Cutting in on security lines

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Interested in the opinions of the brains trust here... picture this scenario...
DYKWIA cuts in front of two people (myself and SWMBO) in the premium security line in SYD, says "can I just cut in here", I respond "no you can return to the back of the line", SWMBO tells me after it was C bomb behaviour on my behalf.

My thoughts are as follows:
1. What gives you priority over someone already in line?
2. If you are running late, is jumping ahead 2 people going to really make a difference?
3. Is it my problem?

Maybe I'm just getting grumpy in my old age and should listen to SWMBO...

Thoughts? And hold back on the personal abuse if you will

 

[Pushka]

If someone is having to be messing around with 'stuff' to put on the belt and I just have a bag to plonk down I move to the free space and walk through. I figure it prevents blocks and an efficient use of the space. I do not cut in if there is no space but wait.

I hate with a passion, queue jumpers but see this differently.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

If someone is having to be messing around with 'stuff' to put on the belt and I just have a bag to plonk down I move to the free space and walk through. I figure it prevents blocks and an efficient use of the space. I do not cut in if there is no space but wait.

I hate with a passion, queue jumpers but see this differently.

Is reaching into my bag to place the laptop on the pre-prepared tray considered me messing around with "stuff"? The person in front's gear was still on the land side of the scanner so there was no blockage...

 

[Pushka]

Is reaching into my bag to place the laptop on the pre-prepared tray considered me messing around with "stuff"? The person in front's gear was still on the land side of the scanner so there was no blockage...

Depends. Sometimes it takes time to do that. Sometimes there might also be other things to be removed. Sometimes a belt to be removed. Shoes. But in your description it doesn't sound like there was any conveyor belt space so I would wait behind you. I wasn't there so I dont know the actual situation. So my original comment stands.

I added in 'having to be messing' to reflect that airline security requiring it and not because the person is being unnecessarily delaying.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Depends. Sometimes it takes time to do that. Sometimes there might also be other things to be removed. Sometimes a belt to be removed. Shoes. But in your description it doesn't sound like there was any conveyor belt space so I would wait behind you. So my original comment stands.

I added in 'having to be messing' to reflect that airline security requiring it and not because the person is being unnecessarily delaying.

Perhaps half to a full tray's width, but now we're getting to semantics the DYKWIA was quite taken aback. Perhaps he'd never been called on his rudeness before. Being in his early 20s by the looks that's entirely possible. Everyone gets a prize these days...

 

[Pushka]

Sure. Sounds pushy and unnecessarily dykwia. I tend to push back at such things if I am in the mood.

 

[TomVexille]

Is reaching into my bag to place the laptop on the pre-prepared tray considered me messing around with "stuff"? The person in front's gear was still on the land side of the scanner so there was no blockage...

No. It's the person who has been stuffing around for 35 seconds and has left a 2 meter gap between themselves and the scanner (with nothing in-between) that I'm happy to cut in front of.

 

[drron]

I think you are perfectly reasonable to have acted the way you did.
Having my metal knee I know I am going to hold up the line as they try to find someone to wand me so if only 1 or 2 people behind me I will ask if they want to go through-my computer is always out,my belt,shoes and watch off before I arrive at the conveyor belt.However,if before I have asked,a fellow such as you describe tried that on me I would then go through in front of him.I really don't like queue jumpers anywhere.
So you can explain to your SWMBO that compared to me you have the patience of Job.

 

[Pushka]

drron, not everyone is as organised as you with your items already out.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Cutting in is a difficult issue. It the 'cutter-in' has a compelling reason (flight closing) it could be valid. An explanation usually goes a long way to assisting their cause.

Elderly, disabled or special needs pax don't need to give a reason. They should be invited to proceed rather than be seen as an imposition. I'm not sure I necessarily consider parents with children in this category (if you have the means and ability to take the family skiing at Whistler you don't automatically get to jump the queue.)

Slow pax on the security belt - if there's a decent gap - fair game I reckon if you have everything out and ready to go.

While I never expect it, it sets a pleasant mood if airline crews see you are one of their passengers and even though they might have right of way, they invite you to continue with security rather than just barging in.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Cutting in is a difficult issue. It the 'cutter-in' has a compelling reason (flight closing) it could be valid. An explanation usually goes a long way to assisting their cause.

Elderly, disabled or special needs pax don't need to give a reason. They should be invited to proceed rather than be seen as an imposition. I'm not sure I necessarily consider parents with children in this category (if you have the means and ability to take the family skiing at Whistler you don't automatically get to jump the queue.)

Slow pax on the security belt - if there's a decent gap - fair game I reckon if you have everything out and ready to go.

While I never expect it, it sets a pleasant mood if airline crews see you are one of their passengers and even though they might have right of way, they invite you to continue with security rather than just barging in.

If the cutter-in's flight is closing they are clearly late for their flight. While there may be many reasons for this, I'm not sure that 2 people in front makes any difference at all to you making the flight. Maybe cutter-in will allow more time next time...?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If the cutter-in's flight is closing they are clearly late for their flight. While there may be many reasons for this, I'm not sure that 2 people in front makes any difference at all to you making the flight. Maybe cutter-in will allow more time next time...?

yes, running late... but hasn't that happened to all of us? an impossibly tight connection to SYD international coming off a QF domestic from MEL. Tight connections in the USA because of immigration delays. Or an accident on the freeway.

one minute can make the difference between the airline deciding to offload someone, or not.

personally, I don't see it as my role to teach the other person a lesson, or to try and punish them. If they need to cut in because they're running late what does it matter?

 

[Denali]

Your wife uses the C word?

And I'm ok with you telling the guy no. If he was racing for his flight and communicated that to you, I would have let him in but without that info, nope.

 

[Pushka]

If people are removing items and there is a large space in front of the security box and I am standing there just behind (having waited normally to get to the start of the belt where the containers are) with nothing to remove then surely it is common sense to fill in the gaps - in my case of maybe two or three metres.

Maybe if some are trying to teach people 'lessons - dont be late' (as if that is always under your control - not) then maybe another lesson is 'dont wear clothing that pings the alarm and needs to be removed'

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

yes, running late... but hasn't that happened to all of us? an impossibly tight connection to SYD international coming off a QF domestic from MEL. Tight connections in the USA because of immigration delays. Or an accident on the freeway.

one minute can make the difference between the airline deciding to offload someone, or not.

personally, I don't see it as my role to teach the other person a lesson, or to try and punish them. If they need to cut in because they're running late what does it matter?

"Excuse me, I am about to miss my flight, do you mind if I go ahead of you to try to make it?" My response: "Sure, good luck!"

"Can I just cut in here?" My response: "No, go line up with everyone else".

Both real world examples.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Your wife uses the C word?

And I'm ok with you telling the guy no. If he was racing for his flight and communicated that to you, I would have let him in but without that info, nope.

I believe the expression she used was "that was c***y behaviour on your part". She grew up on a farm and we use language fairly liberally at our house

I agree, a short explanation goes a long way.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

If people are removing items and there is a large space in front of the security box and I am standing there just behind (having waited normally to get to the start of the belt where the containers are) with nothing to remove then surely it is common sense to fill in the gaps - in my case of maybe two or three metres.

Maybe if some are trying to teach people 'lessons - dont be late' (as if that is always under your control - not) then maybe another lesson is 'dont wear clothing that pings the alarm and needs to be removed'

I've done this too, but there'd have to be at least a metre and a half of space empty before I'd consider it. I like in BNE where they have the trays at a table before the belt, you can get organised there then go to the belt. SYD is just the belt, so not conducive to pulling everything out first.

As an aside, it's 2016. The fact that we still have to pull out laptops and aerosols is pretty sad considering modern technology. But that's another story.

I certainly wasn't trying to teach a lesson.

In a related incidence, deplaning in BNE, a lady from the row behind pushed past (as in I was trying to remove my bag from the overhead and she pushed me out of the way) to get off the plane. I loudly called her on it and said there was no need to push. Her response "I didn't.". Really the world has turned upside down with self-importance and lack of spatial awareness. When I'm not grumpy I would probably let both events slide without a murmur as it seems it's just the status quo these days.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

"Excuse me, I am about to miss my flight, do you mind if I go ahead of you to try to make it?" My response: "Sure, good luck!"

"Can I just cut in here?" My response: "No, go line up with everyone else".

Both real world examples.

Sure - but given the relative rarity of someone cutting straight to the front of the line this is one battle where I just let the assumption rule that they probably have a good reason! It's not for me to demand an explanation, or to punish them for not proffering one. If they're genuinely running late - perhaps through no direct fault of their own - pleasantries might be fairly low on their list of priorities.

We've all seen the QF airport series - delays on flights to the USA of many hours. If one of those pax is racing for a connection at LAX, am I to compound the problem by demanding an explanation? YMMV of course

 

[davidj]

Thoughts?

Too many acronyms in the original post to fully understand who is who.

 

[TomVexille]

Too many acronyms in the original post to fully understand who is who.

Study up

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....viations-and-explanations-5056.html#post69096