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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that it is ok to jump the queue when with an infant?

504 replies

Eole · 24/10/2022 19:42

DH, DC (3 months) and I were flying for the first time today to see family, long expected break!
We had booked priority, lounges and everything we could to relieve a bit of the stress.
Priority queue was quite long to check in luggage and we started queuing nicely.
Another mum came along and told us we could jump the queue which we did gladly as baby started stirring a little bit.
However it enraged some of the people in the queue, literally shouting that it was very out of order and that was no such thing as baby class, and what is wrong with you people etc.
Interestingly, every other step in the airport (security, customs, boarding) we were invited nicely by the staff to jump the queue.

So YANBU, of course you can jump the queue when with an infant
YABU no, you should queue like everyone else

OP posts:
JanetSally · 26/10/2022 14:43

The OP didn't really clarify how the staff reacted.

Did they confirm she had priority?

Or did they eventually agree to check them in after demurring originally?

From the original post it sound like someone eventually agreed at another desk to check them in, but it's hard to tell.

JanetSally · 26/10/2022 14:47

Also some people on here are talking about being 'allowed to skip the queue' at security etc when in fact they were directed to specific channels for young families, which are designed to aid the efficient running of the airport and ensure the other channels move as quickly as possible.

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 26/10/2022 16:11

But - why do you need to queue jump? Confused Maybe I just can't remember what it was like, but one 3 month old? Sure they cry but what else means you require priority?

Original poster
Eole · 26/10/2022 18:19

Hello everyone, thank you for all the name calling.

We had been queuing in the priority lane like everyone else, having paid for priority, and happy to wait in the queue. We were told by the other passenger we could use the parallel, empty, lane to check in (I’m saying this to say there was no barging, elbowing or anything else that has been imaginatively described here). Once at the front of that lane, the lady at the check in desk saw us and ushered us to jump the queue.

AFTER staff had ushered us forward, the man started shouting. He was upset THAT the staff had ushered us forward. We were mortified at the shouting we went to go back to our original place in the queue. At this point, another member of staff left the check in counter to come and escort us to a separate desk to help us check in. Incidentally this enraged the guy, as did the priority boarding, where he tutted (but didn’t shout).

Yes we are first time parents and yes this was our first time flying with the baby.

OP posts:
JanetSally · 26/10/2022 18:43

I still don't really understand. If there was a special Lane for parents why were staff not ushering passengers with babies into it?

Islandgirl68 · 26/10/2022 19:15

Just ignore them you did nothing wrong. Sorry some people can be so ignorant.

JanetSally · 26/10/2022 21:46

Islandgirl68 · 26/10/2022 19:15

Just ignore them you did nothing wrong. Sorry some people can be so ignorant.

No one was being ignorant. The OP asked if it was OK to skip the the front of the check in queue because you have a baby.

The general view was no.

Islandgirl68 · 26/10/2022 22:54

She was called forward by staff, people shouting at people like that is ignorant.

GrandTheftWalrus · 26/10/2022 23:01

When we went on holiday last month we got skipped straight to the front of the queue because dh had his stick with him. We hadn't booked assistance because we didn't know he'd need a stick.

He was in hospital over a week in icu in a diabetic coma. So by the time we went away he was still wobbly. So we asked the woman directing the queue how long as he couldn't stand long at that point and they took us straight to the front when we explained.

Then when we got to the gate we got on the plane first because we had a 16 month old with us. My parents had my 5yo on their booking yet they were on the plane on the next loading pattern. However because of that my 5yo got in the cockpit for a photo!

PAFMO · 26/10/2022 23:06

Islandgirl68 · 26/10/2022 22:54

She was called forward by staff, people shouting at people like that is ignorant.

Her story has changed since she started the thread.

She's in the check in queue, queuing

Random passenger tells her to go to the front of it because she's got a baby

She does and gets checked in

Other passengers complain.

She starts a thread because she thinks what happened is normal.

Today turns out she forgot to mention that what she actually did was move into an empty lane (told to by the random) and got to the front that way.

In both scenarios the staff were ok with her queue jumping, indeed almost begged her to do so.

Badgirlriri · 26/10/2022 23:10

PAFMO · 26/10/2022 23:06

Her story has changed since she started the thread.

She's in the check in queue, queuing

Random passenger tells her to go to the front of it because she's got a baby

She does and gets checked in

Other passengers complain.

She starts a thread because she thinks what happened is normal.

Today turns out she forgot to mention that what she actually did was move into an empty lane (told to by the random) and got to the front that way.

In both scenarios the staff were ok with her queue jumping, indeed almost begged her to do so.

Show quote history

🤣

”… and then the whole queue applauded”

Mojoj · 26/10/2022 23:11

I never have a problem with people with babies/wee kids who want to jump the queue, why would I? Travelling with wee ones is tough and it's not as if they're going to steal your seat is it?

Badgirlriri · 26/10/2022 23:14

It’s not about stealing a seat, it’s about using up all the overhead locker space.

Magnoliamarigold · 26/10/2022 23:18

"Today turns out she forgot to mention that what she actually did was move into an empty lane (told to by the random) and got to the front that way.

In both scenarios the staff were ok with her queue jumping, indeed almost begged her to do so."
*
Wow what a vivid imagination you have. At what point did she say anyone begged her to do so? She never said she barged to the front. Staff invited the other passenger, who notified OP. Guy started shouting at her after the staff invited her forward.*

HerMajestysRoyalCoven · 27/10/2022 00:02

I have a friend who marches to the front of every taxi queue when she has her kids with her, on the basis that families should get priority and anybody shouting at her is rude, ignorant and uncaring.

I now wonder if she was the woman OP met at the check in…

TheWomanTheyCallJayne · 27/10/2022 00:29

What worries me is how people seem to think it’s ok to shout abuse at someone because they don’t agree with what they’ve done.
Those people didn’t know why the op had gone to the front. They didn’t know if they had been told to then or earlier. They didn’t know if any of the ops family had a hidden disability. They just assumed and then were abusive.
Who acts like that? Who thinks people acting like that is ok?

Bubblegum88x · 27/10/2022 00:33

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Stationsofthecross · 27/10/2022 00:35

You jumped a check in queue? Yikes. That’s not great. Having a child does not make you special op. Fgs - queue like Everyone else. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

laurajayneinkent · 27/10/2022 01:04

Schoolchoicesucks · 24/10/2022 19:49

If invited to by staff, or there's an announcement that those travelling with babies can go to the front, of course you can.

If invited to go in front of someone else, of course you can.

Otherwise, of course not. Even if a randommer tells you to.

Yep!!!

MMS1405 · 27/10/2022 03:48

I would see it exactly the other way around. Would it not be better for the disabled and families to get on first so they can get comfortable whilst everyone else is boarding? What has happened to kindness! I am shocked at the amount of messages against this. Yes, not jump the queue but in this case she did the right thing and other passengers should have been way more sympathetic. What happened to kindness in this world!

LieToMe · 27/10/2022 03:59

I wouldn’t really care, although having travelled with kids, I don’t think you should get priority.
They’re children not disabilities. If it’s airline policy though, you did nothing wrong. The people shouting sound very OTT. The plane won’t leave without them and all they have to do is stand in a queue.

Magnoliamarigold · 27/10/2022 05:25

TheWomanTheyCallJayne · 27/10/2022 00:29

What worries me is how people seem to think it’s ok to shout abuse at someone because they don’t agree with what they’ve done.
Those people didn’t know why the op had gone to the front. They didn’t know if they had been told to then or earlier. They didn’t know if any of the ops family had a hidden disability. They just assumed and then were abusive.
Who acts like that? Who thinks people acting like that is ok?

Exactly. And those shouting abuse at the OP in this thread. Op you did nothing wrong, ignore these bitter MNetters

piesforever · 27/10/2022 06:23

Aw life is hard enough with a babby! Of course jump the queue. I would have loved this, babies are tricky, you're knackered with a million extra things, why not.

alwaysfrazzled · 27/10/2022 07:54

Honestly as a mum of a four month old it is much nicer for everyone if you go to the front. Imagine being stuck in a queue with baby screaming.
It's alright for all the child free couples who just wouldn't get it. Anyone who tuts and whinges about going to the front when baby is distressed is a total ar*e.
Baby wasn't crying yes, but probably would have started up...much nicer for everyone if baby is kept happy

Capri3 · 27/10/2022 08:00

LieToMe · 27/10/2022 03:59

I wouldn’t really care, although having travelled with kids, I don’t think you should get priority.
They’re children not disabilities. If it’s airline policy though, you did nothing wrong. The people shouting sound very OTT. The plane won’t leave without them and all they have to do is stand in a queue.

It was the check in queue, not the boarding queue. If you don’t check in on time the plane does leave without you.