ANALYSIS
BY DAVID CHURCHILL
LOUNGING AROUND Access to airport lounges is changing, with implications for travel programmes
WHEN FORMER ENGLAND CRICKETER KEVIN PIETERSEN was denied entry to a Qantas airport lounge late last year because he was wearing flip-flops, he was not alone in falling foul of the Australian carrier’s tough new dress code for entry to its first class lounges in Sydney and Melbourne. Since introducing the rules a year ago,
anyone wearing attire not considered ‘smart/casual’ could be denied entry at the discretion of the lounge manager – a new policy backed by 84 per cent of its pas- sengers, according to a Qantas survey. Not surprisingly, the volatile Pietersen vented
26 BBT JULY/AUGUST 2016
his ire on social media, urging the airline to “get a grip” and making clear he was “tired, jet-lagged and just wanted to chill”. But the spat highlighted just how airport
lounges are moving front and centre in the airlines’ battle for the business traveller, especially those in the ‘elite’ frequent flyer category. Where it was once all about the premium aircraft cabins and what they offered, now it’s on the ground, before and after flying, that is where innovation in design and facilities is being focused. And maintaining dress standards is seen as an important part of ensuring the elite ambience remains.
A TOUCH OF CLASS It’s the true elites – those holding first or business class tickets – who seem to be the ones now with the keys to the kingdom (or at least the best lounges). Qatar Airways, for example, limits access to its newly-opened Al Safwa lounge at Doha’s Hamad International Airport to first class Qatar ticket holders only, ex- cluding those seeking access with their Emerald or Sapphire top-tier membership with Oneworld alliance partners. Qatar also limits access to its new Al Mourjan Business lounge at Hamad airport to those flying with first and business class
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