Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think people jumping the airport security queue should pay for fast track or wait like everyone else?

80 replies

TiredTraveller · 13/05/2024 14:12

Last week I had to get 2 coaches to the airport during the train strike and as a result, was worried about making my flight in time due to the coach being delayed by almost 2 hours.

Joined the security queue and it was moving slower than I thought. Regretted not paying for fast track. But during the time I was waiting, people jumped the queue on three separate occasions by saying things like ‘Sorry, I need to go to the front because my plane leaves in 10 minutes (or some other weak excuse). Everyone let them through (they didn’t ask me because they were cutting through the people further ahead.)

I was quietly annoyed about this because I was so tight on time and didn’t want people (one of which was a family of 5) delaying me. AIBU to think they should have paid for fast track rather than ask to jump in front of everyone else who was waiting patiently for 25 minutes? I find it so entitled because realistically they knew that people would be too polite to refuse.

Has anyone ever seen anyone actually say no when this happens?

OP posts:
WarshipRocinante · 13/05/2024 14:41

I was in marrakech airport, which is an absolutely dumpster fire of an airport. So many people missed their flights because they opened check in so late for quite a few flights whilst really early for others with no sense around it. Their security queues are so long because they don’t have enough booths open and literally don’t seem to give a fuck about getting people through quickly. So those passengers had absolutely no choice but to beg to get through first. Our check in had opened early and I let a few groups ahead of me when we were near the front. It was a total shambles but planes were literally about to leave and these people were still fighting to get through.

Just to add, people were asking the staff for help and being told no, they had to wait and if their plane left then their plane left. Worst airport I’ve ever been through the worst staff. Looked at the reviews for it when I got home and seems to be universally slated.

Idontjetwashthefucker · 13/05/2024 14:36

I flew alone on my last flight, the guy directing people to security unclipped the barrier and told me to go through as I was on my own, it took me right up to the security area, bypassing quite a number of people. Not sure why being on my own made a difference but I was very appreciative that I didn't have to spend ages queuing.

toomuchfaff · 13/05/2024 14:32

Cherryon · 13/05/2024 14:22

YABU
People genuinely need to skip the queue at times. If your busses had been very late, you would have been able to do the same. Usually you ask a member of staff and they either tell you, go to the front while I call ahead for you or they escort you to the head of the queue.

This.

YABU

"People shouldn't skip the queue because I've been queueing longer... " let them miss their planes, serves them right...

Coming across as very bitter. I get it, I hate queues and that is why I purchase fast track and don't go near an airport on a bank holiday weekend... Still makes my blood boil everytime I go near Mcr Airport.

Cherryon · 13/05/2024 14:22

YABU
People genuinely need to skip the queue at times. If your busses had been very late, you would have been able to do the same. Usually you ask a member of staff and they either tell you, go to the front while I call ahead for you or they escort you to the head of the queue.

GasPanic · 13/05/2024 14:18

I would say no.

The problem is that you have two types of people who are delayed in the queue.

The first is people who are genuinely late. The second is people who were not late, but the progress of the queue (both in security and check in) is so poor that they can't get to security in time for the flight.

I would quite happily turn up earlier and check in earlier if I could. But often check in does not open early enough to allow people to get through security without being pulled.

Normally anyway people don't go to the front of their own accord. They go to the front because they are called by the security staff to move ahead.

The solution is to make check in earlier and have faster queues. The second is what we pay airport taxes for.

I would also pay more to go fast track every time. Unfortunately sometimes that is not possible because fast track is full.

Edit : It also makes no business sense for people to be waiting around in queues when they could be spending money in the departure lounge.