FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Kiosk Hell
Thread: Kiosk Hell
View Single Post
Old Jul 29, 2006 | 9:54 pm
  #1  
carpboy
10 Countries Visited
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: ABE/PHL
Programs: CO Pt Infinite (1k life)/ 1MM - NW/DL Silver life/1 MM
Posts: 1,309
Kiosk Hell

These electronic checkin terminals have bred a few new classes of idiots: Terminal Lingerers and Line Stallers.

Terminal Lingerers are those that once have processed their business continue to stand right in front of the kiosk as if they are still using it.

Line stallers are those that will not approach a kiosk when available. Some are screened by the Lingerers (and don't understand that the kiosk is indeed really available) and others will just stand there with their mouth open until directed by an official person to proceed.

When it is my turn and I see a Lingerer I will go up and nicely ask them if they are finished with the terminal. I have had several get very irate with me when they were clearly done and just standing there waiting for their bags to be tagged.

I had a run in w/ both this week. I was nearing my 45 minute US bag check cutoff time (10 minutes to go) and the line had 8 people in front of me with only 2 kiosks functioning. With 3 minutes to go and 6 people ahead of me I was getting antsy when I saw not one but two lingerers blocking the only two kiosks. I asked the 6 ahead of me if anyone was using a terminal as both were available to use. Everyone looked at me and said nothing. OK, I said to the line, since nobody is using a kiosk I will jump ahead of them to do so.

Immediately a person starts yelling at me about how he has to use one too and that I am butting. OK, I asked and you said nothing, but fine. Please proceed to the kiosk that is available.

Of course the Staller just stood there not doing anything. An agent saw all this and got the two Lingerers to clear the terminals. Still nobody moved. The egent then very loudly informed the Stallers that the kiosks were available to be used. Two groups of people moved forward and proceeded to just stand there at the kiosk/counter, doing nothing. Finally the agent told them what they had to do and they proceeded to checkin. The agent also called me aside and hand processed me to get my bag checked in time.

Anyone else gotten yelled at for either trying to use a free kiosk that a Lingerer was hanging onto, or for prodding a stalled line?
carpboy is offline