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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Taking items from a airport lounge

33 replies

SoloD · 11/01/2018 10:09

A friend was caught by an airline lounge attendant putting a couple of cans of soft drink into their bag. Apparently, they said

“I ain't seen nothing man but have a good flight”

IN their defense (a) it was only 2 cans (b) it wasn’t booze (not even the cheap stuff) (c) they felt suitably chastised (d) the airline has limited stock on board

Should they have felt bad or was that okay? Will show them this thread later...

OP posts:

BarbaraofSevillle · 11/01/2018 10:18

It's a bit like a hotel buffet isn't it? You can help yourself to as much as you want while you are there, but you're not supposed to take things away for later.

Sounds like the lounge person was politely reminding your friend of this.

CMOTDibbler · 11/01/2018 10:20

Things in the lounge are for consumption only in the lounge. Otherwise people start filling their water bottles with booze and making picnics and taking them out to those who aren't in the lounge.

Def CF territory!

Katedotness1963 · 11/01/2018 10:21

If everyone does it what's left in the lounge? I wouldn't do it.

Pagwatch · 11/01/2018 10:22

It's so a bit unnecessary isn't it? If they were business or first class you get those drinks on the plane.
I'd be embaressed TBH.

BarbaraofSevillle · 11/01/2018 10:23

And if they want drinks for the flight and can't rely on them being available on board, that's what airport shops and vending machines are for.

Or you can always take an empty water bottle through security to fill up in the toilets or drinking fountains.

Bunnyboo88 · 11/01/2018 10:24

Took a friend into an airport lounge with me as my guest. Get on the plane to find out she had stolen food and drink from the lounge and had it in her bag. I was mortified. And angry, she wasn’t the one who could have lost her membership if caught!

Bluntness100 · 11/01/2018 10:32

If everyone does it what's left in the lounge? I wouldn't do it

They restock it. It's not like once it's done it's done. There are staff wandering about who restock everything throughout the day and evening.

I see no issue with this, loads of people do it. I used to spend a huge amount of time in airline lounges and always took a bottle of water and a paper, no one ever said anything to me, and most folks did.

Most comical was years ago when my daughter was three. She stuffed her little pockets with shortbread biscuits from the ba business class lounge as she couldn't beleive they were just there to take 🤣

OneFlewOverTheDodosNest · 11/01/2018 10:50

I don't know really - I once was in an airport lounge for nearly 12 hours because I'd missed a connecting flight and had to wait for 3 planes before I got a seat. Think I probably got through a heck of a lot more than a couple of extra cans that day and they never seemed at risk of running out of food.

I would be annoyed in the incident a PP where someone jeopardised my membership though.

SirWibbles209 · 11/01/2018 10:52

Lol, I'd be embarrassed, but it's not something I can get too worked up about tbh. If they were filling their bag up then yeah... but you usually pay to enter anyway.

chestylarue52 · 11/01/2018 11:18

I've always taken drinks and food from the lounge to the plane. I don't see why you wouldn't. It's not stealing. I/my company pay a lot of money for me to travel regularly and that's why I have access to the lounge. I don't understand the hand wringing.

londonista · 11/01/2018 11:23

It's a bit cheap but not really a big deal, you're not supposed to.

I took MIL to posh afternoon tea at the Landmark Hotel once, she upended the plate of scones into her handbag not once but twice, and even though the staff knew what she was doing they patiently bought another plate. She went to do it a 3rd time and I caught her hand. My husband and I still laugh about it!

londonista · 11/01/2018 11:25

When we stay at hotels my sons always try to grab a cheeky croissant on the way out. I stop them not out of embarrassment, but more because they usually have already eaten 5 of them at the table.

FluffyWuffy100 · 11/01/2018 11:26

Eat and drink what you can whilst you are in there, but no you can't swipe items for your bag for later.

NotSupposedtobeHere · 11/01/2018 11:32

Ugh, that’s really cheap and vulgar behaviour. Food and drink is for consumption in the lounge. It makes her look like a poorly mannered, greedy person.

BluthsFrozenBananas · 11/01/2018 11:34

I’ve filled a water bottle for DD in the lounge, but that’s as far as I go. DH usually pockets a packet of crisps or biscuits for the flight, he flies on an almost weekly basis and has never been told he can’t take a snack. I think it would be a bit different taking a bottle of vodka or emptying a tray of pastries into your bag though.

c3pu · 11/01/2018 11:41

After a trip away on business I was in the executive lounge, lamenting to my colleagues about being out of bread and milk when I got home (flight didn't land until late Sunday evening, I'm single with nobody at home to get the bare essentials in, they all have live in partners etc).

My colleague then proceeded to fill my tupperware lunchbox with bread while I was in loo, hid it in my bag and then text me when I got home to tell me about the stolen free bread she'd given me.

Didn't know whether to be grateful or mortified, but it was very handy being able to have toast for breakfast Monday morning.

nosyupnorth · 11/01/2018 11:59

I tend to have a view of it's okay to take as much as is reasonable for personal use with these things, as long as that won't mean there's not enough to go around for other people.

A can or two of pop that they might reasonably have drunk in the lounge anyway is harmless, filling up a bag would be taking the piss.

Llangollen · 11/01/2018 12:01

I think a can and a sandwich is fine, filling up your grocery bag is not. It's the same with breakfast buffets: grab a muffin and a banana, but don't stock up for a week.
after all, you might have a cup of tea and a slice of toast and take an extra for later, but people on the next table are stuffing themselves like there's no tomorrow. Who is vulgar there?

It's not "free" food or drink anyway, you pay for with via your ticket or your membership.

RavingRoo · 11/01/2018 12:03

First class lounges are there to be used. The attendant should have kept quiet as the airline really doesn’t give a shit if someone who’s spent 10k on a flight take a few cans of drink with them.

BarbaraofSevillle · 11/01/2018 12:07

You don't have to travel first class to use the lounge. They're run by the airport and anyone can use them and they cost about £20. I've used them on flights costing pretty much nothing.

WhooooAmI24601 · 11/01/2018 12:09

It's fine to take a bottle of water or a can of pop, less fine to take a week's supply of anything. DH sees airport lounges as a challenge and deliberately doesn't eat before he goes away so he can 'get his fill'. He's an odd man.

OlennasWimple · 11/01/2018 12:10

One can - fine

More than one can - getting into CF territory

More than one can and half the buffet - embarassing

ToElleWithIt · 11/01/2018 12:15

I think "fair use" principal applies here. Taking one of those small bottles of water or one small can of soft drink to sip while waiting at the gate or on the flight is generally fine. Similarly taking a pack of biscuits if flying with a child is reasonable.
Taking booze, large quantities of food, or making sandwiches is a bit vulgar.

expatinscotland · 11/01/2018 12:15

c3, keep some UHT milk in your cupboard and a half loaf of bread in the freezer.

Your mate is a CF, Solo.

londonista · 11/01/2018 12:22

Whooooo I'm starting to think our families should meet! Maybe at an all you can eat buffet??? 😂

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