Strange angry beaviour by some US men in Brisbane Immigration queue

[Rhino57]

Hi All, I arrived back from LAX yesterday into BNE. The Express Customs Immigration queue is not arranged in the best way, as there is some ambiguity as to which line you take as you near the Customs desk. However I believed I was in the correct line and even checked with the Customs officer. When the time came to merge at the end of my line ( to lines of 5 - people), several US middle aged men and perhaps an Australian colleague travellng together, were quite abusive towards me and told e to get to the end of the line and that I was pushing in. I explained that the queue merges at this point and they became very agitated and told me where to go. I pointed out the line actually merges as the line that I was in did peel of to an "Assistance line" for people requiring assistance or if the "chip" in their passport or the electronic gate did not work.

They continued to assert their so called superior view. I said to them to chill out and understand these lines are not well signed and they do merge. What really annoyed me was their "superior attitude".... I don't think many Australians would try this on when in the USA.

At least I was vindicated when I did get to the Customs officer at the desk. He said they were wrong and it was unfortunate they were so arrogant.


Has anyone else experienced middle aged US men being so arrogant in Australian Immigration queues ? Perhaps they had undisclosed issues ?

 

[Mal]

The concept of enforcement of perceived queue jumping is well ingrained in the US (and the UK), and many other countries. They thought you were queue jumping, and called you on it.

Yes they were wrong, but in their own mind you were queue jumping, and they were right.

 

[Canny man]

Just wait to see how their blood pressure survives QF priority boarding....

 

[TheInsider]

Just wait to see how their blood pressure survives QF priority boarding....

Ohh seriously............?

 

[ozmille]

If they were not in the priority and they should have been then it is their own fault, had people scream at the airport security guy who was letting the express pass holders in front in SYD INT departures at passport control once, the security guy just said "Priority Passengers first, you wait" whilst waving us through

 

[amaroo]

At least I was vindicated when I did get to the Customs officer at the desk. He said they were wrong and it was unfortunate they were so arrogant.

Wonder if the Customs officer arranged some special glove treatment for them.

 

[Rhino57]

I hope he did They deserved it.

 

[Rhino57]

Yes, unfortunately, their behaviour gives rise to the "Ugly American Syndrome"..... I understand this is a very small minority and most Americans are very well behaved and kind, but incidents like this make things unpleasant.

 

[casanovawa]

I don't like queue jumpers myself and have told people that the end of the queue was back there, but still if you were in the right i would have explained it to them once, maybe twice, then after that told them to go and .... themselves, specially as its my country anyway and they are just visitors...

Lined up in a german dept store once and was in line, but because i hung back a bit to let people walk through the queue in front of the registers a few clowns thought i was pushing in when i did eventually walk forward and weren't that happy... I didn't speak much German (apart from a few swear words i know) so quickly gave up trying to explain it but still, funny how people get an idea and think they are right...

 

[JohnPhelan]

If the Customs officer(s) could see and hear this, why didn't they step in and tell the visitors they were wrong and to shut up?

 

[Rhino57]

If the Customs officer(s) could see and hear this, why didn't they step in and tell the visitors they were wrong and to shut up?

I think the Customs officer at the desk took a look at the next passenger in parallel to me ( which was one of the arrogant ones) and may have said something to them when they came up to the desk. I can't be certain, but I would hope they may have straightened them out.

 

[Rhino57]

I completely agree. I don't like queue jumpers. It was the complete arrogance of these people and they would not listen to reason. We don't carry on like that in their country, so we should not have to tolerate that behaviour here.?

 

[burmans]

Has anyone else experienced middle aged US men being so arrogant

Perhaps they had undisclosed issues ?

There is something about some nationalities when they travel they become ugly, really Americans are frequently very nice people but for some reason in certain scenarios they appear determined to behave as if they aren't. What can I say other than it really doesn't represent the majority, just a loud, obnoxious minority!

 

[mannej]

Just wait to see how their blood pressure survives QF priority boarding....

It sounds as if they are self entitled to PB and not actually entitled.

I am sure we can stereotype until the cows come home but probably best not to...

 

[Conrad_S]

I believe d***heads can come from anywhere. Nobody likes a queue jumper but unless you are certain its best to use courtesy first

 

[burmans]

I believe d***heads can come from anywhere. Nobody likes a queue jumper but unless you are certain its best to use courtesy first

I certainly agree with this, but certain people are more culturally inclined to put the fact that they are a cough on public display without any care for courtesy or any examination of whether they might possibly not have it quite right.

 

[medhead]

I've wondered how I would react to this. Most likely hold up 3 fingers and tell them to read between the lines.

 

[ashleyn]

Sometimes it's unclear just where the Q starts. Chill people.

 

[Mal]

Sometimes it's unclear just where the Q starts. Chill people.

Yep. Sometimes that is the case. Add to that the tiredness and stress after travelling x hours and it can turn sane people into crazy people.

But again, that's not an excuse for them. Just my reasoning why some thing can happen.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

I bet they don't try that on in front of understanding TSA officers on their home soil....

D***heads do not belong to certain countries or races....they are found everywhere.