Kevin Pietersen calls Qantas “muppets” after being refused entry to airline lounge for wearing flip-flops
Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen vented his fury on Twitter after being refused entry to Qantas' airline lounge for wearing flip-flops.
Pietersen brandished Qantas as "muppets" for their dress code, describing "thongs" (as flip-flops are called in Australia) as "an institution in this great country!".
Earlier this year Qantas issued new clothing guidelines for its domestic lounge members which explicitly bans things and states "our team will decline entry if some items of clothing are too casual or inappropriate".
Read more: KP – England players won't contact me
The Australian airline directed the public guidelines to Pietersen on Twitter after the cricketer wrote: "I suggest you tell Platinum, First Class fliers that they not allowed in your lounges with flip flops before they fly, @Qantas! Muppets!"
Pietersen was travelling to Australia to play for the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League, the country's domestic Twenty20 competition.
@KP24 It must have been disappointing Kevin. Changes from earlier this year: https://t.co/oiCgy2V1jR. Hope to welcome you back again soon.
— Qantas (@Qantas) December 14, 2015
An airline spokesman said: "We completely understand that being declined at the door isn't a great experience, so this is a good opportunity to remind those wanting to use our capital city lounges of the dress code that applies."