Why, when people see a long queue…

[HaveItOffTilICough]

…do they stare at it in disbelief, gawp around like a fish an angler has just stunned with a rock, and then say incredulously, “Is this the queue?!”

What the bloody hell do you think it is?! A long line of people all heading in the same direction (in this case towards an airport gate) in the exact place you’d expect to find the long line of people - but oh no, this isn’t the queue. You’ve struck gold; you can just waltz onto the plane. We’re all stood in line because we’re starting a fucking conga!

Can I have another holiday to get over the airport please?

Queuing at an airport gate is bonkers. You're all getting on. Sit down until it clears.

Because frequently it isn't the queue it's people loitering in the queuing area

Do people loiter in a straight line though? A line pointing towards the desks?

Yeah I don’t participate in queues at the airport gate 😁 i don’t need to be on the plane for any longer than I will be.

Also half the time you say to the person standing maybe a foot away from the end of the queue, ‘are you in the queue?’ and they say ‘no’!

Yeah they do seem to because the very long queues snakes around. Also the queues in clothing shops often end up among the racks so are they browsing or queuing

I know what your mean OP. I also don’t get into airport queues but you get it everywhere.

People who can’t believe they are going to have to queue.

You also get it on busy public transport- people looking around with the caught-fish expression as though they can’t believe it’s busy.

having flown BA from Manchester via Heathrow for a city break recently, I think the queues are so people can get their pull along on board cases in the overheads first.

what really annoys me is gate staff saying there’s a group based boarding system , then not being arsed to enforce it.

I agree-if people would not try and carry on ridiculous amounts of luggage then there would be enough room for everyone's bags-as it is I think people do get on try baggsie space for their things in the overhead locker.
There is a sinking feeling when you get to your row and the overhead is packed and closed so I think this does contribute to the queueing.

Yes, exactly this! I was using the airport as an example as I’m there at the moment, but it’s the same with any queue.

I get people seeing a long queue and thinking “Oh FFS”. But it’s the ones who are desperately hoping against hope that there has been some mistake; that this line of people in the exact spot you’d expect them to be are actually there for some unrelated reason, and you won’t have to wait after all.

I really don't think that what happening. They're just thinking out loud/making conversation.

But if it’s “making conversation”, what do they expect the conversation to be about? They ask, “Is this the queue?”, the person they asks thinks, “Of course it’s the fucking queue” but just says yes… the end!

It's just a passing remark. I don't understand why it matters.

Is this the queue doesn't mean literally is this the queue though? It means ffs

It's just a passing statement and your making it out to be way more than it is.

Plus at an airport gate half the time its not the queue. Half the time people join the wrong queue, or make a queue before being asked. I'm often incredulous people stand in a massive queue at an airport gate rather than sitting and waiting their turn

I personally am someone who does not get on the wee aluminium tube full of seats and people until I absolutely have to....and therefore the queueing rush / questions / behaviours at an airport are a source of much people watching and amusement.

It's this.
A huge amount of travellers now take the maximum size small suitcase as hand luggage, as well as a handbag and carrier bags of duty free. There just isn't enough room for it, and so commences the battle to get on the plane and snatch the space.
I don't bother to take anything beyond a handbag that fits underneath the seat, so it's never an issue to me and I get on near the end of boarding when the rush has died down.

I think there are two ways of saying it though...

If I politely say "Is this the queue?" I'm genuinely checking.

If I say "Is this the queue!!??" I'm expressing annoyance that there's obviously some bad organisation/management/dithering person that has resulted in such a long queue and I am frustrated.

I've never been to an airport, but I have really bad social anxiety and I'm not good with confrontation so I will ask if it's the correct queue for the bus I'm waiting for, for example, because I don't want to be yelled at if I "push in". I'll only ask if it's a super long queue though.

I have joined the wrong queue a few times for things. So if I am unsure I will ask someone.

Until my latest flight I was always one of the very last onto the plane. But this time we did actually queue the minute they announced it. DH wanted to get the pram folded and into the collection trolly as it had been rushed before. I think I still prefer getting on last.

Last half dozen flights I’ve been on, people with kids were called first.

Yes, always people with children or who need extra assistance first.

Just make sure you phone the airline before you travel if you need extra assistance and then you avoid the queues. You might get some dirty looks but you are never going to meet those people again in your life to dont sweat the small stuff.

I happily stand in the queues as I know I am going to be sat on a plane for hours and don't like to be sat down all day long.

This makes me laugh too @HaveItOffTilICough! Occasionally I think I ought to make a sarcastic response but I usually settle for ‘I hope so’

Jesus, it’s only a Mumsnet thread. I’m posting in minor frustration, not launching a national campaign to ban queue-based questions on pain of death.

I won’t queue at an airport gate. Those who do have some weird competitive streak or fear of missing out.