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.
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?
How are any shoes at all "sleepwear"?
The 10 people who care are all commenting and liking each other's comments. I'm going to confidently represent the silent majority who dgaf how people dress as long as they're well behaved.
Caring how other people dress is pathetic. Worry about yourself and your own problems.
Qantas have got this right, Uggs are fugly.
I love how former British colonies hold onto "tradition" more strongly than the British have bothered to :)
I can see why you would ban beach wear or gym wear but uggs? I would never consider them inappropriate for an airport lounge. Is this like a specific Aussie peeve?
As much as I'm advocating for people to put a bit of effort as of how they dress when travelling, the thing which strikes me in the dress code is "boots or other sleepwear". Who on earth sleeps with boots?
When I lived there decades ago many institutions in Australia had notices up about attire requirements. I found the culture where I lived was pretty casual (matched the beach resort vibe), but people well away from the beach or pool would walk into shops in beach attire *only*... so I get why the firm line is being drawn.
For Qantas, this is fairly consistent. I remember reading about how Joanne Catherall from The Human League got kicked out of a Qantas lounge in Perth a few years ago for this reason (wearing Ugg boots).
That means I can't guest Borat into QF lounges?
Let's step back and imagine this scenario:
Checked out of the hotel and spent the day at the beach before going to the airport on an evening flight. Have lounge access due to status. Entering with flip-flops and air-dried swim attire and state at the entrance I want to clean up at the shower. How should the staff handle this scenario?
The problem is that there are plenty in Australia who would lactually try to do this (except they'd skip the part about going to the shower). Hence the need for Qantas to have a lounge dress code.
Shower and refresh at the hotel before going to the airport. Any hotel worth the money would offer you facilities to do that. And why wouldn't one do that.
If the lounge can offer you direct access to a shower (or enough showers if you are a family) then why not let you do that, but if there is a wait, we'll tough, you can't wait in the lounge.
Ben, you're triggered by older men with younger women at exclusive hotels. You should sit this one out.
@ Dave — C’mon, let’s not make up random stuff.
You've sniped at older men with their younger girlfriends at luxury hotels when the women are treating it like a social media shoot, have you not? Is it only older men with younger girlfriends that do this? No similar aged couples do it? No older men with rent boys?
Eh, you haven't lived until you've walked through airport security into a lounge after taking a swim.
As for Uggs... my vote would be on their own is ok, but if paired with a Juicy Couture sweatsuit outfit...
More airlines should follow Qantas' example. There is nothing in these rules that prevents you from being comfortable, or traveling in clothing that is well suited for log haul travel.
Then again, it is not often I see people in airports or lounges that would violate these rules. Except maybe the (Australian definition of the word) thongs in Australia. Without discussing the sartorial aspects of them, they are probably the worst possible footwear should...
More airlines should follow Qantas' example. There is nothing in these rules that prevents you from being comfortable, or traveling in clothing that is well suited for log haul travel.
Then again, it is not often I see people in airports or lounges that would violate these rules. Except maybe the (Australian definition of the word) thongs in Australia. Without discussing the sartorial aspects of them, they are probably the worst possible footwear should an evacuation become necessary, and for that reason should be banned on planes in general.
I don't know what the fact that airlines hand out PJs has to do with lounge dress codes, or elsewhere. Hotels has bathrobes in the rooms, that is not an encouragement to wear them in the hotel restaurants.
“I don't know what the fact that airlines hand out PJs has to do with lounge dress codes, or elsewhere. Hotels has bathrobes in the rooms, that is not an encouragement to wear them in the hotel restaurants.”
This. Exactly this. Being allowed to wear PJs on a flight also doesn’t mean you should wear them into the terminal. So if you’re gonna change, you can change into anything.
So the PJ argument is a bit of a stretch at best imo.
You may not care what is worn in a lounge but others do. It's respect and when this matter surfaced a few days ago on social media the woman concerned (who was probably looking for attention and thinking she'd be sided with) received a resoundly negative response and it was suggested she dress properly and told ugg boots are not appropriate. More airlines should do this especially in the USA where people turn up dressed...
You may not care what is worn in a lounge but others do. It's respect and when this matter surfaced a few days ago on social media the woman concerned (who was probably looking for attention and thinking she'd be sided with) received a resoundly negative response and it was suggested she dress properly and told ugg boots are not appropriate. More airlines should do this especially in the USA where people turn up dressed slovenly as if they are in their bedrooms. I am not interested in noticing aspects you cannot unsee. Just uncouth.
Bravo! Too many people have become slobs in public, too many adults dress like toddlers. I'm all for more dress codes, and the guts to enforce them, unlike most restaurants, and especially cruise ships.
Refreshing. UGGs are slippers. Leave them at home.
I do find the specific ban on Uggs kinda strange - I can understand banning open footwear (flip flops/slides). As someone who grew up in LA where uggs and a miniskirt were pretty standard, it seems strange.
Ugg is really short for ugly and i can't say i mind. Really, these slippers are OK if you go from bedroom to bathroom but outside, it's really ghastly.
Praise the lord, someone maintains decorum in travel. But as much as I think uggs look terrible, I also think they qualify as business casual.
uggs are business casual? what business are you in?
The business of sleepwear, apparently!
Qantas makes it clear that uggs are not permitted.
No sympathy for the passenger at all.
Though “rubber thong” sounded like some form of kinky underwear before I saw the picture and it’s just flip flops lol
Yeah, the "rubber" part threw me off. I'm used to "thongs" meaning flip-flops or sandals, but rubber ones really got the imagination going.
More airlines should adopt a dress code. Dressing for comfort and not being a slob can easily be achieved.
i've entered the LHR one many times with flip flops on, but this last time got dinged for it and had to awkwardly struggle into some sneakers in the lobby before they let me in
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 ...
they sound absolutely genuine to me. see other comment I left on this topic.
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?
they're made by the same people.
I'd be surprised if crocs were OK in the lounge.
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!
Agreed. Our dress standards are not exactly high, but if they didn't have the smart-casual requirement, then the Qantas Club would be full of Jetstar passengers heading for Bali, dressed in a Bintang singlet and bare feet.
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 live in Melbourne, and don't have to stop to the level of UGGs to keep my feet warm during our temperate winters.
And of course she's a gold FF. As a friend who once worked for Qantas told me, "Golds are the worst!" in terms of delusional expectations derived from their status.
Did Sebby suggest her to demand 700k miles and free round the world ticket for the inconvenience?
ffs. there's a cure for this: shoes. ordinary shoes.
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
So, how come lounges seemingly ignore people who put their feet up on another chair in the loung?
“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.
@corycesar I guess the way that I look at it is - if you are letting someone wearing uggs bother you, then your mind would likely just find something else in the environment to bother you, different dress code or not. That’s generally how it goes with these minor quibbles, might as well let it go
My take: I mind my own business and focus on how I want to present myself. The world would be a difficult place to function if I were concerned with the conduct displayed by everyone around me.
100% agreed. Wish people tried a bit harder in general, it doesn’t take that much effort.
@nerfington - you are likely the same guy that tells kids to get off your lawn and talk about “backing my day”. I’m old (68) but don’t hang on the things from the past. The world has changed. You do what you want but don’t enforce your beliefs on others. They usually don’t impact you. If so it is likely a “you” problem.
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...)
They are slippers you wear in the house not walking around shoes, at least in Oz/NZ
Those are incredibly big slippers if you count that as slippers. They look like shoes to me
@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.
If you go to the Qantas Club here in Perth on shift change day at one of Rio's iron ore mines, then >50% of the lounge is in hi-viz.
Imagine how much money QF is bringing in from FIFO workers though