LHR/MEL/Europe FF

I disagree. Taking one can or a bag of crisps for consumption is fair enough. All sorts of reasons why this might occur... delays at check-in, late connecting flight. Taking 20 is entirely different.

hungry

Since BOB I take three beers and big of crisps. But I guess 20 cans and 5 bags is excessive

Dave Noble

Either it is theft or it is not. whether 1 bag of crisps or 10 - it is still theft. If 1 can of drink is ok to take, then why not 5?

corporate-wage-slave

Judging from the video, they used the chillers in an area some distance from the two BaxterStorey base stations, and with a large wine/water/glasses unit in front. So they would have been quite well hidden, they didn't use the chillers in the Refectory area, which are very open to view, and they looked quite slick in the execution of their heist. They knew what they were doing, but since they are almost certainly Gold cardholders they may well be quite familiar with how the lounge works.

I've seen this happen before, the BA (not BS) lounge manager will ask them if they have taken extra items, if they say yes then the manager will ask them to return excess items. They try not to escalate matters too much, preferring the embarrassment factor to work. However, I've no idea what happened here and I guess we're unlikely to find out unless the culprits choose to "out" themselves here. And that would be somewhat foolhardy!

LHR/MEL/Europe FF

Because one can for immediate consumption is not depriving the airline of property that they could otherwise be using. The one can you are taking (for whatever reason) is a reasonable consumption and most likely assumed in the cost of the lounge access.

Taking five cans is not.

corporate-wage-slave

There's a materiality factor here Dave. There was a time when people were sent to the gallows for sheep rustling (a little harsh perhaps and luckily we discovered Australia), but even in our enlightened times the removal of 20 plus cans can be regarded as way more serious than 2.

Dave Noble

Regardless of penalty imposed for the offence, taking 2 cans is still theft.

I do not agree with theft but see dual standards here of the nature of "what I steal is ok, but beyond that is wrong"

WorldLux

I have to admit that I occasionally nick the odd Coke can or crisp bag when I'm in a rush and have no time to sit down, but 20+ cans is pushing it.

Raffles

How come no-one has started the 'taking newspapers from the lounge is theft' routine yet? That's always a good one to watch ....

s0ssos

Can't you use the same logic and say if 20 isn't fine how is 1 fine? It is still against the rules. The same rules you say 20 isn't fine by.

corporate-wage-slave

If one's mindset sees it only as dual standards then your lead in clause can be understood. However if you see this as a continuum, where one can is immaterial and 20 (?) cans is grand larceny, then one's sense of outrage can be calibrated. The law and law enforcement recognises the same principle.

s0ssos

That term "otherwise could be using" is nebulous. So if you go to a bakery, they are closing, and there are lots of baked goods and you know they throw them away, can you just take them and walk out?

There is no such thing as "reasonable" for "cost of lounge access". Nobody pays anything for lounge access, nor knows how much it costs, and lounge access is the same fee regardless of whether or not you drink anything. It is like a buffet basically.

hungry

I think it's theft that BA used to give me a beer in my airline ticket price, but stopped doing that without reducing the cost of the airline ticket price. I recoup their theft by taking a beer from their lounge to drink onboard instead.

Worcester

That would be an interesting defence in court.

LTN Phobia

Beyond moral or legal issues, don't those people who take stuff out of lounges feel cheap? I'd feel pretty ashamed of myself to take anything without asking or being given express permission to do so and find my behaviour cheap and nasty, which I'd find quite hard to commit.

I'd do the same. Misuse/abuse shouldn't be tolerated.

What equally upsets me (as well as what effectively amounts to theft) is their unthinking attitude. It could end up causing more cuts or inconveniences for others if too many people are doing things like this, e.g. removal of stuff in smaller containers and everything from a tap.

Although, I suspect some people would probably prefer all beers to be from taps rather than cans and that could be seen as public service


I don't understand why people don't do the simple thing of asking, "May I take this"? If they are told yes, then do so (but only "this" and not "10 of this")... If not, then don't.