A moral question
 

Should airlines let late arriving passengers go to the front of a long ticket counter line so that they don't miss their flight?

NWA did this the other night, and because they had no FC line, and because of this policy, I stood in line for over 50 minutes, as did many other PAX who arrived in plenty of time.

Had I arrived late, I would not have had to wait.

One more note- this was at midmight. There were no traffic problems anywhere.

Any thoughts?

[This message has been edited by BoSoxFan45 (edited 07-31-2000).]

Airline--yes let him/her get checked in...we make money from a butt in the seat, not in the line.

Him/her--I am alway late, get over it or thanks, I really messed up and just made it thanks to you.

You/me--I plan my day so I make my flights timely, if you can't perhaps you should be inconvienced, not me???

The truth--no one should have to wait in line for 50 minutes to check-in. It is just not right. If they cannot check you in within 15 minutes of your arriving in a line then your ticket should be free!!!! This is a part of the service that is often bad, but rarely spoken about on this board.

Twice, when I have gone to Long Beach AP to get a ff ticket, I was asked to wait while "passengers" checked in for their flights even thou I had waited my turn in line already. Dummy me, I just stepped out and let everyone go thru. Fortunately, I had put enough money in the meter when I parked.

I also had a First class ticket. Not that this makes me any better than other PAX, but waiting 50 minutes for an FC ticket is insane.

I think the underlying question is:

"Should those who fail to plan ahead and arrive late be given special allowance at the expense of those who take the time to arrive early and check in?"

I know I appreciate when I'm helped to the front of the line for a tight connection, especially when the check-in queue is unexpectedly long. And I suppose that there's no way for check-in agents to objectively determine whether someone's lateness is his/her own fault or otherwise...

I disagree- when you are checking baggage- you are not making a connection- you are late on your own volition. If you are making a connection, they can check you through all the way to your final destination.



[This message has been edited by BoSoxFan45 (edited 07-31-2000).]

If a customer asked me to let them in front and I had time I would. If the airline asked, I'd ask what was in it for me (and almost any token would suffice). This may seem selfish, but my time has value and I often feel that it's not appreciated.

How late is late? I've gotten in line 50 minutes before departure, and gotten shuffled to the front of the line on a number of occasions because the line was so **** slow.

The root of the problem, IMO, is that the airlines massively understaff counter areas to contain costs. How many times have you seen 150 people in line, and maybe 2-3 employees trying to handle the whole mess?

[This message has been edited by BlondeBomber (edited 07-31-2000).]

You never know WHY people are late. There are the chronic latecomers, who should be ... well, you know. But living in the SF Bay Area, I allow a tremendous amount of time to get to the Airport. So far, I have yet to miss a flight, though I have come very close. I have allowed 2 1/2 hrs during a typically nontraffic time to get to SFO (35 miles from home) and have had to park in short term ($95 for 3 days) and RUN to check in and board (Int'l flight).

I also have (some) sympathy for infrequent travellers who may not have travelled in awhile, as now it takes over 1/2 hr to park your car at SJC and then wind around the long term lot, until getting to the terminal. Or others that are unfamiliar, but really try to get there on time.

I suppose I'm fortunate in that almost every airport that I can recall in the past few years has a preferred line for me.

Also, as annoyed as I would have been with your experience, I'd put the blame on the airline for not having a special line for you. I'd also try and remember that there will yet be another day, no matter what I do, and how hard I try to arrive in plenty of time, that something will happen.

I think you have to ask yourself, If I ws the person running late.....

Whatever happened to the Golden Rule.

If in letting someone , who was running late, go ahead of me, I didnt miss my flight, but it enabled them to make their flight. Of course I'd do it.

And if the airline asked, and they have once in awhile, i wouldn't ask well whats in it for me, a smile and thank you and the satisfaction of knowing I showed some kindness to a stranger would be more than enough.



[This message has been edited by Boomer (edited 07-31-2000).]

Ordinarilly, I am happy to let people in front of me. I think of myself as a flawed, but generally generous and nice person. However, after giving this some thought, I believe that this policy fosters laziness and allows some to take the generous of others for granted. For example- we were not asked if we were willing to allow the late-comers to move to the front of the line- it was imposed upon us. Additionally, at least a dozen passengers took advantage of this offer. Not one said a word of thanks to any of the PAX in line. In my opinion, if you show up 25 minutes before a flight that leaves in the middle of the night when there is no traffic, that's your own fault, and those are the choices you make.

So, what lesson does this teach me or the children who were in line? What it says to them is that the late-comers get a reward- no wait. The people who play by the rules get punished. Why then, in the future, would these same people not perpetually arrive late, knowing the kindness of some stranger or the indifference of an airline will make sure they don't have to wait. This, in my opinion, is wrong.

So much for "cheaters never prosper".

freefaller: let me get this straight, if a customer service rep for an airline asked you to let ahead of you, so they wouldnt miss their flight, you'd actually ask "how much are you going to give me?"

I sure hope someday, you miss an important flight because someone doesnt let you in front of them. Maybe their time was valuable also.

I like Boomer's response and agree with the logic expressed as long as it isn't someone that is habitually late. Late for their own funeral types I mean. They deserve to be left fretting in line and then a few missed flights might cure them of the habit.

I do know though that a number of customers that are allowed to cut in front of a check-in line do so for very good reasons and with the airline's permission. It could be due to the traveller receiving notification of a serious illness, accident or pending death of a family member or friend in another city. They drop everything, throw some clothes in a bag and dash to the airport to catch the next flight out. That next flight could be just leaving.

Sometimes, although traffic is good, they could have been caught up behind a road accident or even been in a fender bender themselves. I know of two flights this year where the departures were both delayed because the crew in their transport to the airport were involved in accidents.

A good reason would always be acceptable for me. Just my 2/100th of a dollar's worth.

Just yesterday, while waiting in the Platinum Service Center line (maybe 6 of us in line with two agents...best ratio at ORD) the guy behind me was going on and on about missing his flight for all the time he had to spend in line. I ignored him, since he was not actually talking to me. Over an hour later, I saw him up at the Admirals Club having his drink refreshed.

BoSoxFan45 -- While I perfectly understand your discontent, I most certainly can not agree with you painting all the late passengers as cheaters. Give other people benefit of the doubt, as one day you may find yourself in their shoes.