An OMAAT reader posed a question that I think makes for an interesting discussion. He asks what my thoughts are on people requesting to jump ahead in the security line because they’re running late? He explains that he refused to let someone cut, and was then called names, and asks if he was being unreasonable.
It’s a fair question, and I don’t think there’s a right or wrong answer. So I’ll share my take, and I’d love to hear what others think. On one hand, I’m a firm believer in the quote that goes “a lack of planning on your part doesn’t constitute an emergency on my part.” At the same time, this is one of those situations where I can see both sides, and I just try to avoid getting stressed.
In this post:
In general, I’m not a fan of letting people cut in line
Typically I’m opposed to the concept of letting people cut in line at airport security because they’re running late. I hate to make a “slippery slope” argument, but if the order in which passengers at security are screened is based on departure time, then that sounds like a very unpleasant reality for those who actually plan appropriately.
Most of the time when people are running late for a flight, it’s within their control. Not that they want to be running late so that they have to ask people for a line cut at security, but rather they didn’t leave enough of a buffer. It’s kind of like when you’re supposed to meet someone for drinks at 6PM, and then they show up at 6:30PM and say “sorry I’m late, traffic was horrible.” During rush hour, really?!? You don’t say!
But it’s also possible that the person has a “legitimate” reason they’re running late. Maybe they had a late inbound flight, had a family emergency and needed to book a ticket last minute, had an accident on the way to the airport, etc.
Is it worth giving them the benefit of the doubt? And even if it isn’t, is it worth the aggravation to be “that” person that doesn’t let them in?
Despite having flown millions and millions of miles, I’ve only ever once missed a flight at my origin, and in that case I overslept so much that I didn’t bother going to the airport.
My approach is that I typically go with the flow
My personal philosophy is that I go with whatever the others in line do. If they agree to let someone through, I’ll do the same. If they don’t, I’ll just typically avoid getting involved. If I’m the last person in line and they ask to cut me, it’s all about how they ask:
- “I hate to ask, but I just got off an international flight and my connection leaves in 20 minutes. Do you mind if I cut you?” Sure.
- If someone’s strolling up with a latte, three carry-ons, is on their cell phone, and says “it’s okay if I cut you, right?” I’m less likely to be kind then.
Basically, I choose not to get upset over it, or to have a strong opinion. However, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with not letting people cut you, so I wouldn’t lose too much sleep if someone makes unkind comments in response to such a denial.
In fairness, it’s worth acknowledging that airlines and airports do sometimes coddle people who are running late, even if it’s their own fault. At a check-in desk, airlines may sometimes ask if anyone is booked on a particular flight for which check-in is about to close, so that they don’t miss it. Of course they’re doing this for their own reasons — it’s going to be more work for everyone if people miss flights, need to be rebooked, etc.
Bottom line
It’s common for people to run late to the airport, and to then ask to cut others at security, so that they can still make their flight. While there are some situations like this that are completely out of the control of the passenger, more often than not, it’s due to a lack of planning on their part.
Ultimately I think there’s nothing wrong with saying “no” when someone asks to cut. At the same time, it’s also probably not worth getting involved in some sort of a confrontation, even if other people are acting unreasonably.
Where do you stand on the concept of letting people cut you at security?
I don't think this happens as often as the ariticle lets you to believe. As some other said will the extra few seconds save you - probably not.
I've flown some 250k miles, about 6 one way flights a month for the past 10 years, I've had to just skip line three times? Each time was 100% my fault, but because I woke up late and/or my Uber took forever (my drivers cancelled on me multiple times). I've only had a few people, maybe 3, ever do this to me, and I say yes each time. Shit happens, and while most of the...
I've flown some 250k miles, about 6 one way flights a month for the past 10 years, I've had to just skip line three times? Each time was 100% my fault, but because I woke up late and/or my Uber took forever (my drivers cancelled on me multiple times). I've only had a few people, maybe 3, ever do this to me, and I say yes each time. Shit happens, and while most of the time there's always another flight, no one wants to miss a flight by seconds/minutes of they can avoid it. I'll stay in line silent until I get that, your flight is boarding message.
I had to cut numerous queues on one very memorable travel journey, and it sticks with me because I am not someone who would ever cut a line on purpose. My inbound flight from LHR to LAX was cancelled, and I was put on the next flight. I managed to get my LAX to LAS changed to the last flight of the day, but my flight from London had further delays, meaning by the time...
I had to cut numerous queues on one very memorable travel journey, and it sticks with me because I am not someone who would ever cut a line on purpose. My inbound flight from LHR to LAX was cancelled, and I was put on the next flight. I managed to get my LAX to LAS changed to the last flight of the day, but my flight from London had further delays, meaning by the time the plane doors opened, it was 40 minutes to departure time to LAS.
Staff assured us we would be met by airport staff outside to make sure we could make our connection. None appeared, so we put on our best impression of Usain Bolt and ran through LAX. We had to ultimately ask people if we could cut at immigration and security (we couldn’t see a transfer desk and so went out to departures and security). Our original itinerary had 4 hour connection and we even travelled HBO to minimise risk of luggage delaying us.
I did everything I could but I absolutely hated that this happened, spent the entire inbound flight in anxiety. Luckily most people were understanding though we did get a few muttered curses, the fact that I seemed on the verge of an asthma attack from all the running probably helped! I am very grateful to the kindness that strangers showed us.
It happened to me once a few years ago. I had to transit at Heathrow Terminal 2. My incoming flight was late and I had to do the long walk there to get to the "B" gates for a flight to Singapore and I wasn't sure if I had enough time.
I asked the security lady who was monitoring the queues whether I needed to cut in and explained about my late incoming flight. She took me straight to the front of the queue and there was no fuss.
This is right way to do it: ask one member of staff rather than 50 pax.
So someone asks yo gif you mind if they go ahead of you because they are running late, flight departs in 30 min, etc. Shouldn't they ask everyone in line behind you as well, after all they are cutting in front of all those people not just you.
Plan accordingly. My wife always tells me we get to the airport far too early. Never missed a flight.
Now, when a plane lands (late)...
So someone asks yo gif you mind if they go ahead of you because they are running late, flight departs in 30 min, etc. Shouldn't they ask everyone in line behind you as well, after all they are cutting in front of all those people not just you.
Plan accordingly. My wife always tells me we get to the airport far too early. Never missed a flight.
Now, when a plane lands (late) and the flight crew asks you to cooperate by letting those with connections in less than say 30 min deplane first, that is different, as short of selecting seats in the rear of business class, not much they could do. Longer layover....maybe?
Absolutely NOT. In certain airports this seems to happen fairly often. (NYC)
And it is generally the same age group (younger) that clearly didn't plan to get to the airport on time. It is a good life lesson. No cuts!
I generally agree with the post's POV - with the exception of problem airports. LIS for example regularly has insane waits in the passport line that mean even the most type A-arrives-early person can miss a flight.
I've cut (a massive line) once. In Brussels and we were flying in J and assumed that we could use the priority line with our business class tickets so we got to the airport maybe 1.5 hours before the flight. Priority line was closed and there was a massive 2 hourish wait in the regular line. Sure we could have gotten there 3 hours before (though in Europe you often can't even check bags until 2 hours before the flight so that usually doesn't make sense).
I have had to cut a line only twice in my entire flying history once at JFK and once at CDG. Both times I was able to get through. Didn't have time to see whether people were upset. Whether I could have planned it better in retrospect is moot. It is never about negligence. Can't pre-plan for all possibilities that could go wrong.
You have the answer right in the post. It all depends on...
I have had to cut a line only twice in my entire flying history once at JFK and once at CDG. Both times I was able to get through. Didn't have time to see whether people were upset. Whether I could have planned it better in retrospect is moot. It is never about negligence. Can't pre-plan for all possibilities that could go wrong.
You have the answer right in the post. It all depends on how you ask or how you behave to be let through and how you might be judged. It is relatively easy to recognize someone who is genuinely distressed from someone that just feels entitled to do so and you act accordingly.
This doesn't seem like a frequently abused thing in my experience to worry about it.
My pet gripe is about that obnoxious person in line who is pushing and cursing everybody in front, harrying them for taking too long loading the Xray bins, etc until he passes through the security himself and having made it to the other side takes his own time blocking the line picking up things slowly. Some people...
'Poor planning on your part does not necessitate an emergency on mine'
Long TSA lines aren't a surprise to anyone with a shred of awareness. Plan accordingly.
I have had a fair share of these; more than once it has been passengers on the same flight as mine or flights departing later than mine and it's unfair to expect jumping the line is an option which may mean I miss my flight so you catch yours. So I object, you missing your flight is your problem and if you made it to security or passport control it becomes the airlines / airports...
I have had a fair share of these; more than once it has been passengers on the same flight as mine or flights departing later than mine and it's unfair to expect jumping the line is an option which may mean I miss my flight so you catch yours. So I object, you missing your flight is your problem and if you made it to security or passport control it becomes the airlines / airports issue. Don't make me miss my plane when I have been arriving early and got stuck in some line because your time is more important than mine or anyone else's time who is lining up.
All passengers ought to arrive 8 hours early , and immediately go to the lines .
ehh why? go wait in line like the rest of us. I'm in line also
Some countries do not wait in line , but press forward to the desks whilst all speaking at once .
I hate to put it in these terms, but the US is still enough of a high-trust country that if someone is trying this I assume it’s for a good enough reason and I go with it
This is how it is on many things in life, if the cut because they really need it, then you did good letting them.
If they cut because they think they are smart ass, they then reap the karma of everyone waiting in line.
Alot of people don't believe in karma, just like people may believe there is only one life and they won't reincarnate.
I always look at it this way, the surprise is upon them.
I will add one more. In the Mexico City airport, there are staff in wheelchairs who do their job very effectively. That really counts. The Govt, or Airport authority saw the opportunity to give these folks jobs.
Like @Icarus, I'm also surprised by the lack of empathy, especially in the rationale provided within the post: 'I've always been able to make my flights so everyone should'. But you often check in online, don't have bags to drop, avoid the queues because of frequent flyer status and/or premium cabin ticket, and always aim to be in the lounge when it opens at stupid o'clock in the morning.
The average passenger is infinitely...
Like @Icarus, I'm also surprised by the lack of empathy, especially in the rationale provided within the post: 'I've always been able to make my flights so everyone should'. But you often check in online, don't have bags to drop, avoid the queues because of frequent flyer status and/or premium cabin ticket, and always aim to be in the lounge when it opens at stupid o'clock in the morning.
The average passenger is infinitely more likely to experience the M62 getting closed due to an accident, turning the 50-minute journey to MAN from the outskirts of Leeds into a 3.5 hour ordeal. If they take public transport instead, they're at the mercy of train companies often plagued by strikes or failures in crew scheduling which can result in cancellations - 'come back in two hours for the next'- or their coach getting swallowed up by the perennial traffic jams in CDMX or basically any Asian metropolis. Once at the airport, it's entirely possible that their single-class ATR flight between islands in the Caribbean or Cabo Verde has to share the same security queue with widebodies flying to Europe or the USA, resulting in a wait that's a lot longer than the flight time...And that's before we consider the airports in places like India or Turkey where you can't even get into the terminal without going through an ID/security check, for which you also have to queue.
The suggestion that all those people have a great deal of control of their airport arrangements borders on the preposterous- to me, it comes across as classism. Not wanting to lose your place in the queue is one thing, but I think that framing that preference in terms of moral superiority is on a completely different level.
(Reposting...)
By the way, all of the above situations have personally happened to me. I only missed one flight (the one from MAN), but there are lots more that I only just made and others where I was fortunate that my flight was departing a lot later (e.g. taking a ridiculously early train because I wanted to tour the *A lounges at LHR). There are people who additionally have to factor in the implications of...
(Reposting...)
By the way, all of the above situations have personally happened to me. I only missed one flight (the one from MAN), but there are lots more that I only just made and others where I was fortunate that my flight was departing a lot later (e.g. taking a ridiculously early train because I wanted to tour the *A lounges at LHR). There are people who additionally have to factor in the implications of travelling with toddlers, elderly parents, using ferry boats etc.
I once had a three hour connection from international to domestic USA. The inbound was more than 2 hours delayed. So nothing within my control but I was happy others let me cut the line but I agree it is a fine line
At many airports the check in opens 3 hrs prior to departure. If you have checked bags you have to wait even if arriving 5 hrs before. There may still be very long lines at security, therefore it’s not always question of planning ahead. You don’t know why someone was late. Planning to arrive at the airport 5 hrs before but getting stuck in traffic following a major incident.
The lack of empathy here...
At many airports the check in opens 3 hrs prior to departure. If you have checked bags you have to wait even if arriving 5 hrs before. There may still be very long lines at security, therefore it’s not always question of planning ahead. You don’t know why someone was late. Planning to arrive at the airport 5 hrs before but getting stuck in traffic following a major incident.
The lack of empathy here to some who are not frequent travellers, telling them no, just shows how mean spirited many readers are. I know many stories of frequent travellers who missed flights as they were late including at security, and demanded ( not asked politely) airlines rebook free of charge.
If it’s this or miss a flight, I’m doing whatever I can. Especially long haul. Passport checks can be loooong.
I'm not sure if this is actually a thing.
I travel fairly often, and can maybe think about two or three times in recent years where that has happened.
My assumption is usually that this would be someone who was sent to the wrong terminal, come on a delayed flight, or suffered some other sort of unforeseen event.
Given how rare this has been, and the visible stress on the other person,...
I'm not sure if this is actually a thing.
I travel fairly often, and can maybe think about two or three times in recent years where that has happened.
My assumption is usually that this would be someone who was sent to the wrong terminal, come on a delayed flight, or suffered some other sort of unforeseen event.
Given how rare this has been, and the visible stress on the other person, I couldn't see a reason to refuse - the 30 second delay wouldn't impact me at all.
Given this warranted its own blog post, and a decent volume of responses, I can only assume this happens a lot more frequently "somewhere" but I cannot imagine where
No cuts unless the airport actively provides this for tight connections. You are not more special than other passengers.
There was a OMAAT guest poster who wrote how he was entitled to cut a security line due to being late and Ben ended up deleting his post. Was that ever addressed? What happened to that dude?
Absolutely not. That would deprive this person of a valuable life learning experience. Plan ahead next time. In any case, missing a flight isn't the end of the world.
Besides, if people will abuse wheelchair policies to get on board faster, can you imagine how badly this would be abused if it became socially acceptable? So all the selfish shameless people get expedited service, and everyone else waits longer? No way.
I had both experiences on different trips last year. On the way to where I was going on one we were delayed getting to Frankfurt and everyone was connecting everywhere with no fast track. I had a longish connection so I was fine letting some people cut who had managed to cut up to me in the line to get through. On the other on the way back we were delayed getting to AMS but...
I had both experiences on different trips last year. On the way to where I was going on one we were delayed getting to Frankfurt and everyone was connecting everywhere with no fast track. I had a longish connection so I was fine letting some people cut who had managed to cut up to me in the line to get through. On the other on the way back we were delayed getting to AMS but I still had a decentish connection but security was slow and they didn't have a fast pass. I think how they had it set up is the best balance (specifically for connections since there's less you can control). They had someone there in an open lane who was calling on people with departures within a certain time frame. They'd verify that you were actually departing in that time frame and then let you through to their line and then you would filter in between the other line on a 2 urgent for one normal kind of rate. For originating security then I say plan better.
If someone's running late, that's their problem, not mine. Would never let someone cut in front of me.
Why is this anti semitic remark allowed here BZ????!!!!
Generally no. However in the land of the former Nazis / now Israeli sycophants, Lufthansa’s incompetence meant that missed flight boarding because the inbound was 1.5 hours late and security was over one hour, with no fast track.
Would be no need to skip lines if countries such as America and Germany invested in efficient airport processes. Instead of giving billions to Israel every day.
So you think the reason security lines are inefficient in Germany is because Germany gives billions to Israel?
I think you'd fit rather brilliantly with the former regime of Germany - they too blamed everything from overcooked steaks to late trains on the international Jewry.
Never. Almost always liars or worriers who will be fine.
This is sort of a hot button clickbait topic. I’d say everyone is OK if you let them cut, as long as you’re at the end of the line and nobody’s behind you. Otherwise, are they going to ask every other person in the line?
It’s largely cultural with regard to respecting the queue.
The problem is that most people who try to cut in line have no risk of missing their flight, but don’t realize it. It’s incredible the number of people I’ve heard say, “Can I please come through, my flight boards in 25 minutes?”
It’s like…”do you realize this security line is only going to take four minutes, and you’re going to have a ton of extra time?” But they are nervous travelers, and don’t...
The problem is that most people who try to cut in line have no risk of missing their flight, but don’t realize it. It’s incredible the number of people I’ve heard say, “Can I please come through, my flight boards in 25 minutes?”
It’s like…”do you realize this security line is only going to take four minutes, and you’re going to have a ton of extra time?” But they are nervous travelers, and don’t understand.
It’s the same phenomenon as people who try to push to the front of the plane when it lands to make their “tight connection” - “My next flight boards in twenty minutes, please let me through so I can run!” Chill out, you’re going to be just fine.
I guess if you really, really need to cut line, have you BP in your hand and clearly visible to the person you are very politely asking. They can judge whether your request is reasonable.
No one should ever cut in line at their originating airport. For transfers it sometimes has to be done.
Sure - but I'm pressed for time too. You're welcome to go behind me if those people back there don't mind. It gets you off the hook.
Two points: If you let someone cut in front of you, you are also letting that person cut in front of the hundred or so behind you. Just sayin'.
Secondly, I've seen countless passengers in a line give the side-eye to a passenger in a wheelchair, who is taken to the head of the line.This is done (and allowed) to save the pusher time so they can get to the next person requiring such...
Two points: If you let someone cut in front of you, you are also letting that person cut in front of the hundred or so behind you. Just sayin'.
Secondly, I've seen countless passengers in a line give the side-eye to a passenger in a wheelchair, who is taken to the head of the line.This is done (and allowed) to save the pusher time so they can get to the next person requiring such assistance. The person being assisted is just a beneficiary of the method.
.
Oh, and to those few rude people who object, my response is "I would love to swap places with you and be able to stand comfortably in a line but I plainly can't,
so deal with it!"
Who looks like the jerk then?
My personal favorite anecdote on this - line for the check to get into Schengen flight area at CDG. A middle aged male (like me) tries to cut ahead. A German next to me asks him politely to show his boarding pass with his boarding time - without letting him through. The cutter's scheduled departure was 5 minutes after both the German's and mine. Needless to say, that individual got no further than behind us....
My personal favorite anecdote on this - line for the check to get into Schengen flight area at CDG. A middle aged male (like me) tries to cut ahead. A German next to me asks him politely to show his boarding pass with his boarding time - without letting him through. The cutter's scheduled departure was 5 minutes after both the German's and mine. Needless to say, that individual got no further than behind us.
I really don't like people cutting lines like this. 99% of the time, planning ahead solves the matter.
Normally, I dont care too much if person seems distressed and they are asking everyone. Although one time a sonewhat privileged looking traveler was asking and saying that their flight boarded in 30 minutes - got to me near front of line and i almost laughed; told her absolutely not, my flight boards in 20. Relax lady.
If you have a really valid reason, still remember that you are not just cutting in from of the first person in line. You are cutting in front of ALL the people in line, pushing all of them one space back.
If on the other hand you are one of those "My time is valuable so I always get to the airport at the last minute" types, don't even think about asking.
A few months ago in Athens, the lines in immigration exit before security were so long, a large room stuffed with people. Eventually, a man said "American Airlines and Delta to JFK come here". That was nice. I arrived at the airport 3 hours ahead of time with no checked bags and that was not too early. (By the time the man said that, I was almost to the front of the line)
I let people go ahead. If they have coffee, I suspect the delay was their fault.
In India everyone crowds out everyone else as they rush forwards .
Some places everyone crowds out everyone else as they rush forwards .
No One ought to be allowed to skip the line . I speak as a disabled person , who is ready and willing to be treated an an equal .
But you're not equal and never will be.
Otherwise the term disabled person wouldn't exist.
Live with it.
If you are truly a 'disabled person', assuming your disability is physical, you would simply not be able to stand in line behind hundreds of others for a hour or so. Right?
My favorite memory of all time: JNB airport.
Line must have been 150 people long with 2 immigration officers. 20-40 people tried to cut saying their flight was boarding. Turns out there flight boarded in 90 minutes . Once that happened, everyone piled on saying go to the back. Fantastic.
I think if someone has a genuine reason, sure. Such as connection, very long check in times, or something.
I’ll always be...
My favorite memory of all time: JNB airport.
Line must have been 150 people long with 2 immigration officers. 20-40 people tried to cut saying their flight was boarding. Turns out there flight boarded in 90 minutes . Once that happened, everyone piled on saying go to the back. Fantastic.
I think if someone has a genuine reason, sure. Such as connection, very long check in times, or something.
I’ll always be grateful to the hundred odd people I cut at Newark as I had a 17 minute connection B-C (int-domestic). Even though the flight was closed they let me on. Humans can be amazing!
I don’t really care provided I’m not also short on time. It’s hardly worth raising my blood pressure over what will amount to 30 seconds of my life.
Got stuck behind an unexpected road closure last year that held me up for an hour and I was appreciative that although the line was short people let me go past. I was the last to board the flight 3 minutes before sked door close… and then they delayed us half a hour due to a fuel problem… oh the irony.
You want to hear the real irony.
You missed the flight by 3 minutes. Mechanical delay, still refused to let you board and rebook you on the next flight.
Delay got extended for hours, your next flight that you're on ended up arriving before your original flight.
That's irony.
This is just like the election system.
It's a broken system but works good enough to get by and shut people up or believe it is working.
You're brainwashed by propaganda to come early line up and wait.
You blame these people for bad planning and being late.
At the other end where you've been brainwashed not to see. Most people came too early and wasted their own time at the airport and clog up...
This is just like the election system.
It's a broken system but works good enough to get by and shut people up or believe it is working.
You're brainwashed by propaganda to come early line up and wait.
You blame these people for bad planning and being late.
At the other end where you've been brainwashed not to see. Most people came too early and wasted their own time at the airport and clog up the line for other people who are at the airport just in time and waste their time in line too.
Everyone ought to come 6 hours early , and immediately crowd into the lines .
I’m OK letting the odd one or two people go in front if I feel they’re genuinely running late and I have plenty of time - you can usually tell by what they say and how they ask.
Americans rarely try it. At least in my lines, I almost never see it. The vast majority of people in TSA Pre-Check know how to travel.
Never in Asia.
I see it mostly in Europe (men) and...
I’m OK letting the odd one or two people go in front if I feel they’re genuinely running late and I have plenty of time - you can usually tell by what they say and how they ask.
Americans rarely try it. At least in my lines, I almost never see it. The vast majority of people in TSA Pre-Check know how to travel.
Never in Asia.
I see it mostly in Europe (men) and in South America (often the more clueless types - I suspect many of them have rarely flown, mostly women).
The Middle East - take a guess. There is a level of entitlement that surprises no one - but it's still rare.
Morocco is the wild wild west at security.
HEATHROW - due to the worst transfer system at Terminal 5. Many are running late. Sometimes it's best to clear the border, go back up to check-in, and use the FIRST wing if you have access. Muuuch quiker.
Again, if someone asks nicely, I’m happy to let them go ahead. We all run late from time to time. Millions of miles, and I missed one international flight by 5 mins check in cut off - My fault, I misjudged NYC traffic, but they put me on another flight. Two close calls at LHR T3: 15 mins from curb to jetbridge TWICE. Once with VS...she was like we are going to jog to security and I'll check you in with my tablet....then buggy on the other side to the gate. AA, I was checked in, ran to security and buggy to the gate. Last one on each time.
Once I asked to cut the line at DEL (no one allowed)...so we left the line and got an airport employee to walk us to the front ;-)
Kindness goes a long way.
Always ‘fun’ when someone cuts you in-line, only to later find out they’re on your flight, and board after you… psh.
The problem I have with person A asking a person B in front of me, if s/he can cut in line, is that it's not only B who is affected, but everybody between B and the end of the line. So A should ask ALL persons, not just B. Which is obviously not realistic
Yep .
This is stuff we learn in school - go to the back of the line. The real problem is not whether you agree but whether the people behind you agree to be cut also. Whose going to negotiate with all of those people among who at least someone is also running late.
I've flown maybe 1.2 million miles. I've been on the other end of this exactly once, needing to ask. The result of leaving my passport at home after the new ID standards were implemented. I did arrive 2.5 hours early to the airport. Traffic back and forth on a friday would take about that. I was ready to just not go and wife insisted I try. Wife kept the bags and went through security while...
I've flown maybe 1.2 million miles. I've been on the other end of this exactly once, needing to ask. The result of leaving my passport at home after the new ID standards were implemented. I did arrive 2.5 hours early to the airport. Traffic back and forth on a friday would take about that. I was ready to just not go and wife insisted I try. Wife kept the bags and went through security while I hauled ass and called everyone I could think of to help meet me in the middle.
I got to the TSA Precheck line, which was enormously long for once, 20 minutes into boarding for a small plane. I HATE cutting or asking. I called my wife and let her know there was no way I'd make it. She persuaded me to ask. And I did. Even though I HATE it with a passion, I proceeded to ask (and tell them my flight was departing in 15 minutes) literally every single person, one at a time, if I could move ahead. They all obliged. Maybe one guy out of the 100-ish people looked like he wanted to say no.
So, I've been on the other side. Frankly, it happens so rarely that I wouldn't be bothered if 1 (or a few) were going to cost me 2-3 extra minutes of waiting. Extending a bit of grace to people can go a long way and it literally costs nothing to do so, assuming you aren't in the same predicament.
I think this happens a lot less than it used to. Anyway, if I'm feeling a little pissy, I might ask them what time their flight departs, and if they answer, tell them to be patient because my flight leaves even earlier.
Meh, if I’m on time and someone asks nicely….I’ll let you go through. It’s no stress for me.
I have never missed a flight, but I had a very close call internationally. I was in Southern Paris with a 10am flight. The night before I asked the concierge about the taxi situation and they said "come down in the morning and we can call you a cab". I did that at 6:30, requesting a 6:30am taxi so we could eat breakfast. At 6:20, the concierge calmly comes over and says "I'm sorry but...
I have never missed a flight, but I had a very close call internationally. I was in Southern Paris with a 10am flight. The night before I asked the concierge about the taxi situation and they said "come down in the morning and we can call you a cab". I did that at 6:30, requesting a 6:30am taxi so we could eat breakfast. At 6:20, the concierge calmly comes over and says "I'm sorry but there are no available cabs". I'm shocked -- no cabs in the entire city of Paris?!?
They didn't have any alternatives but to request an Uber. I spent the next half hour unsuccessfully trying to request a ride. Eventually at 7am, I pull up Google maps for public transit. Amazingly, we were able to make it to the airport at 9am via a 1 mile walk, subway, 1 mile walk, bus that leaves hourly, arriving at 9:15 for a 10:00am flight.
I had considered asking to cut as we were still in the security line when boarding was scheduled to begin. However since things were moving we held our tongue, cleared security, and raced to the gate as the last boarding group was boarding.
Lesson learned on cabs (even if the concierge says otherwise) and now we plan on a public transit alternative -- thinking about this carefully even when selecting a hotel.
I tend not to agree. If someone is late, it is almost always a result of their choices. Not my problem.
The one thing a person can say to ensure I don't agree. "I have a flight to catch."
Yes. We all do. That's why we're all in this line.
I like the idea that if you’re going to ask me for anything, including cutting in line, making change for a bill, watching a bag to go change your kid’s diaper… just “come at me correct”. If you expect me to empathize with you, at least empathize with me that you’re asking for a kindness or favor… not an obligation.