This story caught my eye because I just bought my wife some UGGs last week–I think they are very attractive footwear.
Joanne Catherall claims she was denied access to the Qantas Lounge in Melbourne for having the temerity to wear UGG boots.
She took to Twitter, complaining that the lounge attendant deemed her UGGs sleepwear. Qantas backed up its lounge agent, stressing that it endeavors to “remain consistent and uphold our Lounge’s dress guidelines”. A link is provided to the Qantas dress code rules.
Hi Joanne, we endeavour to remain consistent and uphold our Lounge's dress guidelines to all our guests . You may find details here: https://t.co/oiCgy2V1jR. Mark
— Qantas (@Qantas) December 14, 2017
Indeed, the rules explicitly prohibit UGG boots. And lest you wonder if this was just added, you can use Wayback Machine to verify that this prohibition has been in place for awhile.
If you’re curious, the following attire is prohibited in the Qantas Lounges:
Our team will decline entry if some items of clothing are too casual or inappropriate. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Thongs and bare feet
- Head to toe gym wear
- Beachwear (including board shorts)
- Sleepwear (including UGG Boots and slippers)
- Clothing featuring offensive images or slogans
- Revealing, unclean or torn clothing
Dress codes are tricky, aren’t they? Just what is revealing? Where is the line drawn? Is head-to-tow gym wear really worse than clothing that is too small or too big?
And even if UGG boots were originally intended as slippers, haven’t they become widely accepted footwear for wear in public?
When asked for a quote from The Independent , Qantas dug in, defending its policy:
We completely understand that no one likes being declined at the door but we’ve always had smart casual dress standards for our lounges, which are similar for those in place for most clubs and restaurants.
Over the past couple of years we have had clear feedback from lounge members that they wanted these existing guidelines to be applied more rigorously.
CONCLUSION
What do you think about UGG boots in airport lounges? How about dress codes in general?
I think Quantas is correct. Rules are clear and dress code seems really reasonable. If not for the dress code, the lady should be avoid to enter for “bad taste reasons”
Too right, they are absolutely boorish and unnecessary supposed ‘ fashion ‘ accessory. It’s simple really – PLAY BY THE RULES or CLEAR OFF !! The amount of crap I’ve put up with with poorly behaved and dressed lax over 20 years of flying has taken its toll and I can’t stand it anymore !
Too right, they are absolutely boorish and unnecessary supposed ‘ fashion ‘ accessory. It’s simple really – PLAY BY THE RULES or CLEAR OFF !! The amount of crap I’ve put up with with poorly behaved and dressed Pax over 20 years of flying has taken its toll and I can’t stand it anymore !
Sorry but I would rather be comfortable when traveling than dressing up to please everyone else. My comfort takes priority and if it means I can’t go into a snooty, uptight bar, so be it. I would rather grab a beer at a sports bar/lounge anyway!
You’re decision you’re choice , you most probably fly whY ? then by your logic , glad I don’t have be near you or your ‘flying’ type .. it’s simple – you don’t have to like the rules set out by the lounge then DONT GO OR WORRY ABOUT THEM !! then don’t be passing judgement and opine to ones self, keepmfyling desthstar to Bali and SHUT UP..! god what stupid comment
Exactly what type of thong is prohibited and how to they check?
We’re just assuming footwear because it’s paired with “no barefeet.”
Be suspicious if they drop and pen and ask you to pick it up.
It would be the footwear as the underwear in Oz is known as a g-string. Thong for the crack creepers is an american term. Oh and Uggs in Oz are considered totally bogan.
How about buying your wife a few yoga pants for wedding receptions or interviews or meetings? Or wearing your jeans half down and showing the world your behind like those thugs? S* UP. QUIT WHINNING. HAVE SOME CLASS AND FREAKING DRESS PROPERLY!
I would kick that lady and your wife and their companions out of the club too. 🙂
I’m with Nev.
Sorry Matthew, I can’t agree with you. Crocs and Ugg boots – probably the ugliest footwear ever created. Frankly I’m glad some places maintain a dress code. There would be a lot more objection if people weren’t so strapped into their politically correct straight jackets or worse, that complete sense of entitlement because they want their way. Good for Qantas. More airlines, restaurants, lounges, clubs need to enforce this with no exceptions.
We don’t know what style Ugg they are talking about here. Is it all UGG wear? Because I myself don’t like the classic style, but Ugg has over a thousand styles, from casual to very dressy and elegant styles with heels. Shoes, sandals Etc…
I’m not sure what the lady in the lounge was wearing, but the ones I bought for my wife are like the ones pictured above.
As noted by a previous commenter, ‘thongs’ in Australia are a form of footwear (flip flops). No-one is going to be policing your underwear unless you have it on display!
i dont understand why some people bother about others’ dress. “The amount of crap I’ve put up with with poorly behaved and dressed” I also have a low tolerance for poorly behaved people but that doesn’t mean that I give a crap about others’ dress. I have seen so many people who are “well” dressed or in business casual behaving badly in lounges. You are getting causation and correlation wrong!
I feel like Qantas’ rule is very cultural. For many Americans, this rule does not make a lot of sense. Look at big entrepreneurs in the US, all dressed very casually even in news conferences. Qantas can set whatever rule they want to have but it just shows how they think or see the world. To me, this policy is obnoxious and narrow minded.
Are you missing the point Ken or what ? Adhere to the dress code of the said lounge and it’s all fine. Broadcasting on soc-med how you’ve been ‘wronged’ for wearing the ridiculous footwear clearly stated and signed upon entry only makes these people petulant attention seeking bratish and frankly I’m over this boorish behavior , it’s Almoat like we’re socally engineering ourselves out of existence , THEY NEED A GOOD CLIP OVER THE EARS … imagine trying this on in Singapore ?!? I say Bring back the Cain and Yeah , I’d have you in my sights First Champ
There are plenty of options available for flyers that falls plainly within the dress code of the lounge. Personally, I’m a “nice” jeans (from Banana Republic – nothing extravagant), “fancy” Converse sneakers (Jack Purcell edition), and long-sleeve button-down shirt or some sort of knit top kind of guy. I’ve worn that same ensemble in multiple F and J lounges around the world and have never had so much as a sideward glance thrown my way, to include the QF F lounges. For me, that’s absolutely comfortable. Then, once on the plane, I change into something much more dressed-down, like gym shorts or the airline-offered pyjamas. There’s no need to dress up for others’ sake, but there’s still a distinct difference between dressing for the public versus dressing for one’s own living room or bedroom. I’m definitely with QF on this.
UGG’s are for teenage girls who want to portray a look of “I don’t care what I look like (but in a trendy way)”. They are in no way “smart casual”. It’s a first class lounge, not the breakfast area at a HIX.
Matthew, could you reach out to them about the thongs? My wife enjoys wearing them as undergarments with her business casual suiting. I’ve made her quite concerned about this as she’s worried about being uncomfortable all day in more conservative underwear she’d otherwise have to wear (we’re arrive in Sydney next week and have a bit of a layover before we depart for Melbourne).
— A very concerned reader
I’ll be happy to reach out.
I’m with Quantas. With the plethora of attractive tasteful casual clothing available to both women and men, complying with Quantas’ reasonable requirements should be easily accommodated. Slobs, aloft or on the ground, are pathetic. How about attempting adulthood?
The rule is in place….and two…UGG bouts are sloppy, just like crocs, they should add those to the list.
Qantas (and many of the commenters, it seems) are missing the point: it’s not that the rules are unclear, it’s whether they make sense to begin with.
How are UGG boots any different from other suede boots? And why on earth are they classed as “sleepwear”?
Even if UGG themselves originally billed them as such (haven’t found any evidence that this is true, but it can be), they don’t now – check their website, or google “UGG sleepwear” and see what comes up. Plus, does anyone really wear boots with their pyjamas at home? Slippers definitely (and I agree with Qantas banning them in their lounges), but boots?
Now, if what Qantas wants is to free travellers from what might be unsightly clothing items even if they don’t fall into a particular category (as I say, it’s fine to ban sleepwear, I certainly have no interest in sharing a lounge with someone in their favourite sleeping underpants), then I may have some suggestions myself: Crocs shoes, ostentatious jewellery worn by men, sagging trousers, rapper caps, and people with visible tattoos are all more distasteful than UGG boots, if you ask me.
Besides, how are those boots any more casual than, say, a pair of Nike or Converse sneakers, which Qantas don’t ban?
As a Converse sneakers wearer, I’d posit that it’s more about the overall look of the outfit and attire. As other commenters have mentioned, the ugg-style boot was originally considered a slipper and thus bedroom attire. Independent of that, though, I’d ask if you’ve legitimately seen an UGG or ugg-style boot worn with an overall outfit that you’d consider Business Casual or Smart Casual. Probably not. Of course I’m biased about my Converse since I wear “fancier” Converse and not just the All Stars or Chuck Taylors. However, I can (and do) wear clean jeans or chinos, a button-down, and a sport coat and not look at all out of place in a board room, especially given the culture in Silicon Valley and Hollywood these days. I’m not sure that can be done with UGGs. Anecdotal as it is, I generally seen UGGs worn with yoga pants or sweatpants or other clothing that’s more fitting for a dorm room, not a board room.
This people think that are entitled to everything they have around and dont have to follow rules and policies. Every company and country have rules and laws you need to follow if you like them and or cant follow stay away from them. This lady thinks she deserved sympathy for being a cry baby and break the rules. Joanne must be one of those that always received participation trophies to make kids feel good.
Coming from Australia, ugg boots previously were mainly used as slippers which is why Qantas would consider them sleepwear. It’s only since the UGG company stole the concept that they’ve been made into some time of fashion item.
Some of the UGG and Croc wearers have foot problems which are greatly releaved through this footwear. Quite frankly, don’t the Quantas folks have more important issues. If not, maybe the Americans can lend them Mr. Trump,
Wow. This got the comments going.
Uggs are not “smart casual.’ Thank god someone is holding up a minimal amount of style at Qantas. The attire that most people wear to fly now is horrific.
You’re a good guy, Matt. I’m sure you gave your wife these boots with the best of intentions. It does make it hard to comment honestly without insulting your wife, though.
Let me just say I’m glad Qantas is playing by the rules they set themselves. I’d like to believe we should show our fellow humans a minimum of respect when out in public. Yoga pants in public screams “please validate me” while Uggs in public scream “I’m so lazy about myself I can’t be bothered to wear something adult around other people”.
Ridiculous rule. These boots originated in Australia abou.t 45 years ago an d were never sleepwear. There was a slightly bogan ( aka redneck) market for them before .they became something of a fashion item more recently. With the right outfit they can look terrific and should no.t be banned as sleepwear.
Qantas should pay more attention to the boozed-up, beer-breathed, Skype/phone using loudmouths who frequent the lounges rather than arbitrary – frankly ridiculous- fashion judgements.
This is for the people who appreciate comfy style, UGG offers casual footwear and cozy items for the home, along with its signature boots.