours however as we were celebrating an upcoming special event and that we were consuming large quantities of food and drinking water at the same time 4 drinks in 2 hours or even 2 and half hours would not be unreasonable in my opinion.

 

[amaroo]

Qantas are renowned for their consistency as we all know so if it is to be applied to JQd then it will surely be applied to any other flight.


Or are we saying that 2 WP's who are flying JQd are scum? or even DRUNKS?

As someone that has flown >300 J* flights (MCY-SYD-MCY) I've kinda got used to being treated differently.

Makes perfect sense that J* passengers should be treated as a special case. If it was my business - I'd ensure J* passengers received less than the others.

 

[medhead]

JQ a qantas group airline - except when they want to bend the customer over.

 

[kevrosmith]

[Be careful what you wish for....]

Heck if they are going to start profiling pax in the F Lounge like that, just remove F Lounge access for JQ flights and save the embarrassment for all concerned. Oh, but that's right, they re-instated Lounge access when flying JQ because QF flights started dropping like flies around a can of Mortein.... and they were trying to keep some semblance of loyalty within the "Qantas group".

Certainly smelling like a dirty JQ rat.... Just another instance of "JQ is part of QF Group when and if it suits QF".

Don't need to look far elswhere to see where this supposed "policy" is being completely being ignored by a vast majority of QF/Sofitel staff in QF J Lounges. Terribly hypocritical.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I don't really think the RSA rules would trouble us. We actually appreciate not having bad drunks on board any plane we travel on.

This post really got me thinking big fella - I have been really racking my brain since I read this trying to remember if ever I have seen an inebriated pax either in an Intl F or J Lounge or indeed in a F or J cabin on board - I just cannot remember such an instance.

 

[amaroo]

This post really got me thinking big fella - I have been really racking my brain since I read this trying to remember if ever I have seen an inebriated pax either in an Intl F or J Lounge or indeed in a F or J cabin on board - I just cannot remember such an instance.

hahaha like your style!

 

[Princess Fiona]

This post really got me thinking big fella - I have been really racking my brain since I read this trying to remember if ever I have seen an inebriated pax either in an Intl F or J Lounge or indeed in a F or J cabin on board - I just cannot remember such an instance.

I haven't either.
This entire thread has just taken on a conspiracy theory all of its own though.
Whilst my views on F Lounge access flying JQ tag flights are well known (I don't support it at all) I think it would be very wrong of QF to start marginalizing these passengers in the F Lounges. Either access is permitted and they are treated the same or they are not. End of story.

 

[footy99]

It must be a new policy.

I usually had around 6 glasses per trip last year (in 1.5-2 hours) on JQd runs.

I don't think there is any question it is purely a cost-cutting measure and nothing more.

They need a sign on the front door for transparency: "Due to recent cost-cutting measures by Qantas, all patrons are now limited to 2 glasses of wine in the first hour and 1 thereafter. However, you are welcome to all the VB you can drink! Sincerely, Qantas management."

 

[amaroo]

[Be careful what you wish for....]

Heck if they are going to start profiling pax in the F Lounge like that, just remove F Lounge access for JQ flights and save the embarrassment for all concerned. Oh, but that's right, they re-instated Lounge access when flying JQ because QF flights started dropping like flies around a can of Mortein.... and they were trying to keep some semblance of loyalty within the "Qantas group".

Certainly smelling like a dirty JQ rat.... Just another instance of "JQ is part of QF Group when and if it suits QF".

Don't need to look far elswhere to see where this supposed "policy" is being completely being ignored by a vast majority of QF/Sofitel staff in QF J Lounges. Terribly hypocritical.

IMO just a matter of time before we see a BA "CCR" lounge definition introduced.

 

[opusman]

We have over the years taken advantage of such flights but have never been treated like this before.

Your original post implied you were flying paid F, so I think that was actually a little misleading.

Not that I am saying your treatment was justified - as Princess Fiona says, if WPs are allowed access when travelling on JQ then they should be treated like all other passengers. But don't give the impression you're on an $18000 F fare when you're really on a $80 JQ one

 

[Ansett]

Your original post implied you were flying paid F, so I think that was actually a little misleading.

Not that I am saying your treatment was justified - as Princess Fiona says, if WPs are allowed access when travelling on JQ then they should be treated like all other passengers. But don't give the impression you're on an $18000 F fare when you're really on a $80 JQ one

Hi Sorry if you got that impression however I did say

Does this mean that if you have 2 or 3 drinks in the lounge be it domestic or International and then board an aircraft you will be refused alcohol?

So I buy an $18000.00 First Class Air Fare MEL -LHR and can only have 3 Drinks in the lounge in 2 hours. I take it that I will then be refused any alcohol on board too as aresult of complying with RSA. Whats Next????

I did not say nor want to imply I had bought F I was inferring would this happen If I bought F or even used points to fly or upgrade to F

 

[RichardMEL]

The "fact" (anecdotal evidence I feel) that it is only in the MEL F lounge suggests it may be less of a policy per se, but interpretation by either that lounge manager(s) or individual staff. As others have suggested it coule be a (or some) staff members being overly conscious to do the "right" thing by the book to not get in trouble as opposed to some more liberal types, or it could be an effort by the lounge managers themselves, either individually or at the behest of QF, yet if it was at QF's behest you'd think you'd see similar in SYD and LAX.

re being "JQd" (lol). Simple, I am flying F in 10 days or so. I shall pop my *F*QF boarding pass down and order a glass of each champagne and see how far I get... maybe not. (a bit early prior QF93!)

on an unrelated note but also F lounge related a friend of mine was recently in the QF SYD F lounge on her first visit and she reported an "interesting" interaction with a waiter, who she told me did not immediately come to take her order, after she had set her menu aside, but waited until she called him over to order, and he scolded her (or so it seemed from her words) for "not turning the menu over" as some sort of indication that they were done deciding. I've never heard of this before. I'm aware of the asian custom of upturning a teapot lid when it needs refreshing, but not with the menus, and in either lounge I've never encountered anything like this when ordering. I put the menu down or to the side and look expectant, as in most restauralts, and am asked what I'd like. Anyone heard anything like this happening in the F lounges? (thought I'd attach it here rather than have a thread as it's quite minor, thugh it did upset my friends visit somewhat)

PS: Mucho Gracias to serfty for taking the time to pull the appropriate law and posting the extract.

 

[JessicaTam]

Sorry I am late to the party on this one. As a previous poster mentioned, this happened to a few of us recently, and it was all about the number of drinks, not the behaviour.

And to suggest that RSA has something to do with the ability to drive a car! Good grief.

That reply was bulldust!

Here's the act:

www.legislation.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/LDMS/LTObject_Store/LTObjSt7.nsf/DDE300B846EED9C7CA257616000A3571/01506E44A91C8614CA257B4200031872/$FILE/09-134sr010bookmarked.pdf

Here the pertinent definition:



Here's the actual regulation:

There is nothing i can see regarding anticipation of a guest becoming intoxicated ... nor of counting drinks.

Thanks serfty. I am RSA trained, and to cut someone off after an arbitrary number of drinks is an absolute crock.

 

[kevrosmith]

Sorry I am late to the party on this one.

Don't be too concerned, you're not missing much... the party's pretty dry... as determined by the Qantas MEL F Lounge RSA policy stipulation, no less... :shock:

 

[miggidy]

I must say I was in MEL F lounge early Feb at about 7pm with my business partner. We went through about 5 drinks in almost two hours. Went to board and found it had been delayed so returned to the bar for another G&T no issues at all.

Doesn't seem like its policy to limit to three, but instead a staff member making a decision. Qantas then take the diplomatic route and backing their staff (or contractors).

 

[Ansett]

I am becoming to think that it is a Discriminatory thing based on Carrier and that we were discriminated against because we were flying JQ D.

 

[kevrosmith]

I am becoming to think that it is a Discriminatory thing based on Carrier and that we were discriminated against because we were flying JQ D.

There's that in part, though I'd probably align more with the "particular staff member/Lounge manager on-duty" camp at the moment.

 

[JessicaTam]

There's that in part, though I'd probably align more with the "particular staff member/Lounge manager on-duty" camp at the moment.

It would be worthwhile for those AFFers travelling JQ and using the QF F lounge to post their experiences. I have PMed a couple of AFFers I know may fit that criteria to take notes!

 

[Princess Fiona]

There's that in part, though I'd probably align more with the "particular staff member/Lounge manager on-duty" camp at the moment.

Perhaps, although we have a further example of this on AFF reported recently - again JQ Dom flight and after posting a link to this thread on my Facebook group I have learned of another.
Where there's smoke....