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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think paying extra to jump a queue is just wrong?

126 replies

create · 05/08/2011 22:49

We've spent the last week or so doing the tourist thing in London (most expensive holiday ever and we slept at home!)

Most of the big attrations (London Eye, Aquarium etc) allow you to purchase a priority ticket for a few pounds per person extra, which means you don't have to queue. I know it can be done at Legoland and other theme parks too.

It just seems wrong to me though, that those with enough cash can not only jump the queue, but effectively make others' waiting time longer. It doesn't seem like the behaviour I want to demonstrate/teach to my DC, but at it seems to be the way of the world AIBU?

OP posts:

southeastastra · 05/08/2011 23:07

it's quite shitty and not very british to 'buy' yourself a place in a queue.

am amazed companies can do this openly and get away with it

squeakytoy · 05/08/2011 23:07

We are not communists you know.

People are not getting this for free, they are paying extra for the priviledge.

NickRobinsonsloveslave · 05/08/2011 23:08

Absolutely hate this. And I would be far too embarrassed to do it myself.

Why can't they just queue like everyone else?

MorticiaAddams · 05/08/2011 23:08

The Supermarket or the bus wouldn't bother me and A&E is an NHS resource so you couldn't pay to queue jump.

In fact you could say that people do the other two, some people shop in supermarkets that are more expensive but you know they are guaranteed to open up another checkout as soon as the queue reaches a couple of people and lots of people choose to drive rather than wait for a bus.

K999 · 05/08/2011 23:09

Its the age old supply and demand theory....

Whogivesa · 05/08/2011 23:09

Slightly different though isn't it? Using extra money to pay for queue jumping at fun stuff than at A and E etc. and if course those with the money get private treatment anyway in that example.
People use their money how they see fit, and as frustrating as it is to wait a little longer those people chose to spend their cash on not doing so. Are you genuinely saying that you wouldn't do this even if you could afford to?? If I had the money then yes I would probably do it.

scurryfunge · 05/08/2011 23:11

Because queuing at airport is shit. My holiday budget factors in upgrades. Accommodation and facilities at an hotel are less important than flight times and travel. I choose to spend my money on avoiding crowds. That is more important to me than anything else. Do you prioritise with budget?

caffevalium · 05/08/2011 23:11

Bet you'd all do it if you could afford it - you're just pissed that you can't!

kitbit · 05/08/2011 23:12

If you use Ryanair nearly everyone now pays for priority boarding. So there's no priority just a huge queue of people who've paid extra.
Doesn't make any sense to me at all.

ninedragons · 05/08/2011 23:13

It's rationing by price, which underpins everything we do, economically speaking.

Think of the queue-jumpers as paying the correct price and yourself as getting a discount in exchange for being willing to queue.

It's six of one and half a dozen of the other, but it may mean you don't stand in the queue seething.

Original poster

create · 05/08/2011 23:14

I could have done it if I wanted to actually. I really didn't feel comfortable with it. In any case, it would have been wasted money at the Eye, as there was no queue in the event and we walked straight on and we went next door to the film museum instead of queuing (1.5 hours ) for the Aquarium and it was fab and much cheaper. DCs have it as the highlight of the week.

OP posts:

bonkers20 · 05/08/2011 23:14

It's not really jumping the queue. There are 2 queues. You just have to pay extra to join the fast moving one. It's the way of the world unfortunately. You pay more - you get a better seat on the train, a smoother car, someone to clean your house, more clothes, see the world, but the book from Amazon rather than wait to use the library etc etc etc.

NickRobinsonsloveslave · 05/08/2011 23:16

I think it would be really funny if everyone went to Alton Towers on the same day and paid extra to queue jump.

How would they sort that one out?

lockets · 05/08/2011 23:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Morloth · 05/08/2011 23:25

Well if it is wrong to use your money to jump the queue then surely it is just as wrong to be using your money to go to these places at all.

Birdsgottafly · 05/08/2011 23:25

Accept in the case of an autistic/SN DC, they may not be able to wait, so wouldn't get to ride.

SharperSeven · 05/08/2011 23:33

Would they not be able to queue jump anyway, on account of their SN? My friend's daughter with diabetes always went to the front of the queue.

Roo83 · 05/08/2011 23:41

I don't think it's wrong to have fast track for those willing to pay. It's the way life is, and as others have said it depends how you prioritise your days out/money. People with sn usually get a pass to go straight to the front ahead of those who have paid extra, which i completely agree with, so no one is missing out that would struggle to que because of the fast track system.

valleyqueen · 05/08/2011 23:46

I would not dream of going to Chessington etc without a fast track ticket, I hate queuing. I did the same in Florida, I would rather visit these places less and pay more when I do.

startail · 05/08/2011 23:55

I wish I could pay to go to the science and natural history museums when they are quiet enough to actually see something.
I bought the DDs in Oct half term a few years ago and the natural history museum particularly was just impossibly busy with locals who'd no doubly been lots of times before, but it was cold and drizzly and it was free.
It costs a fortune to get to and stay in
London, a bit more to actually get the most value from the trip wouldn't be noticed.
Please - tourism London a few weekends a year when you do charge, so out of town children can share in what local children clearly take for granted.

CupcakesandTwunting · 06/08/2011 00:01

YANBU.

I said the same thing to DH when we went to LegoLand in May. WTF does that teach your kids? That you never have to wait for stuff in life because mater and pater have fixed it for you so that you don't have to queue with the plebs? Teach your kids to wait. Teach them that they aren't the centre of the fucking universe.

SharperSeven · 06/08/2011 00:05

That's life. Some choose to pay. Some don't. Me. I do sometimes. Saved us hours.

Scholes34 · 06/08/2011 00:08

We just tell the kids that those people have paid to push in.

MadameLupino · 06/08/2011 00:11

It may be true that you can fast track most things with money. But how bloody depressing. The winners are the venue and when the priority queue gets too long, there'll be another shorter one to join for the price of a small car .

I hate this about this kind of day out. Is used to be that you paid and got to go on rides for the day or poke waxworks. Now you pay and made to feel increasingly more shit about not 'upgrading' to basically the same thing that would have been included before. VIP this and Priority that. Bag o'shite.

slartybartfast · 06/08/2011 00:11

i hate them too.
a curse on queue jumpers.
we waited over 2 hours at the dungeons while they let the queue jumpers in ahead of us
and it encourages more and more people to jump queues.

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