Alcohol in AUH lounge in Ramadan
Jun 10, 2016, 5:37 am
#16
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
Sitting in the EY Business Lounge in AUH right now.
Sign says: Alcoholic beverages will be available between 19:00 and 03:00. The buffet is open, though, and they serve coffee, water, soft drinks.
Super annoying that Muslim rites are imposed upon me, a non-Muslim (and I am not even sure that there is actually any consistent religious rule behind this).
Sign says: Alcoholic beverages will be available between 19:00 and 03:00. The buffet is open, though, and they serve coffee, water, soft drinks.
Super annoying that Muslim rites are imposed upon me, a non-Muslim (and I am not even sure that there is actually any consistent religious rule behind this).
Jun 10, 2016, 5:42 am
#17
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,455
EK is the most liberal - alcohol all day if you want.
EY, well, we've seen it here.. semi-liberal, if you want to call it that..
QR doesn't serve any drinks at all during all of Ramadan..
TK doesn't give a damn about Ramadan either ^
Honestly, the whole "fasting" thing wouldn't be so bad if they would allow themselves to be kept hydrated with water during the day, and NOT eating like crazy in the evening/early morning but just two regular meals. The body could perfectly use such a month break. The way it is right now celebrated is just crazy and doesn't have any use at all but to punish people actually following it.
Jun 10, 2016, 5:45 am
#18
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP (OWE), VA PLAT, EY GLD, SPG PLAT, Hyatt DIA, Hilton DIA, Hertz PC
Posts: 8,527
Honestly, the whole "fasting" thing wouldn't be so bad if they would allow themselves to be kept hydrated with water during the day, and NOT eating like crazy in the evening/early morning but just two regular meals. The body could perfectly use such a month break. The way it is right now celebrated is just crazy and doesn't have any use at all but to punish people actually following it.
Jun 10, 2016, 7:10 am
#19
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,455
Jun 10, 2016, 7:48 am
#20
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
The point is to accept other cultures and that you are a visitor in their country (even airside in the airport) and you may disagree but one shouldn't judge.
I am not a Muslim but my understanding of Ramadan is to empathize with those not as well-off, to celebrate one's family and appreciate one's successes. I think that is something that one can easily respect and it takes a certain kind of person to go around complaining about a minor inconvenience as a result. If one can't handle a few daylight hours without alcohol (not specifically YuropFlyer or CalFlyer... similar names, are you related?), though, I suspect there may more serious issues to consider.
Jun 10, 2016, 8:02 am
#22
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,941
Well, I still find it interesting that two airlines (EY and EK) from the same Muslim country that are probably both transporting a majority of non-Muslim travelers deal with the matter differently, if EK is really keeping up its normal lounge service throughout Ramadan (I have not used EK this Ramadan yet, but I think i remember it from last year).
For aspiring world carriers I find the apparent EK approach more appropriate, leaving it to each traveler what they do about their Ramadan behavior. I dislike any kind of imposed restrictions, esp. if it is for religious reasons.
For aspiring world carriers I find the apparent EK approach more appropriate, leaving it to each traveler what they do about their Ramadan behavior. I dislike any kind of imposed restrictions, esp. if it is for religious reasons.
Jun 10, 2016, 8:05 am
#23
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,941
Aha. Where do i say I cannot handle it? Suspicious if some people immediately go into character judgments ...
Jun 10, 2016, 8:13 am
#24
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
not specifically YuropFlyer or CalFlyer
Jun 10, 2016, 10:04 am
#25
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
!
Jun 10, 2016, 11:31 am
#26
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,455
I am not a Muslim but my understanding of Ramadan is to empathize with those not as well-off, to celebrate one's family and appreciate one's successes. I think that is something that one can easily respect and it takes a certain kind of person to go around complaining about a minor inconvenience as a result.
Now, you can agree or not with me about the "not drinking water during the day" part. But apart from that, if you indeed used Ramadan as it was intended, you wouldn't actually gain weight (and losing a lot of muscles) during it (like in reality all those in the UAE do who "celebrate" it..)
If you actually just ate modest at sunset and at sunrise, your body would quickly get used to that, and after a few days, you would indeed feel better and not have those pains that the "twice a day stuff your face" people get..
If you want to celebrate Ramadan in true spirit, then do it. But don't eat huge buffets of luxury food that no poor man ever could afford.
But it's kinda silly if you serve alcohol during the (day) flight, and then upon landing at 5pm you're refused..
Jun 10, 2016, 12:30 pm
#27
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,628
I worked in Egypt back in the 80's and this reminds me of my first Ramadan.
Was playing golf out by the pyramids, and walking from the 18th green to the clubhouse I noticed that everyone was drinking 7 up. As I went up to the bar the guy in front put 2 empty 7 up bottles on the bar and said 2 more please Mohamed. I looked over the bar and saw that the barman had a large ice cold bottle of beer and was pouring it into the 7 up bottles using a funnel.
I'll have 2 as well please.
Happy days
Was playing golf out by the pyramids, and walking from the 18th green to the clubhouse I noticed that everyone was drinking 7 up. As I went up to the bar the guy in front put 2 empty 7 up bottles on the bar and said 2 more please Mohamed. I looked over the bar and saw that the barman had a large ice cold bottle of beer and was pouring it into the 7 up bottles using a funnel.
I'll have 2 as well please.
Happy days
Jun 11, 2016, 9:56 am
#28
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,884
Correct - normal levels of food and booze in the lounge and on board.
Flying to EZE right now using complimentary (for these in C) wifi on board.
BTW I was under the impression that Ramadan rules are exempt for those who travel, anyway.
Flying to EZE right now using complimentary (for these in C) wifi on board.
BTW I was under the impression that Ramadan rules are exempt for those who travel, anyway.
Jun 11, 2016, 10:45 am
#29
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
Alcohol is not a Ramadan rule, and all the ME3 serve food during the day.