AIBU to have queue jumped?

[Genzymoo]

Staying in a hotel on my own with my 3yo DD. It’s our second night here, and reception was completely empty when we checked in yesterday.

We arrived back from our day’s activity, came into a reception with a queue nearly out of the door. It’s a fairly big reception, but a large number of construction workers standing in groups, families with children... I’d say a good 20 - 25 people. SD was a challenge!

My DD and I tried to get to the lifts, which required a number of people to have to move themselves and their bags to let us through. Got up to the room to find the card had been deactivated.

Went backdown to reception and the queue was perhaps longer, with only two check in staff there. Each check in takes approx 5 minutes, and I’d say there were 5 or 6 groups/individuals waiting to be checked in (along with people hovering, having already checked in). So I asked my DD to wait on a chair out of the melee and hovered at reception until someone finished, and asked the receptionist what to do about a deactivated card. The receptionist said they could deal and beckoned me over. I got a load of muttered comments from the next person in line about how they would ‘just wait longer then’. They had children with them too, but had just sent partner off to an area where it was quieter with them. I didn’t really have that option, as my DD will wait for a minute or two at best before coming to see me. The reactivation took about 30 seconds.

Was I unreasonable for not just joining the end of the queue and waiting my turn (perhaps 15 minutes?). Or was it right (if perhaps a little cheeky) for me to hover and ask?

I wouldn't have jumped the queue. Was there any reason you couldn't just have your 3yo standing next to you holding your hand?

@Cadent it was on her second night staying there.

No, I’d have done the same.

@Sunrise234 it doesn’t matter, the card worked fine the first night, OP was all checked in.

@Cadent so if the carD wasn’t working NOT ON THE FIRST DAY THE OP EVEN CHECKED IN BUT THE SECOND DAY!!! You missed that part clearly then she has to wait in a queue to rectify her problem. Not push in front of everyone. She isn’t more important then anyone else in that building.

I would not have jumped the queue, theother people in the queue did not make the error so why should they wait longer. However I couldn't get worked up about someone else jumping the queue I wouldn't judge, I just wouldn't do it personally.

Yes, I missed the part that is was the 2ND day!!! I thought they'd just checked in, gone straight to room and card not working.

I would have got to the back of the queue in that case, not pushed in front!

@BluebellForest836

@Cadent so if the carD wasn’t working NOT ON THE FIRST DAY THE OP EVEN CHECKED IN BUT THE SECOND DAY!!! You missed that part clearly

You can’t construct a sentence clearly. As I said to Sunrise, it doesn’t matter. OP had already checked in, she didn’t need to queue again.

All the people who would wait for 20-25 people to check in before complaining about a faulty key card are muppets.

@Cadent yes it does make a difference if it is a couple of minutes later, 2 days later or 2 weeks later.
A simple do you mind if I just get my card activated and then went in front would have been better rather than stepping in front of the queue.
So what if you needed to pay your bill at the end of your stay, Or needed to get a replacement hairdryer can you jump the queue because you’ve already checked in or do you have to wait in line with the other muppets?

I'd queue jump in that scenario. If there was a concierge desk they can often fix key cards/ let you in your room, Hotel's error so they can do a quick fix.

I would definitely have done the same OP. the que is for checking in - you had already done that. your issue took 30 seconds vs the atleast 5/10 minutes checking in takes. wouldnt give it a second thought.

My criteria to judge is 'whose fault is it?'

If it's my fault (I've forgotten to order something or I've lost a key etc.) then back of the queue for me.

If it's the establishment's fault (incorrect order or faulty product) then I go straight to front the queue because it's part of the same order.

I don’t think you did anything wrong, it took 30 seconds. Why the need to wait half a hour for that? I’d let you go in front of me.

I wouldn’t call what the OP did queue jumping.

I would have done the same.
Bit like people who go back to a cafe counter for an issue with their order, or in maccies going back for missing dips/straws etc.

You’ve done your queuing - they didn’t get it right first time.

I wouldnt class this as pushing in, you checked with the receptionist whether you needed to queue and she said no because as an existing guest you take priority, especially if there is limited room in the lobby and they want to try and clear it quickly.

The other people in the queue have nowhere else to go as they do not have a room so they cannot free up space. The OP had a room they just couldn't access, so by dealing with her quickly the receptionist got 2 people out of the lobby, freeing up a seat and the space in 1/10th of the time it would have taken to check in another guest. Normally, if theres a part of the check in process where the guest is busy - filling in a check in form etc - and the receptionist is not you would be able to go over and say "Sorry to interrupt but what do I do about a deactivated key?" and they would be able to reactivate it before the guest needed their attention again, but due to Social Distancing it's not appropriate to approach the desk if other guests are there.

I work in a supermarket on customer services, sometimes I will have a queue of three or four people, each with a return/exchange issue that will take 5 minutes each. If someone just wants to know which aisle the knitting needles are in, or if we stock white emulsion, then they will usually come to the side of the desk and ask the question when there is a natural "break" in my current interaction and I can send them on their way in a few seconds. If it is more complicated I will either ask them to join the queue or direct them to another staff member. I would much rather that happen than someone waste their time waiting 10/15 minutes for me to say "Knitting needles? Aisle 32, just over there"

YANBU.

This winds people up so much though I have found. Went to kfc last week and they missed part of the meal, instead of waiting in the queue, I went to the front ad the deathstares were unbelievable. The staff member had a short whinge too about 'wait your turn'..totally ignoring that I HAD waited my turn, had waited ages, and that it was their mistake so why on earth do they expect me to wait ages again while rest of family (bar youngest) has their food already?!

I get it, if you have been waiting ages. I might have an internal whinge a bit of I was having a shitty day, but its clearly not the customers fault.

@PregnantAndTiredMum

I wouldn't have jumped the queue. Was there any reason you couldn't just have your 3yo standing next to you holding your hand?

It was really the number of people hovering around reception and my DD’s difficulty with not touching things And staying away from people. SD was really difficult and, at times, impossible

@BatShite

YANBU.

This winds people up so much though I have found. Went to kfc last week and they missed part of the meal, instead of waiting in the queue, I went to the front ad the deathstares were unbelievable. The staff member had a short whinge too about 'wait your turn'..totally ignoring that I HAD waited my turn, had waited ages, and that it was their mistake so why on earth do they expect me to wait ages again while rest of family (bar youngest) has their food already?!

I get it, if you have been waiting ages. I might have an internal whinge a bit of I was having a shitty day, but its clearly not the customers fault.

I hate it when that happens - having to re-queue to fix their error whilst my good gets cold and the family eat theirs (or possibly doesn’t if it’s a problem with their food!). I usually end up leaving it completely to avoid missing out on the meal!!