What Should Be The Lining Up Etiquette At An Airport ?

Ljinkhaos on 05/02/2016 - 11:06
Last edited 05/02/2016 - 22:41 by 1 other user

This had struck me this morning while I sent my parents off to the airport this morning: mother lined up to check in, me and dad took some of our luggage (i.e the boxes and bags) to be wrapped up. Got back to the line with 4-5 more people to go and got told off by the person behind my mother that "that's not how it works"? Been travelling for quite some time and to be honest, we do this all the time since PROTECTABAG had started service at the airports.

Is this wrong? Should all travelling members stay in line at all times? What should be the lining up etiquette at the airports?

Travel

Comments

  • djprima on 08/02/2016 - 15:18

    I've also been tricked once. A young asian lady repeatedly said "excuse me excuse me" from the back of a very long snaking immigration queue. Sort of like want to join the family at the front. In the end she approach the immigration counter alone! WTF I feel like the dumbest people in the world for letting her pass (and maybe others too)

    • BartholemewH on 09/02/2016 - 00:59

      Queue jumping level: ASIAN

    • brgnhunter007 on 09/02/2016 - 11:11

      Lol… That happened to me too, now I always keep in mind who's in front of me. That, and my death stare followed by "Excuse me, but this is not the back of the queue".

  • victorheaven on 08/02/2016 - 16:58
    +5

    Sad to see so many negative experiences with Chinese immigrants/tourists here.

    As a Chinese (Main lander) myself, I hate to admit that most of stuff said in the comments are unfortunately true.

    I do believe it is a generational thing though, I found middle-aged/elder Chinese tend to be ruder and speak louder in the public. I do regard most of my friends (who are also Chinese) to be well mannered and educated.

    Hopefully as time goes by, things can turn around a little.

    Peace.

    • MadMaxBargainRoad on 24/02/2016 - 15:22

      No need to be sad mate. I was also born and brewed in mainland, Canton to be specified.

      While a lot of the previous comment are true, they are mostly stereo-typing/lack of thought. Corrupted officials and uneducated people who were enriched over night don't represent all of us. In fact those are minority 'winners' of a corrupted/twisted system which means they are the WORST examples. If you are a genuine person under CCP's ruling, you wouldn't even survive; let alone making enough money to travel overseas.

      I hate the CCP and crap that they've done to my bones; and if their minions are trying to corrupt the world with their shit they should be kicked the eff out. However, that doesn't justify racism/discrimination against all mainland Chinese. It certainly doesn't warrant the recent violence action against ALL mainland tourists in HK either.

      If you are an honest person like me who worked hard to establish yourself in this country and embrace its value; you should be proud of yourself being a Chinese descendant. If someone exercises racism using whatever excuses you can tell him/her to GTFO.

      PS: Things can only turn around when the dictatorship is destroyed and ignorance is gone. Otherwise, all you will see is more hatred.

  • netsurfer on 08/02/2016 - 18:25

    What if one of the members needs to use the toilet? All of you must all go with that person and re-queue?

    The person behind was just shifting the frustration of the long queue and slow airline check-in service to your mother. He/she should have arrived a few minutes earlier and he/she will be in front of your mother.

    • roddy84 on 08/02/2016 - 19:34

      From reports on the internet some Chinese have found a way to get around the problem of finding a toilet…..

      • netsurfer on 09/02/2016 - 10:30
        +1

        One famous British comedian mentioned on TV that he peed on his girlfriend (he was drunk). He also peed into his kitchen sink (while his girlfriend said to him "at least take out the dishes first").

        It does not mean that if you are a <insert a nationality here>, you are better or worse than people from other nationalities.

        We Australians don't really have a good records overseas (especially after a few drinks). It's all very easy to judge people from other nations and our media can be quite biased sometimes.

        • roddy84 on 09/02/2016 - 11:21

          A bit of pee in a sink at home is nothing compared to the stuff some plane passengers are doing. http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1850140/toile…

          I think if you display very bad manners and offend others consistently it could be said you are worse than other nationalities. Of course it doesn't mean everyone of a certain nationality is like this but enough percentage are to earn them their reputation.

        • netsurfer on 09/02/2016 - 12:41
          +1

          @rob74: We, Australians, don't really have a good reputation overseas (especially after a few drinks). It is kinda off topic anyway.

          For airline check-ins, just bear in mind that, unless everyone checks in and clears custom, you will still have to wait for them before your flight can take off.

          Expecting a perfectly fair check-in system for a flight is really wishful thinking. There is already business class / first class getting preferential treatment. Also, frequent flyers (getting priority check-in and better seat allocation). Passengers from flights on final call also get to jump the queue. The system is unfair to start with. Then, there is all these exceptional cases where people think it is okay for family members to leave the queue and re-join (toilet break for example).

          Your seat allocation and when your luggage come out at the destination are more important than the your check-in time and position. This is not a food ordering service. This is a flight we are talking about.

  • CharityCase on 08/02/2016 - 20:37
    +3

    I'm Chinese born in China. I've been living in Sydney for more than 6 years and currently working as a ground stuff for one of the 3 major Chinese airlines at Sydney international airport. I can confirm some comments about rude Chinese tourists don't line up are true. Came across rude local Australians too but the most difficult ones are always those mid-aged Chinese ladues in a tourist group.
    IT IS LIKE A ZOO AT THE GATE WHEN WE START BOARDING EVERYTIME, LIKE IF YOU ARE LATE TO BOARDING THEN YOU DON'T GET A SEAT LOL

    • Peck on 09/02/2016 - 09:44

      Part of the boarding problem is that many people 'push' their cabin baggage allowance well beyond the allowable limit. And so, if you are not nimble at boarding, you may have to put your bags in a locker behind you. Which becomes a REAL hassle when deplaning. All airlines should conduct cursory stroll around the boarding gate and weed out the blatant selfish abuses.

    • WT on 09/02/2016 - 12:45

      I dont get why people que or are in a hurry to board. Your seat is allocated, i always get on last, sit in the terminal on my tablet, board, stow bags and sit. If im going to be on a plane for hours why would i want to get on early, que with hundreds of people and stand waiting while they seat.

      • SirFlibbled on 09/02/2016 - 15:02

        So they can take all your carry one space.

  • gasman70 on 08/02/2016 - 21:42

    Manners just ain't what they used to be…the world over.

    I was taught to queue, say please and thank you, give your seat up in the bus for a woman and hold open doors for others.
    That said, on more than one occasion I've been looked at like a piece of excrement for holding a door open for a woman. You just can't win.

  • darkmattersunB6c0MV on 08/02/2016 - 22:24

    I have found Chinese people who drop off family members at the Carlingford side of Epping station to be quite rude. A few times, as I am trying to cross the Hunts Lane next to the news agency, round comes a car from Rawson street and stops smack halfway in the Hunts Lane and you have to walk around it. Be considerate and move your car four feet further. When I told the woman driver to move a bit further for the future, her partner muttered quite a few unpleasent things. Stupid people do not realise that they are not only in violation of rules, they are bloody inconsiderate too.

  • darkmattersunB6c0MV on 08/02/2016 - 22:34

    Actually, the solution to jumping queues should be that no one should be able to get a side entry, and make the system token based. No token implies no baggage check, and token can only be obtained at the back of the queue. If you exit the queue, token gets forfeited ( you have to put token to exit the baggage area). BTW, usually don't have dramas at airport. Have Frequent Flyer Memberships, with preferential check in.

    • netsurfer on 09/02/2016 - 11:37

      I don't really see the big deal of this.

      1. OP's family did arrive before the next person in the queue.
      2. The ProtectABag service was used because airlines are not good at handling luggage.
      3. Was there only 1 person serving the check-in? If not, the next person most likely will be served by a different airline personnel so what exactly is the issue for him/her?
      4. This exception of… but if it is a toilet break then it is fine.
      5. Token, what if it is a toilet thing. Okay, let's say that person followed your rule and forfeit his/her old token. Then, each claimable/unusable token will introduce a delay.
      6. Chill guys… How about frequent flyer or business class passengers arriving after you BUT the business class check-in counters are full and airline allows those passengers to use the next available economy class check-in counter. Are you going to whinge and complain? I don't see people complaining when that happens.
      7. How about a genuine mistake (unintentional) that a family member left a baggage in the car and realised in time? Is that also a push in? Or that's another exception?

      I have Aussie people jumping queue when I order food (most of the time elderly people and they know I most likely won't say anything).

      The issue is more slow airline check-in process and excessive fees (parking, trolley) at the airports. It is also funny that people are expecting a fair system for airline check-in and travelling. They have classes, frequent flyer memberships which make some people more equal than others to begin with.

      • darkmattersunB6c0MV on 09/02/2016 - 17:12

        I feel whatever the rules, please make it clear to the general public. Like I said, I have no issues as I get preferential treatment because of being a frequent flyer, so not complaining. Even something like paper tokens issued, without having to queue should resolve the question. ( No one queues ,and wait for the coupon code to be called).

    • BestofOZB on 09/02/2016 - 18:03

      What the hell…Are you a politician?

      • darkmattersunB6c0MV on 09/02/2016 - 18:50
        +1

        Who are you asking ? ;-)

        • BestofOZB on 09/02/2016 - 20:54

          You :)
          Suggesting a token at an airport line sounds like a politician's idea, will only make broken things worse!

          But after reading your last comment, maaan you are a genius, sounds like a great idea, you should become a politician and fix our broken system ;)

  • [Deactivated] on 08/02/2016 - 22:39
    +2

    It's just the culture of third world 'rat race' countries. It's every man for himself and if you don't put yourself before others you'll get walked on.

    Just an unfortunate side effect of corruption, similar to terrorism.
    I'd say pretty much every 3rd world country is like this, unless they are predominantly Buddhist nation.

    The overcrowding in China is just sad and this is a by product of that.

    I've lived in multiple 3rd world countries in Africa/the middle east and Asia and it's all the same.
    Only one that wasn't like this was Thailand - hence the Buddhist comment.

    There's a hardened selfishness in 3rd world countries that comes from generations of poverty and terrible living standards.

    Trying to set the good example and be the better person won't put bread on your table in these places. The nice guys finish last.

    • SirFlibbled on 09/02/2016 - 09:42

      It can happen frequently in first world countries too. In Singapore for example, they all line up for the train. But when it comes, they don't even wait for people to get off they just madly rush in ignoring any line. Once the train goes, those who miss out just line up again.

  • Flattop on 08/02/2016 - 22:58

    2 comments.
    1) bag was open at one end after a long haul from Europe, I would went straight to customs and they opened it under video after xray and I was permitted to deny any of the contents… There was nothing new inside, they said sometimes customs in a transit country may see something on X-ray and want to check. I think someone used my case for smuggling, they were tsa locks so why not close them properly post inspection?

    2) at mascot airport queuing for the urinal….5ppl waiting in the queue and giving the Aussie 2-3 meters personal space gap…. 6 mainlanders walk in past the queue and line up directly behind the urinates….about 10cm clearance….ppls in the queue were very vocal….I suspect it was the full bladders talking….apparently they spoke no English as they didn't react

    • BartholemewH on 09/02/2016 - 01:05

      You are lucky if TSA zips your bag shut properly let alone locks the bag. Those guys don't give a shit. Safety, terrorism, etc etc.

    • SirFlibbled on 09/02/2016 - 09:44

      Sometimes people put in too much 'personal space' though. I remember once I was in a KFC and there was one person ordering at the counter and a mother and daughter standing right up the back of the ordering area. I stood behind the person ordering then I went to order. The mother screams "I was next in line".

      I just responded with "if you were in line you wouldn't be 4 meters back" and ordered my food.

    • [Deactivated] on 12/02/2016 - 15:52
      +1

      Wait till they start the stream, pull them back quickly and point them at one of their friends before they can stop it.

  • Mumbles on 09/02/2016 - 12:05
    +1

    There's something unique about the OP's specific scenario which is very different from most cases. Its that he and his dad were bringing their bags through the queue.

    I'm sure most people would not bat an eyelid if they saw 1 or 2 people who are not carrying bags to walk by them. It's very believable that you could be returning after a toilet break to catch up with your bags+family member up ahead.

    Put yourself in the shoes of someone in that queue. A person with a 12kg bag out of nowhere rocks up late and pushes past you. Of course they will think you are an impatient queue jumper cause you look and behave exactly like one!

    Of a 50+ queue of people there's bound to be one or two hero's. I am very glad there are vocal people who challenge unfair queue jumpers!

    A better question is why your whole family is not wrapping their bags together and why your mum is getting so far ahead in the queue. For your mum, dad and your bag to be plastic wrapped is only a difference of about 10 minutes that's if you are lined up behind each other for the wrapping. Even if it takes longer there's no way you could possibly miss the last baggage check-in.

    • netsurfer on 09/02/2016 - 13:29

      It is not very different. Either family members are allowed to temporary leave and re-join the queue or they are not allowed. The rule of: if it is toilet break it is okay.. or if it is some other exceptional case, then it is okay, that's not a fair system either. One can also argue, if 80% of your family members need to use the toilet, why don't you all go there first and then queue up?

      This is air travel we are talking about. Top or higher class frequent flyers can check-in later than most people, still get better seat allocation, and have their luggage come out of carousel ahead of others. We are okay with that, but family members re-join queue with some luggage is a huge problem?

      OP is using PROTECTABAG service, in a way helping a local business.

  • snook on 09/02/2016 - 16:38

    All this chatter about Asians. Indians are no better. They carry an air of entitlement around with them. We went to a New Years fireworks show and lined up behind a guy in a wheelchair. We stood back a little to give him more air. An Indian family comes in from my left. The mother inches closer and closer to us. She's looking at the space in front of me. Now she's actually touching me, trying to move me sideways. I'm not budging. She starts the move to inch her way in front of me to that empty spot. They seriously think that we are so polite we're not going to say anything. I've seen it many times before. I quietly told her to bugger off and she did. She acted like she was surprised but the inching forward went on over a good 30 minutes.

    • HangryCakeStore on 10/02/2016 - 00:51

      'All this chatter about Asians'/or chinese, but Why all this chatter?
      Im talking to Everyone here, its strange that people here think its normal to bad-mouth only asians, there are rude people in all race. I think the Chinese are the least of peoples problems compared to many other races that can be worst then just manners
      - but you can’t talk about them right? other races would become way overly offended. But hey it only seems ok to hate on asian people?

      • snook on 10/02/2016 - 01:01

        Why don't you ask the chatter'ers

    • Cabbage_enforcer on 10/02/2016 - 02:09
      +3

      India is part of Asia.

      Sweeping generalisation of racial stereotypes is unfair to those of that particular background who try to do the right thing.

      There's plenty of rude and feral Caucasians too and I find your comments about Indians borderline racist

    • dextertheboygenius on 10/02/2016 - 10:01

      Speaks volumes about you mate, good job. You are the hero we never had, asking the lady to bugger off!

      • snook on 13/02/2016 - 20:07

        I'm talking about people pushing in front 1, but more importantly 2, crowding out the wheelchair guy, who was old and sick.

        What happened to consideration for others?

  • BestofOZB on 09/02/2016 - 17:56

    I see both sides.
    A reasonable thing to do is to all line up and as soon as there are people behind you to tell them you are going to do whatever you need to do and that you are coming back. That one person behind you knowing you were in line makes a difference.

    Generally though, if it is not busy and we are not in a hurry, we all pack, then we all line up.

  • Eeples on 12/02/2016 - 00:20

    Hello.

    I would find the scenario rude but I wouldn't say anything only display bad body language.

    I would find it rude because of all the luggage being pushed in front of me.

    I wouldn't find it rude if the luggage/boxes were already in line and your father simply joined your mother.

    Would it really have been that hard to get the luggage packaged up and then both go and line up together?

    Mind you if you were running late for the flight….Imo pushing in is okay while apologising….. If you make it clear that you are heaps late …. But of course don't push in front of other late ppl….

    Imo.

  • [Deactivated] on 12/02/2016 - 15:47
    +2

    Why would you even waste money on getting your bags wrapped?

  • Flying Ace on 12/02/2016 - 16:04

    I see them here in Vietnam taking the cyclo tours. Sitting in the seat like they're kings and most of the time on their phone not even taking in the sights. Ugh.

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