Qantas doesn't care how much you paid for those comfy Ugg boots.
Singer Joanne Catherall learned the hard way that Australia's flag carrier considers the fashionable footwear "sleep attire" when it comes to the airline's domestic lounge dress code.
In a tweet posted last week, the 55-year-old Human League band member said she was turned away from a Qantas business class lounge at Melbourne Airport for donning the popular Australian sheepskin boot brand.
A sarcastic Catherall noted an employee "helpfully" suggested she purchase a pair of shoes from one of the airport shops.
As frustrating as the rules may be, Qantas clearly outlines its domestic lounge dress guidelines on its website, specifically listing Ugg boots as being too casual and thus prohibited.
Oddly enough, the airline's policy deems the boots sleepwear despite the fact that most Ugg owners wear their boots indoors and outdoors, as Catherall later pointed out.
Qantas defended its policy in a statement to The Independent.
"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," the airline said, citing lounge member feedback as its motivation.
"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."
[READMORE]READ MORE: Wearing High Heels to the Airport: 5 Common Myths[/READMORE]
Catherall's frustrating experience is reminiscent of United Airlines' leggings debacle earlier this year, in which two girls wearing spandex were denied boarding in Denver because of a United pass dress code barring passengers who are "barefoot or not properly clothed."
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