The night the bogans visited the F lounge

[puppysparkes]

Ummm, as a bogan, let me point out that the great unwashed (hands) and boorish were FFers/pointy end people and not my people.

Bogans are generally oohing and ahhing over the delights of the lounge, if they ever get in that is, and taking facebook snaps to show their friends how the other half lives while whispering among themselves, "Its free? I dont have to pay? Quick, put this in your bag for later."

You are a staff writer for the Betoota Advocate?? Brilliant, Stella, it is what it is! I nominate this asTHE best reply for 2017.

 

[Steve N]

How do you know they didn't have a mat for the nappy change? These things are standard issue for all parents. Mat goes down, change nappy, wipe down with baby wipe after use. Really easy, better to in in the room than inflict the smell of poo on the lounge by going to the toilet. They also have this stuff called hand sanitiser these days. Something that parent with young children use frequently.
Noise can be a problem, but I suggest you're going way too far in your assumptions.

Eventually, things calmed down, and Daddy then emerged from the meeting room into the main lounge area holding the nappy in question. Not in a bag or anything, just in his hands.

 

[FirstClass]

Regrettably, there appear to be plenty of monied bogans filling up the pointy end. The modern fashion that dictates kids and their various 'products' being treated not merely with tolerance, but indulgence, combines neatly with the bogan's defining absence of consideration for his or her fellow human to precipitate such situations, resulting in us less boganly pax feeling ripped off and imposed upon. It does sadly appear that there's an increasingly important role for QF in explaining and, where necessary, gently reinforcing, the value and observance of courtesy for fellow humans that was apparently lacking in the bogans education and upbringing. Perhaps it's also worth explaining to the thong-wearing tribe that in the event of an EFATO they may have reason to regret their choice of footwear.

 

[FL360]

technically speaking, even first class flight travel, is still a form of public transport. (very expensive one)

one distinctive feature of public transport is that you cannot control who travels with you.
the price is only effective to separate people of different social backgrounds - only to a certain extent.

- private jet is not public transport.

 

[Batesy]

Just wondering when this was as having a group of 10-15 blokes all get into the first lounge is unusual. I know some blokes that were going to a study tour around then so it might have been them.......

 

[Jo145]

I had the pleasure of visiting the Melbourne FLounge a couple of years ago and was one of those people trying to take photos discretely (there were only about 12 people there at the time so I don't think I got in anyone's way being a "complete bogan"). It was such a treat and I felt extremely lucky to be in what I think is a special place. Being a "bogan" I minded my P's & Q's as I figured the rich would act differently to me - and it appears they do if the OP's experience is anything to go by. That's the POV of someone having their first (and only) taste of travel at the pointy end ...

 

[flybynight]

The concept of lounges and in particular first lounges is not directed at catering for babies so if parents are travelling with children they have a duty to be discreet and not add to the discomfort of other lounge users. I have watched standards of parenting decline over the last 30 years as younger parents who feel entitled and who are concerned with nothing else other than "me". In the Melbourne F lounge I have witnessed everything from children pouring drinks into computer keyboards while their parents look on and laugh at little Johnny expressing himself to people stealing books from the library.
The behavior seems to be more of an Australian thing because I have never seen such gross behavior in other airline lounges overseas. As far as dress standards are concerned it appears that many Aussies not only have little respect for other guests but also none for themselves. I wonder if the savvy overseas non Qantas lounges often refuse entry saying they are "full" because they are really trying to weed out people who are inappropriately dressed?? I have never been refused entry to any lounge even at the busiest of times.
Given that many people appear unable to work it out for themselves its about time lounges like Qantas F introduced standards and then enforced them. They should also start counting babies in the guest headcount which would serve to limit babies.

 

[FL360]

I think the corporate image of Qantas is towards families ..... that's why they have status hold for maternity leave ?

 

[Deleted member]

Being a "Bogan" is a wee bit subjective IMHO.
Its like my dear old dad used to say "Broke is a temporary situation, Poor is a state of mind"
I think that just because one is lacking in a lot of the (more subtle ) social graces, that doesn't necessarily mean one is a Bogan. I have met plenty of successful , moneyed and supposedly upper class folk , who have no manners and behave appallingly.

 

[FL360]

that doesn't necessarily mean one is a Bogan

I would think Richard Branson and Gordon Ramsey (not on a suit) will be immediately branded as a bogan.

 

[Kristie jones]

Now I never attended finishing school and wouldn't engage in a debate as to which utensil to use to eat grapes, but I was left wondering the other night if even the most basic manners were no longer taught to young Aussies.

(Please do not take this post as too serious or elitist ... that is apart from the health and safety issue left on the carpet of Meeting Room 1 ...)

The scene was the Melbourne F lounge prior to the departure of QF9. I arrived in the lounge with ample time for a quiet dinner followed a spa treatment before my flight. I was seated in the restaurant by the window with a nice view. While I was perusing the menu, I noticed that the man seated at the table next to me was talking on his phone. It wasn't an important-work- or phone-the-kids-at-bedtime-type conversation, just a conversation with someone.

I ordered, he was still talking. My entree arrived ... still talking. I finished my entree ... still talking. My main course arrived ... still talking. At this point, the waiter who must have been politely waiting for him to finish the call, started just delivering his food. His conversational rhythm hardly changed, as he ate while continuing to listen and talk. It was disgustingly amusing to watch someone chew and talk at the same time over such an extended period. By this point, everyone else close by was watching as well. Just as I was finishing my main course, an older couple finally complained, and the waiter politely asked him to end his call. So I'll never know if he could also cut meat, chew, and talk on the phone at the same time.

I then had some time to relax before my spa treatment and went into the main lounge area. Relaxation was clearly going to be impossible there, though, as a group of 10-15 men were standing around drinking beer and cheering on the footy like they thought they were a their local pub.

No worries, I thought after a few loud whoops, I'll go into a meeting room, where it's usually a bit quieter. The lounge angel booked me into Meeting Room 2, and I took out my gadgets to do a bit of work. Then I met Charlotte and her parents, who in a practical sense were in Meeting Room 1, but were so loud I heard every word of their conversation like they were sitting next to me. I take it Charlotte was the first child, as the parents oohed and awed at seemingly her every breath. And things were pleasant enough as I learned about all their friends, upcoming social commitments, etc.

Then, Charlotte did a poo. Mummy suggested that Charlotte lie down on the floor (the Marc Newson designed carpet, no less ...) so that Mummy could change her nappy. Charlotte was having none of this (perhaps she knew even at this early stage of her life that this event is what baby change rooms are designed for?) and started howling. Eventually, things calmed down, and Daddy then emerged from the meeting room into the main lounge area holding the nappy in question. Not in a bag or anything, just in his hands. He headed off in the direction of the bathrooms, so clearly the ability to read signs was not an issue for the couple. Perhaps he washed his hands while he was there, but Mummy clearly didn't feel the need to do so herself. After visions of them changing Charlotte's nappy on the onboard tray table, I was so relieved when the family departed for Auckland and were clearly not on my flight.

I don't know how often the carpets in the lounge get cleaned, so I would be wary of Meeting Room 1 if you are visiting any time soon!

There was a lot of fuss when Qantas introduced the no-thongs-in-the-lounge rule, but I ponder should they go further? "When you're flying with us, your health and safety is our number one concern. Please defecate only in designated areas, which are clearly marked with a symbol of a man, woman, or baby. Suitable receptacles are provided in each designated area ..."

 

[Pazz]

Pretty simple. If you hate humans that much fly private.

 

[Denali]

Pretty simple. If you hate humans that much fly private.

My boss has a citation x and a helicopter, he doesnt return my calls....

 

[Pushka]

Pretty simple. If you hate humans that much fly private.

Seriously? Guess it’s too much to expect civilized behavior these days. From anyone regardless of ‘status’.

 

[FL360]

too much to expect civilized behavior these days

some people never have to care about their image or behaviour to get a living, in that case they just do whatever they want to please themselves, it is not if they are evil minded, they just think others are OK with them, if you speak to them they will generally behave.

whereas the other group are used to present themselves pristinely and elegantly to make a living, in that case it becomes habit and anyone who is not behaving that way will be felt unwelcome.

but for the baby from my experience may be the parents just want to fix the baby up ASAP, therefore they do it in the meeting room, otherwise these can happen
1. baby poo everywhere on the way to changeroom, the F lounge needs to be evacuated
2. baby poo itself, require changes of clothes, and cleaning of pooed clothes, they may not have bought enough clothes to change to, and have to deal with wetted clothes on the whole journey.
3. baby crying frantically on the way to changeroom, getting unwanted attention.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

I had the pleasure of visiting the Melbourne FLounge a couple of years ago and was one of those people trying to take photos discretely (there were only about 12 people there at the time so I don't think I got in anyone's way being a "complete bogan").

If taking pics in a First Class lounge is bogan qualifying behaviour then I'm one of the biggest bogans out there

 

[sydunipete]

and regrettably it's not just in lounges where people are seemingly oblivious to their surroundings. On a flight from Stockholm, sitting in the lovely Qatar Airlines Business Class cabin of a relatively new 787 - while taxiing two blokes decided to have a punch up for no obvious reason.

 

[offshore171]

Nearly every lounge I’ve ever been in has had “The Loud Phonecall Guy”.

There’s always one. It’s just an annoyingly accurate truism.

 

[coco50]

A complaint to the lounge dragon will usually elicit some action to curb offenders in the lounge. Perhaps these bogans had upgraded on points and the greatest lounge experience that they usually enjoyed was the departure lounge.

 

[cmon0005]

The concept of lounges and in particular first lounges is not directed at catering for babies so if parents are travelling with children

The first lounges are perfectly equipped for babies, they have high chairs, a kids menu, a change table, and plenty of space.
My 2.5 y/o has been on around 52+ international flights(thanks aff flight tracker) including numerous visits to QF syd F, mel F, CX F lounges, even the QR Al Safwa first only lounge in doh and we have never had an issue as a matter of fact we get lots of comments on how well behaved she is. She makes normal kid noises but that shouldn't matter as it's a lounge not a library.

I think people need to chill and just like others WP parents are entitled to bring children in to lounges. For the most part I'm sure parents and children are fine don't let a couple of brats stereotype others.