So it’s my first time back in the qantas first in Sydney since pre pandemic, apparently the bar staff no longer know how to make standard cocktails and can only make the complex concoctions from the menu. I asked for a gin and tonic and a cosmopolitan but that apparently wasn’t allowed.
This is what happens when you subcontract out the operation of a first class lounge to the people who brought us Novotel and Ibis hotels...
(of course, no doubt Qantas saved heaps of $$ doing this outsourcing, which savings then got distributed back to their bankers and corporate shareholders).
There is nothing 'First' about anything at QF any more. It is a very sad decline.
This is what happens when you subcontract out the operation of a first class lounge to the people who brought us Novotel and Ibis hotels...
(of course, no doubt Qantas saved heaps of $$ doing this outsourcing, which savings then got distributed back to their bankers and corporate shareholders).
There is nothing 'First' about anything at QF any more. It is a very sad decline.
Seems a bit harsh. Might just be a bad apple. I find the sofitel trained staff overall quite good.
This is what happens when you subcontract out the operation of a first class lounge to the people who brought us Novotel and Ibis hotels...
(of course, no doubt Qantas saved heaps of $$ doing this outsourcing, which savings then got distributed back to their bankers and corporate shareholders).
There is nothing 'First' about anything at QF any more. It is a very sad decline.
The staffing of the First lounges was outsourced to the hotel owners years ago. It makes not one bit of difference to the service received in the Sydney and Melbourne First lounges.
I had a gin and tonic in the Sydney lounge two weeks ago. If a staff member said a G&T was not available then it seems that's down to the individual staff member only.
I was denied a martini. In their gin bar in London and also in sg first and melb first lounges.
This now seems to be the norm. When I was in the Sg First lounge the week it reopened this year after lockdown I asked the lead bar tender why the Sg lounge/s no longer provide Singapore Slings. This Singapore Sling ‘crackdown' as I fondly think of it (not) occurred a few years ago, with no reasons provided by QF. There was a few theories thrown around on this forum at the time about Singapore Airlines etc. I asked multiple visits and was never provided a reason.
The truth of the matter was much more boring and is the reason why martinis and some other cocktails are no longer being served in QF lounges. I was told by the Sg bar tender that it was all about the multi-shots of alcohol in each drink. Nothing to do with Singapore Slings being targeted and that Qantas no longer provide cocktails that have multi-shots of alcohol in them (martini's commonly have 3 shots). Of course this is up to the person providing the service, so variations will occur.
I was told that other flyers have smashed themselves in lounges and can't even board the plane when they turn up to the gate, being turned back at the plane due to their level of intoxication. The lounge would then get a phone call from the gate desk (QF staff) at the gate and an uncomfortable situation would then occur.
As for the issue the OP ran into, sounds like just bad luck. Ask for the manager on duty and offer to make it yourself so you can train the staff who are on shift ;)
In all serious though, regarding basic cocktails like G&T, do ask for the lounge manager on duty and raise it with them in a polite feedback approach, as they should be made aware. G&T, Bloody Mary's and others have recently been ordered and served. On a side note, the worst Cosmo I've had was on a Qatar flight at the A380 bar, where the best I've had was on a Emirates A380 at the bar.
Dr Al
Dr Al
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 07 Mar 2017
Total posts 34
So it’s my first time back in the qantas first in Sydney since pre pandemic, apparently the bar staff no longer know how to make standard cocktails and can only make the complex concoctions from the menu. I asked for a gin and tonic and a cosmopolitan but that apparently wasn’t allowed.
Is it just a bad day or is this the new normal?
Phil Young
Phil Young
Qantas
Member since 22 Oct 2012
Total posts 258
Apparently the menu only list of cocktails is the new normal, and has been for some months.
benzqn
benzqn
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 30 Mar 2015
Total posts 22
I was denied a martini. In their gin bar in London and also in sg first and melb first lounges.
quantumreality
quantumreality
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 16 Jan 2018
Total posts 71
Shocking. They have all the basic ingredients to make basic cocktails gin and tonic or martini is no rocket science...
To hear hat this is also the case for the First lounge in Sydney is a bit sad...
kwa123
kwa123
Etihad - Etihad Guest
Member since 10 Apr 2019
Total posts 3
Seems odd. I was able to get a gin and tonic and Bloody Mary last week……
BrisHamish
BrisHamish
Member since 24 Sep 2017
Total posts 16
This is what happens when you subcontract out the operation of a first class lounge to the people who brought us Novotel and Ibis hotels...
(of course, no doubt Qantas saved heaps of $$ doing this outsourcing, which savings then got distributed back to their bankers and corporate shareholders).
There is nothing 'First' about anything at QF any more. It is a very sad decline.
djtech
djtech
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 02 Sep 2018
Total posts 375
Originally Posted by BrisHamish
This is what happens when you subcontract out the operation of a first class lounge to the people who brought us Novotel and Ibis hotels...
(of course, no doubt Qantas saved heaps of $$ doing this outsourcing, which savings then got distributed back to their bankers and corporate shareholders).
There is nothing 'First' about anything at QF any more. It is a very sad decline.
GoldCanyon340
GoldCanyon340
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 11 Nov 2016
Total posts 13
Originally Posted by BrisHamish
This is what happens when you subcontract out the operation of a first class lounge to the people who brought us Novotel and Ibis hotels...
(of course, no doubt Qantas saved heaps of $$ doing this outsourcing, which savings then got distributed back to their bankers and corporate shareholders).
There is nothing 'First' about anything at QF any more. It is a very sad decline.
The staffing of the First lounges was outsourced to the hotel owners years ago. It makes not one bit of difference to the service received in the Sydney and Melbourne First lounges.
I had a gin and tonic in the Sydney lounge two weeks ago. If a staff member said a G&T was not available then it seems that's down to the individual staff member only.DaveK
DaveK
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 04 Feb 2013
Total posts 8
Originally Posted by benzqn
I was denied a martini. In their gin bar in London and also in sg first and melb first lounges.
The truth of the matter was much more boring and is the reason why martinis and some other cocktails are no longer being served in QF lounges. I was told by the Sg bar tender that it was all about the multi-shots of alcohol in each drink. Nothing to do with Singapore Slings being targeted and that Qantas no longer provide cocktails that have multi-shots of alcohol in them (martini's commonly have 3 shots). Of course this is up to the person providing the service, so variations will occur.
I was told that other flyers have smashed themselves in lounges and can't even board the plane when they turn up to the gate, being turned back at the plane due to their level of intoxication. The lounge would then get a phone call from the gate desk (QF staff) at the gate and an uncomfortable situation would then occur.
As for the issue the OP ran into, sounds like just bad luck. Ask for the manager on duty and offer to make it yourself so you can train the staff who are on shift ;)
In all serious though, regarding basic cocktails like G&T, do ask for the lounge manager on duty and raise it with them in a polite feedback approach, as they should be made aware. G&T, Bloody Mary's and others have recently been ordered and served. On a side note, the worst Cosmo I've had was on a Qatar flight at the A380 bar, where the best I've had was on a Emirates A380 at the bar.