I frequently write about the things that airline lounges need to do for customers. They need to be more spacious and less crowded. They need to offer better food. They need to stay open until an airline’s last flight.
But what about the things that customers need to do for airline lounges? And… for each other?
Customer behavior on planes has changed markedly over the years. As a young child flying on my own as an unaccompanied minor in the early 1980s I used to have to wear a button shirt at a minimum, but also a sport jacket. Now people let it all hang out.
That same behavior extends to airport lounges. Decorum lasted longer there, perhaps, but the more crowded they become the worse passenger behavior often gets, perhaps disappearing into the privacy of being surrounded by people – so many people you’re less likely to be noticed. Things get worse during irregular operations when passengers get tired.
Here’s Indonesia’s then-Fisheries minister asleep on the couch in an airport lounge at New York JFK.
https://t.co/Y9v5OA6aUM : #Picture #Minister – Picture of Minister Susi sleeping at US airport lounge goes viral pic.twitter.com/kTSF2r61hp
— Ardie Echel (@ArdhieEchel) June 12, 2017
Everyday passenger behavior in lounges has gotten worse, from being draped over couches asleep (lounge couches aren’t nap rooms) to simply sticking bare feet up on the furniture. Would you do this at the home of an acquaintance?
@AmericanAir I hate that I have to suggest this, but it might be time to add a “no shirt, no shoes, no service” policy to the Admirals Club so employees are empowered to stop guys like this from putting their bare feet everywhere. pic.twitter.com/PCmvd8J2CT
— Em (@grimgrinning) February 2, 2023
This man isn’t just presenting his feet, he’s presenting other parts of himself as well, and he’s resting his foot on another chair in the lounge which means the personal space someone else might use to get comfortable too. Maybe as passengers we don’t deserve better spaces in the airport?
Fifty years ago U.S. airline lounges were just opening up to the masses for a fee, following government rules requiring clear standards of access replacing invitations in order to avoid the appearance of discrimination. But allowing anyone in means allowing anyone in. Still, United Clubs don’t allow outside food, surely clubs can impose minimum standards like ‘no shirt, no shoes, no entry.’
I’m surprised Gary didn’t post one of my favorite clips from Fast Times but maybe it predated him:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2NaHBVVYzY
Personally I’d focus less on the footwear (or lack thereof) and more on common courtesy. Lounges need to prohibit cellphone calls except in designated areas. Lounges need family rooms for small children.
TK lounge in IST seems to attract the worst behavior. Many Africans watching music videos etc at high volume. They need a rule: No earbuds, no headphones, no dice.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High is very much a classic.
I blame civil rights. Any attempt at getting the credit card crowd actually to divide into two and only two genders and wear gender appropriate coat & tie and dress or skirt would entail a woke shakedown.
Here’s a thought: Get a thicker skin.
I should preface this by saying that I fly exclusively in Europe and Asia, not in the Americas.
Some of the lounges which I use do have dress codes – for example football (soccer) and other sports uniforms are prohibited, shirts and footwear must be worn. Of course in some places there might be legal difficulties in banning specific items of clothing: if a lounge wanted to ban shorts for men they may have to ban them for all in order to avoid falling foul of gender discrimination law.
The lounges which I use most frequently include the Emirates’ lounges in Dubai. By its very nature Dubai airport is a place where many transfer, often between log flights, and taking a nap there is what many want to do. Emirates have embraced this and provide sleeping areas with furniture that are essentially beds and blanket packs as well as other areas with ottomans that make it easy to sleep on the armchairs.
Lounges are less exclusive than they were, perhaps because society excludes fewer from the mainstream. Premium class flying, which nowadays usually includes lounge access as part of the package has become more democratic. Business class has become an option for those prepared to pay for more comfort when they fly as tourists. Economy class was once called tourist class, but this appellation has long-since disappeared. Economy is now for those who choose to pay less – and on the routes which I fly the cheaper cabin is increasingly populated by passengers flying on business but not in Business.
Societal norms have changed. It’s rare to see any male passenger, even in the hallows of First class, wearing a tie and jeans are commonly worn in First. The world is changing and I am afraid we all have to change with it.
Disclaimer – as a genuine Grumpy Old Man I do reserve the right to complain …
US lounges are a disgrace, full of trashy and dirty people.
Raise all the fees by $500.00. Day passes no less than $150.00. No refunds. No one under 18 allowed. One behavioral incident and your banned for life. Done.
No one under 18 allowe.
I agree. I sit in the bar area to be near adults and invariably a family of loud toddlers sets up camp adjacent to me even though a separate playroom with TV is available.
Screw Shi Shi’s snobbish comment!!!
People need a more long range view about what has happened with lounges and flying. In the olden days, there were few lounges and the only people who got access to them were first class flyers. Because so few people were first class flyers they were often nearly empty. The airlines saw an opportunity. They could sell access to their lounges to the public and to credit card companies. Other factors came into play too. Deregulation caused millions more to fly. The lounges gradually filled up. I suspect “problem cutomers” are a small minority, but get a lot of attention. I would the solution is simply to impose minimum rules like a dress code and to remove passengers who violate the rules.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with catching a nap in a lounge. As one commentor said I’ve seen many lounges out side of the US (arguably the worst of the first world) that have nap pods or rest areas for weathered travelers to catch a few winks perhaps on layover after a red eye. So long as that person is respectful of those around them I have absolutely no problem.
That being said no shoes humans, over served humans, and rude humans need to be dealt with
I exclusively fly first class when I’m flying alone or charter aircraft for myself and friends. I almost exclusively wear flip flops, a t-shirt, and sweat pants to get as comfortable on the plane as I can because I hate traveling–I just like being at my destination. I will take my shoes off, but not place them on furniture unless I’m napping. in which case, I don’t want dirty shoes on furniture. my airline seats lay flat when I’m traveling abroad anyways so that’s usually not a problem. at any rate, I don’t care if they increase the cost because my only two complaint are you peasants being in my space (even when you peasants are trying to class it up with your church clothes) and my other complaint is people lying about their pet being a service dog.
-deal with it or fly private
/rant
I don’t care what people look like (ie trashy and dirty comment above), what I care about is noise. I’m sick of people talking loudly on their stupid phone headsets without any concept that the whole room can hear them. Somehow I can talk super quietly into my phone and nobody ever says they can’t hear me. It’s just a blatant disregard for the people around you.
What a snob!!!