When you stand up to people who cut in line at the airport, how do they respond?
#17
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#18
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That's a fair position and understood. To each his own--lawlessness and disorder and rulebreaking just make me go bonkers. To me, lawlessness and rulebreaking are not "fair"--and in my view, someone who "cheats" on small things will cheat on big things, and neither is acceptable.
#19
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I also prefer to be in my seat as soon as possible to reduce the chance of a seat poacher taking my seat and then trying to guilt me into moving since they're "already settled in" (and unfortunately FA's can sometimes be compliant in this too).
#20
Join Date: Jan 2015
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I prefer to board early as I like to get settled in before dealing with any last minute stuff that always seems to occur. And since I don't get to sit in the front very often, it's doesn't hurt to get secure overhead space.
IME, many of these queue jumpers also tend to be middle seaters who want to try to poach a better seat (who often end up having a doubly bad day). I have called a few of them out, usually because they ram into me while trying to push through. Usually get the stinkeye afterwords from them.
IME, many of these queue jumpers also tend to be middle seaters who want to try to poach a better seat (who often end up having a doubly bad day). I have called a few of them out, usually because they ram into me while trying to push through. Usually get the stinkeye afterwords from them.
#21
Join Date: Apr 2000
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Some airlines do better than others at policing the lines. I feel like we have gone over this issue many times, but here are my top points:
-- If your boarding group is called, and "the queue" doesn't move, that means those queued passengers are not a part of the called boarding group. Bypassing that queue to go to the scanner after a few seconds is acceptable.
-- AA often has more of a scrum than a queue. Don't know why, but people often form a mob behind the partitions rather than an orderly line within the partitions. Same rule as above. If the scrum does not move, bypassing it to get to the scanner is acceptable.
-- If there is an orderly queue which is moving along as boarding groups are called, then the correct thing to do is to get in the back of the queue.
-- If you have minimal luggage and especially an aisle seat, it is usually nicer to wait for the masses to board before following suit. You might want to let the gate agent know you are present, but waiting until the jetway is empty.
-- If your boarding group is called, and "the queue" doesn't move, that means those queued passengers are not a part of the called boarding group. Bypassing that queue to go to the scanner after a few seconds is acceptable.
-- AA often has more of a scrum than a queue. Don't know why, but people often form a mob behind the partitions rather than an orderly line within the partitions. Same rule as above. If the scrum does not move, bypassing it to get to the scanner is acceptable.
-- If there is an orderly queue which is moving along as boarding groups are called, then the correct thing to do is to get in the back of the queue.
-- If you have minimal luggage and especially an aisle seat, it is usually nicer to wait for the masses to board before following suit. You might want to let the gate agent know you are present, but waiting until the jetway is empty.
#22
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If you're in Group 1, same? Great post--I'm just curious about the sentences above.
#23
Join Date: Jan 2015
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I can't speak for Japan (although it would not surprise me). Taiwanese airlines are usually pretty good at wrangling North American folk into lines. They usually have things set up with people holding up signs with boarding group and people line up behind. The initial mass of wheelchairs goes first (a bit chaotic, but still quite organized). After that, it's kinda like a tour group, you follow the leader.
#24
Join Date: Nov 2009
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Ah this pearler.
YMMW - it depends upon airline, country, time of the day. For example, a BA flight from Cairo in the off-season, will tend to have fewer top-tier flyers, compared to, say, a European capital > LHR on a Friday afternoon, when a fair whack of the aircraft will be Golds and above - and therefore all in Group 1. I remember once flying from ARN to LHR around 6:00pm, and I swear well over half the aircraft were Golds. Group 1 was well-behaved, though.
Americans tend to worry about this the most - and, it is understandable, as it is a genuine and very tiresome bun fight for overhead bin space on domestic US flights. As undignified as WN's system is, at least it works.
For me, I tend to let queue jumpers go. If two minutes really means that much to them, let them have it. It is satisfying when the gate agent sends queue jumpers back. QF ground crew are ruthless. It's very satisfying to watch.
YMMW - it depends upon airline, country, time of the day. For example, a BA flight from Cairo in the off-season, will tend to have fewer top-tier flyers, compared to, say, a European capital > LHR on a Friday afternoon, when a fair whack of the aircraft will be Golds and above - and therefore all in Group 1. I remember once flying from ARN to LHR around 6:00pm, and I swear well over half the aircraft were Golds. Group 1 was well-behaved, though.
Americans tend to worry about this the most - and, it is understandable, as it is a genuine and very tiresome bun fight for overhead bin space on domestic US flights. As undignified as WN's system is, at least it works.
For me, I tend to let queue jumpers go. If two minutes really means that much to them, let them have it. It is satisfying when the gate agent sends queue jumpers back. QF ground crew are ruthless. It's very satisfying to watch.
#25
Join Date: Apr 2010
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There is nowhere better to witness a human’s misplaced sense of entitlement than at the gate of a departing flight. A modern day anthropologist should write a book about it - or better yet, a documentary with hidden cameras.
#26
Join Date: Apr 2010
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Line cutters, scrum, and gate lice are about one thing - securing overhead bin space directly above their seat. All too often, people travel with more cabin baggage than they are allowed, and will do anything to serve themselves by taking advantage of the system in any way they can.
#27
Join Date: Jan 2015
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Line cutters, scrum, and gate lice are about one thing - securing overhead bin space directly above their seat. All too often, people travel with more cabin baggage than they are allowed, and will do anything to serve themselves by taking advantage of the system in any way they can.
#28
Join Date: Jun 2021
Posts: 199
tries to cut in front of me, I'll clothesline them! (haha--just kidding ,but it sounds good).
While it really doesn't matter, it does matter if you let yourself get disrespected. That is how I look at it.
#29
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We most certainly have scientists on this forum. Perhaps a research project is in order!
#30
Join Date: Oct 2007
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One that makes me chuckle is the person who tries to board early, is told by the GA that it is not yet his/her time, and then steps back a few feet, now in front of everyone else who has been waiting, to be able to cut everyone when that group is called. Not being willing to wait your turn is simply disrespectful and yes, fighting for the overhead bin space is a zero sum game.