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?

Cut in front of them and ignore their screams. They'll know better next time.

All the airlines need to set aside Elite only kiosk lines so those of us that do this regularly and know how to use them are not trapped behind these folks!

Bus people shouldn't fly.

What about WN?

Southwest Trailways, maybe?

Don't really have a solution for it. I like the kiosks because I know that what I chose was what I wanted and its unlikely for someone else to screw that up if I enter it.

Same thing happens at the grocery store with shelf checkout. Drives me nuts. I think you should have to pass a certification to use these things.

Nah, the Elite kiosks would be blocked by neophytes/idiots taking 10 minutes to realize they're at the wrong kiosk.