Originally Posted by
Polytonic
I imagine a typical scenario here is a small family flying to visit grandma for the holidays, their flight has been delayed or cancelled, everyone is stressed out, maybe they have a cranky toddler in tow, the airline isn't being very helpful because all the staff are overwhelmed, and it's honestly "easier" to wait in line because that's what everyone else is doing, and if everyone else is doing it, at least it's not a "wrong" thing to do.
Someone mentioned hotels earlier; I did a search a couple of days ago on hotels near EWR and they were running $200-$300/night, so not great but there was availability. Your theoretical small family group might need two rooms so now the budget is really stretched. I'd also hesitate to commit to paying for a non-refundable room not knowing if I was going to be booked on a flight 2 hours from now or tomorrow morning. (Or "booked" on a flight 2 hours from now that gets delayed and delayed and delayed.. and then cancelled.)
Tough case but I don't think I'd wait in line 10 hours. I'd at least sit somewhere, order a big glass of wine, get on the phone, keep checking the app and hope that any status I had might give me some priority.