Was this queue jumping?

[MsHighwater]

Dh and I went to a concert last night. Doors opened 7pm, we arrived by taxi at about 7.15pm at the venue. People were streaming into the building, mostly from round the side, where 3 coaches were parked from which more people were pouring forth. I was all set to go round and find the end of the line but dh just sort of merged into the line, which was moving very quickly. I joined him, reasoning that, as the line was moving so quickly, we all had tickets and the doors had only just opened, we were disadvantaging no-one by doing so.

I soon became aware of 2 people behind saying in stage whispers to one another "No, I can't believe it either!" and figured that they were referring to us. I turned to them and said "At the end of the day, is it going to make any difference?" They conceded that it wasn't but complained that it was rude.

When I pointed all this out to the hitherto oblivious dh, he said he hadn't seen it as a queue, just a mob of people streaming in from the buses.

So, were we rude? Or were they being unreasonable?

oooh what was the concert?

dont think you were pushing ina t all btw

I think it was technically queue-jumping. Your initial thought was to go to the back of the line. Sounds like it didn't really matter in the end though.

If everyone has a seat booked then I don't see the problem and the show wouldn't have started before most people would have been seated anyway.

what was the concert

ive never queued, i purposefully join the top of the line

In this situation I would have just gone and "merged" in at the front, near the door.

In the end, the support act didn't come on until ten to 8 and the main act came on at 9 - and there were still some people just getting to their seats during the first number!

It was Robert Plant and Alison Krauss at the Manchester Appollo. Really great show.

And on the tube, especially if I'm on my own, I just go and merge in at the foot of the escilator (sp?) --can't be bothered with going to the back of a group of people. No one has ever minded.- As far as I'm aware.

Ah, but Jura, Dh and I aren't English!

I'm feeling very reassured by the answers so far. I'm also slightly amazed at myself for calling them on their comments as I'm not usually so "upfront" (I was very polite, though)

Yes it is rude. You say that at the end of the day it isn't gonna make a difference but that argument works both ways - if it doesn't make a difference, get in the queue .

However, what I think is even more rude and sadly is becoming more and more common these days, if for people to say something about you in a loud voice but not address you directly. That's really rude.

Why should the bus people have priority? I often merge into queues and everyone had a seat anyway (this is why I always reserve a train seat - to save the mad crush!). Escalator etiquette - I thought it was hardest looking person first .

i always walk up escalators, saves all that hassling around at the bottom.

msh yes they were rude to not address you directly, but if they had would you have gone to back of queue?

None taken, jura :-). In Scotland, we queue, too (mostly).