Qantas is once again in the news, after a passenger was denied access to the Qantas Club for wearing uggs. Many people don’t realize this, but Qantas is one of the few airlines in the world to have a dress code for lounge access. As you’d expect, people are divided when it comes to how they feel about this.
In this post:
Qantas has a “smart casual dress code” for lounges
Generally speaking, airlines don’t have dress codes when it comes to lounge access. The most common policy is that as long as you’re not violating the airline’s overall dress code, you can also access lounges. Most airlines basically just require you to wear clothes and cover your privates, so that doesn’t set the bar very high.
However, Qantas is an exception. The airline has a dress code specifically for its Qantas Clubs, as well as select Qantas Business Lounges. Here’s how the airline describes its “smart casual” dress code:
To ensure an enjoyable experience when you’re visiting our Qantas domestic lounges, we ask that you follow our smart casual dress code.
These guidelines are intended to create an environment everyone can enjoy, so please be mindful of your choice of clothing and footwear when visiting Qantas Clubs and Business Lounges in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
In keeping with this, we ask you wear smart casual clothing and shoes when entering one of our lounges in Australia or overseas.
The airline has a list of the types of things that can’t be worn in lounges, including tank tops, beachwear, sleepwear (including uggs), rubber thongs, and more.
One interesting wrinkle is that the lounge terms state that “individual lounge managers will have discretion to administer these standards as they reasonably deem appropriate in the circumstances.”
This dress code is once again making the news, as a passenger was denied lounge access for wearing ugg slippers. The woman claimed she has visited around five lounges in the past month wearing the same slippers, and didn’t have any issues until now.
She said the lounge was quite busy, and because she didn’t fit the “business” look, the staff made a “beeline for her.” She argued that if there is a dress code, it needs to be enforced everywhere. “They’ve got outside soles on them. It’s an airport. I just don’t understand.”
My take on Qantas’ controversial lounge dress code
Obviously people tend to be divided on what one should wear when flying. Personally I’m opposed to these kinds of dress codes, and find them to be silly:
- Ultimately an airport lounge isn’t some exclusive social club, but it’s a place to sit in comfort, and grab a drink and snack before a flight
- Many people are traveling on long haul flights and dress for comfort; heck, Qantas even gives out pajamas on long haul flights, so why is there a need to dress up on your layover in the lounge?
- I just don’t care what other people wear at airports, as long as it’s not inappropriate or offensive
I totally get people who like to “dress the part” when flying in premium cabins, and I think that’s great. I just think that standard shouldn’t necessarily be applied to others.
Let me be clear — I’m not advocating for people to wear the above articles of clothing, and I agree that people could maybe put a little more effort into their appearance when traveling. But at the same time, I simply don’t care, because my experience is in no way impacted by what others choose to wear.
But hey, Qantas runs its own lounges, it has the right to make its own rules, and that’s perfectly fine.
Bottom line
Qantas is one of the few airlines to have a dress code for some its lounges, as the airline asks passengers to dress in smart casual clothes. Every so often this makes headlines when passengers are frustrated over their lounge denial.
I do find it interesting how Qantas is one of the only airlines to have such a policy. In theory I can appreciate where the airline is coming from, but I’m also pretty “libertarian” when it comes to airport dress codes. I think everyone should wear what they want, as long as it’s not actively offensive.
What’s your take on Qantas’ lounge dress code?
I used to live in Australia and the new rules really sound non-Australian to me, in particular the no flip flop (they call them thongs) and no UGG rule. At least during my time, a large share of the population walked in flip flops during the hot months, in cold months some switched to uggs. And kids/adolescents often walked entirely barefoot year around.
I don't know if this has changed in general, or if it's only Qantas ...
There’s nothing smart about Ugg’s.
UGGs are one thing that should be discussed-invented.
Are Uggs really more offensive than Crocs? Why are Crocs ok in the lounge but Uggs aren’t?
Uggs are Australian, or at least were before selling out and in Australia are slippers only worn inside your own house.
This policy is not a surprise to me. People need to realize that different countries and cultures have different standards for dress in public spaces
It's really a no-bogans policy, which is necessary in Australia.
Thanks for the reminder... Bathurst 1000... coming up in October!
Get your Holden ready!
So, Qantas found those boots to be... UGGly. *ba dum tss*
LoyaltyLobby included the passenger's own 'take' on the incident. Cassidy was like, 'I'm a Gold member, and just wanted a glass of wine before my flight... I love Qantas, and fly them all the time... Qantas please don't hate me.' She blames the Daily Mail for taking it out of context and going hyperbolic. I'm kinda with her on this one.
This 'incident' happened...
So, Qantas found those boots to be... UGGly. *ba dum tss*
LoyaltyLobby included the passenger's own 'take' on the incident. Cassidy was like, 'I'm a Gold member, and just wanted a glass of wine before my flight... I love Qantas, and fly them all the time... Qantas please don't hate me.' She blames the Daily Mail for taking it out of context and going hyperbolic. I'm kinda with her on this one.
This 'incident' happened at the Qantas Club in Melbourne; it's winter in Australia now (and it can actually get cold there), so, you can't blame her for wanting to have warm feet.
I'd be supportive if they asked you to change upon entry. Or if they reminded people to change on the plane before landing. But otherwise it could create a surprise if you dressed for comfort to sleep.
Totally disagree Ben. Long time lurker, first time commenter, I feel obliged to share this perspective.
How people dress is not a tiny matter of personal convenience, it’s a subconscious signal to other people what kind of place this is, and research has shown it actually changes how the wearer behaves. A lounge full of people who made a minimal effort to put on a proper t-shirt and pants reads as “this is a...
Totally disagree Ben. Long time lurker, first time commenter, I feel obliged to share this perspective.
How people dress is not a tiny matter of personal convenience, it’s a subconscious signal to other people what kind of place this is, and research has shown it actually changes how the wearer behaves. A lounge full of people who made a minimal effort to put on a proper t-shirt and pants reads as “this is a public, paid, somewhat elevated over the terminal space.” A room full of pjs, slippers, gym shorts, and flip-flops reads as “this is an overflow waiting area”.
Obviously I am not suggesting everyone dress in suits or business attire, that regulated era is long gone. But this is one person optimizing their own comfort with everyone else absorbing the visual and social cost. A classic externality
You want to not even put in minimal effort & look like a slob, great there is the whole terminal for you to do so. Love that Qantas has minimal dress standards, wish we could bring some of this to the US
@ Nerfington -- I respect your take! :-) I'd slightly quibble with this:
"A lounge full of people who made a minimal effort to put on a proper t-shirt and pants reads as 'this is a public, paid, somewhat elevated over the terminal space.'"
Isn't that exactly what lounges are, though?
@Nerfington - welcome!
Your point echoes the "Broken Window Effect". One unrepaired broken window is a signal that no one cares, and so breaking more windows costs nothing, regardless of neighborhood. The same logic applies here: a lounge's atmosphere and reputation are shaped by the worst behavior (and attire) it tolerates. If a lounge wants to differentiate itself from the terminal, that differentiation has to show up as consistently enforced standards. The real question is...
@Nerfington - welcome!
Your point echoes the "Broken Window Effect". One unrepaired broken window is a signal that no one cares, and so breaking more windows costs nothing, regardless of neighborhood. The same logic applies here: a lounge's atmosphere and reputation are shaped by the worst behavior (and attire) it tolerates. If a lounge wants to differentiate itself from the terminal, that differentiation has to show up as consistently enforced standards. The real question is what kind of lounge it wants to be.
Read More: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/broken-windows-theory?msockid=08b70f53042861d818ef1abd05c66039
“the visual and social cost.”
This cost is 100% coming from your own expectations, not the person wearing uggs. It’s your choice if you let it bother you.
@bretmd, I agree. However, consistently enforced, well-detailed, and well-publicized standards by the host would overcome this variance.
I love all the restrictions, but don't get the uggs thing. There are so many things to dislike about the small percentage of pax who seem to want to make your lounge experience terrible. Uggs doesn't make the list.
Yep. Loud "smart-casual" jack-asses barking about their deals, screaming nine-year-olds running wild, luggage-sprawl onto chairs, and drunk lonely middle-aged meltdowns; that's what's infesting the lounges here in the US, at least.
This comes to mind, since you say you travel there, you should recall that it can get quite cold Down Under (certain parts of AU and NZ) this time of year (it is the end of their winter after all). Ugg boots may actually be appropriate, both based on those conditions and historically. Sheepskin boots were originally from Australia. (Great way for surfers to quickly warm cold feet after coming out of the cold Southern Ocean...)
@This_comes_to_mind Totally agree you and @1990_ below) on this! Not sure why they won't accept uggs when the UGG company was founded in the US by an Aussie and with sheepskin boots originating in Australia. All the rest I can agree on.
I am glad that my "clean hi-vis uniform" is appropriate attire. Good on you QF! Now, if this can also be applied to inappropriate lounge behavior, too.
My guess is that is specifically specified to be inclusive to the waves of FIFO workers who're going through the airports and dress the part at the airport too
@Rain - good consideration. QF and their affiliates do fly many resource workers to/from their work.