DYKWIA | 2019 edition
Feb 6, 2019, 7:17 am
#76
Join Date: May 2016
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, Accor Gold
Posts: 1,427
Might even be the same guy 
He was cross this morning as the auto gates weren't working, so everyone had to queue for a desk to board through - I was probably about 10th in line and just standing by the auto-gates when they started working so was able to go straight through and ended up right ahead of him and his OH on the airbridge - he was complaining that some silvers had probably now got ahead of him.. (I suspect he was talking about me as I was quite a few people behind him in the queue originally )
He was cross this morning as the auto gates weren't working, so everyone had to queue for a desk to board through - I was probably about 10th in line and just standing by the auto-gates when they started working so was able to go straight through and ended up right ahead of him and his OH on the airbridge - he was complaining that some silvers had probably now got ahead of him.. (I suspect he was talking about me as I was quite a few people behind him in the queue originally )
Feb 6, 2019, 4:16 pm
#77
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Cambridgeshire
Programs: BA Gold, VS Gold, UA Silver, Marriott LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 233
I love that sketch - it does reflect people we meet on our travels so well - but every now and again, this below does happen and when it does, its a beautiful thing ....
Feb 10, 2019, 12:01 pm
#78
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver (for now)
Posts: 1,000
Classic moment a few minutes ago as waiting to board BA2709 (Barcelona to Gatwick).
A very important couple seemed to think pushing to the front of the group one line was OK. Having had a fairly stressful route to the airport I was not in the mood for such rudeness so challenged the situation asking them what they thought they were doing.
The ‘lady’ called me ‘rude’ before getting into line, at the back of the line. Seems strange to me, obviously waiting is not built into some.
A very important couple seemed to think pushing to the front of the group one line was OK. Having had a fairly stressful route to the airport I was not in the mood for such rudeness so challenged the situation asking them what they thought they were doing.
The ‘lady’ called me ‘rude’ before getting into line, at the back of the line. Seems strange to me, obviously waiting is not built into some.
Last edited by Will100; Feb 10, 2019 at 12:10 pm
Feb 10, 2019, 12:30 pm
#79
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Cambridge, UK
Programs: BA Gold, VS Gold
Posts: 73
Classic moment a few minutes ago as waiting to board BA2709 (Barcelona to Gatwick).
A very important couple seemed to think pushing to the front of the group one line was OK. Having had a fairly stressful route to the airport I was not in the mood for such rudeness so challenged the situation asking them what they thought they were doing.
The ‘lady’ called me ‘rude’ before getting into line, at the back of the line. Seems strange to me, obviously waiting is not built into some.
A very important couple seemed to think pushing to the front of the group one line was OK. Having had a fairly stressful route to the airport I was not in the mood for such rudeness so challenged the situation asking them what they thought they were doing.
The ‘lady’ called me ‘rude’ before getting into line, at the back of the line. Seems strange to me, obviously waiting is not built into some.
Feb 10, 2019, 1:39 pm
#80
Join Date: May 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 5,380
Classic moment a few minutes ago as waiting to board BA2709 (Barcelona to Gatwick).
A very important couple seemed to think pushing to the front of the group one line was OK. Having had a fairly stressful route to the airport I was not in the mood for such rudeness so challenged the situation asking them what they thought they were doing.
The ‘lady’ called me ‘rude’ before getting into line, at the back of the line. Seems strange to me, obviously waiting is not built into some.
A very important couple seemed to think pushing to the front of the group one line was OK. Having had a fairly stressful route to the airport I was not in the mood for such rudeness so challenged the situation asking them what they thought they were doing.
The ‘lady’ called me ‘rude’ before getting into line, at the back of the line. Seems strange to me, obviously waiting is not built into some.
Feb 10, 2019, 4:13 pm
#81
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,742
If you'll indulge my telling this story, it's one of my favorites.... I've told it before on FT, but not in the BA forum I think. Several years ago I was dating a young woman from Massachusetts who was fluent in Cantonese. (Her grandmother didn't speak English, so it was necessary in the family.) We were waiting in the snake queue for immigration at HKG, when I noticed a middle-aged Chinese woman gradually working her way past everyone else up the snake line. For whatever reason,it particularly annoyed me that day and as I saw her approaching where we were standing, I was prepared to block her further progress. Didn't have to. As she got near us, my g/f barked something at her in Cantonese and she slunk back to the end of the line. G/f would never tell me what she said.
Feb 10, 2019, 8:40 pm
#82
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,828
Years ago, I was coming back into the United States from South America, standing in line with several hundred other travelers in the Passport Control line in the Miami airport. Two young businessmen in expensive-looking suits stepped into the line, directly in front of me.
I very politely asked them (repeatedly) to find the back of the line. After about the fourth request, they simply moved forward about five places to get away from me.
As luck would have it, a few moments later two airport police officers came sauntering by (with sidearms). "Excuse me, officers, would you two have a moment for a question?" I sweetly asked.
Very quickly, the two interlopers were doing the perp walk to the end of the line, with an armed escort. As they walked past me, I gave them a big grin and a cute little wave.
I very politely asked them (repeatedly) to find the back of the line. After about the fourth request, they simply moved forward about five places to get away from me.
As luck would have it, a few moments later two airport police officers came sauntering by (with sidearms). "Excuse me, officers, would you two have a moment for a question?" I sweetly asked.
Very quickly, the two interlopers were doing the perp walk to the end of the line, with an armed escort. As they walked past me, I gave them a big grin and a cute little wave.
Feb 11, 2019, 2:31 am
#83
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 844
Classic moment a few minutes ago as waiting to board BA2709 (Barcelona to Gatwick).
A very important couple seemed to think pushing to the front of the group one line was OK. Having had a fairly stressful route to the airport I was not in the mood for such rudeness so challenged the situation asking them what they thought they were doing.
The ‘lady’ called me ‘rude’ before getting into line, at the back of the line. Seems strange to me, obviously waiting is not built into some.
A very important couple seemed to think pushing to the front of the group one line was OK. Having had a fairly stressful route to the airport I was not in the mood for such rudeness so challenged the situation asking them what they thought they were doing.
The ‘lady’ called me ‘rude’ before getting into line, at the back of the line. Seems strange to me, obviously waiting is not built into some.
Feb 11, 2019, 2:37 am
#84
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Switzerland / Estonia
Programs: AY+ Platinum, BAEC Silver, airbaltic VIP, HH Diamond, Radisson VIP, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 6,525
I was on this flight and witnessed the exchange at the gate, well done for calling her out! I always find it hilarious that these people act as if they don’t know they’re queue jumping, and that somewhere to the side of the queue near the front is the correct place to join. What was it her companion said? ‘Thanks for pointing this out’ or something.
Feb 11, 2019, 2:49 am
#85
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC, Eurostar
Posts: 3,283
To be fair sometimes I find it difficult because the gate areas are so crowded, "sort-of-queues" build by waiting passengers and then they call for boarding by group numbers. People in front don't move as they are in groups 3 or so. What should I do? Wait or queue jump to the front to board?
The other awkward situation is when you miss group 1 or 2, and when they're calling for group 3 or 4. You can either queue, or "board at your leisure using the [nonexistent] priority lane". But I fear I might end up on this thread if I join the queue from the side at the front saying "Excuse me, I'm in group 1".
Feb 11, 2019, 3:01 am
#86
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 844
To be fair sometimes I find it difficult because the gate areas are so crowded, "sort-of-queues" build by waiting passengers and then they call for boarding by group numbers. People in front don't move as they are in groups 3 or so. What should I do? Wait or queue jump to the front to board?
Feb 11, 2019, 3:05 am
#87
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold / OW Emerald
Posts: 753
I agree that the boarding process can be variable, but at Barcelona they are very good at group boarding these days and generally have clear tensa-barrier lines - the staff often patrol the lines to check people are in the correct queue too. Certainly last night there was no excuse with a very clearly marked group 1 line and a single line of people standing in it.
Feb 11, 2019, 3:18 am
#88
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,600
Anybody else think of this for some of these DYKWIA tales?
Feb 11, 2019, 11:56 am
#89
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver (for now)
Posts: 1,000
I was on this flight and witnessed the exchange at the gate, well done for calling her out! I always find it hilarious that these people act as if they don’t know they’re queue jumping, and that somewhere to the side of the queue near the front is the correct place to join. What was it her companion said? ‘Thanks for pointing this out’ or something.
Feb 14, 2019, 1:10 pm
#90
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,162
Classic DYKWIA talk overheard on my commute tonight - this girl telling her companion she flies BA “at least 6 times a year” and is one of their most frequent customers (eh?) - and because of this, she is always upgraded (eh?) - and apparently BA work out upgrades based on who they need to move around to balance the plane’s centre of gravity - is this a hitherto unknown factor in the mysterious upgrade algorithm?
it’s painfully embarrassing to listen to
it’s painfully embarrassing to listen to