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235
“You Aren’t Special”: Entitled Family Attempts To Skip Massive Line, Faces Public Outrage
Waiting in airport lines is never fun, especially when time is ticking away before your next flight. Most of us just grit our teeth and hope for the best, knowing that everyone else is in the same situation.
But a Redditor recently shared a story about a family who thought they could skip the line and save themselves the hassle. What followed was a perfect example of what happens when entitled behavior meets a crowd of equally frustrated travelers.
RELATED:
Passengers were anxiously waiting in line for passport control at a busy airport, hoping to catch their connecting flights
Image credits: Tim Gouw / pexels (not the actual photo)
However, one family thought they could outsmart everyone by cutting ahead
Image credits: Longxiang Qian / pexels (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Mathias Reding / pexels (not the actual photo)
Image credits: External_Affect2391
Why do we hate waiting in lines?
The answer might seem obvious—no one enjoys standing around with nothing to do. But there’s more to it.
In 1985, David Maister, a Harvard Business School professor, looked into the psychology of waiting in lines. He discovered that it’s not just the time we spend in them that affects our mood, but what we do during the wait, what we expect at the end, and whether we think it’s worth it.
One major issue with lines is uncertainty. Not knowing how long it will take to reach the front or where we are in the queue can create a lot of anxiety. In response, we release stress hormones like cortisol, making the experience feel even longer and more frustrating. If people are stuck at passport control in an airport and worried about missing their connecting flight, a simple announcement that the plane will wait for delayed passengers could instantly ease everyone’s nerves.
Another major factor is our sense of justice. Research shows people prefer fairness over efficiency; seeing someone skip ahead is especially aggravating. Just think about how irritated you feel when someone who arrived after you gets served first at a restaurant.
Interestingly, if there’s something rewarding at the end, people are more willing to endure the inconvenience. For example, fans might show up hours early to a concert to secure a spot close to the stage, while a 15-minute wait to get connected to customer service feels unbearable.
Understanding this, many businesses design their spaces to manage the waiting experience more effectively. Richard Larson, a professor at MIT who studies queuing theory and even signs his emails as “Dr. Queue,” lists Disney as a leader in this area. “In my book, they’re number one in the psychology and in the physics of queues,” he says.
At their theme parks, Disney have been known to give longer wait times for rides than they actually are, according to Larson’s research. For instance, they might say the wait is an hour, but when guests get through in 45 minutes, they’re pleasantly surprised, making the whole experience more enjoyable.
So, when it comes to lines, it’s clear that waiting itself isn’t really the problem—it’s everything else that comes with it. Next time you’re stuck in line and feeling annoyed, try to recognize what’s really bothering you and take a moment to stay calm. And rather than cutting ahead, think about keeping things fair for everyone around you.
Image credits: Lisa Fotios / pexels (not the actual photo)
Commenters were glad the family was called out for their entitlement
Other Redditors chimed in, sharing their own frustrating experiences with people who try to skip lines
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What do you think ?
Donkeywheel 1 year ago (edited)
Passengers jumping the lines are annoying yeah, but the most entitled people in these stories are the airport and local government people. Shame on them for planning many many flights at the same time with short stopovers while not willing to provide enough immigration officers. They will take the money (because don’t forget you passengers are paying for this) and provide the shittiest experience possible. Airlines have no control over it, they cannot streamline anything customs or immigration related. So people end up stressed in an unknown airport, fight each other, miss their connecting flights, because of the morons running the airport/local government who want their hub even if it’s completely undersized and understaffed.
DC and S 1 year ago
Absolutely!!!! Connections should be 2+ hours. Period. Maybe 3. Given that a plane boards 30+ minutes before the flight. And you have to get off the plane and get there, a one hour layover becomes 0 minutes. And that's IF the plane is on time. It's my biggest stressor flying. That and having room in the overhead bin above me for my bag.
Load More Replies...
CaliPanda 1 year ago (edited)
Traveling from California to Germany, first flight leg was cancelled (happened more than once TBH). Re-routed through Amsterdam with a very tight connection. Went through Customs & Immigration, and still needed to wait in line for my next boarding pass. When I finally got it, the agent realized how late it was and told me to cut the security line so I’d make my next flight. I didn’t, but they still held the plane for me. THEY KNOW WHERE YOU ARE. If there are many people waiting to connect and the timing is reasonable, the plane will wait.
The Starsong Princess 1 year ago
At the Toronto airport, if they get backed up at customs, the airport staff will call your flight so you can go to the front of the line and make your flight. Otherwise, no queue jumping.
Verena 1 year ago
If you travel to Europe, you need to get through the passport-check of the first airport you land, even if this isn't your destination. Within the so-called Schengen-area of free travel, no "transit" exist. If you are not an EU-citizen, reserve enough time for this. 60 min are the bare minimum under the most ideal circumstances and won't be sufficient during peak travel times.
Donkeywheel 1 year ago (edited)
That’s not true. Some hub airports made everything smooth for transit precisely because they aspire to be quality hubs. Some didn’t, most of time the wannabe big airports that aim for quantity over quality. The average waiting time to clear immigration at Singapore Changi airport is 45 seconds. Yes, seconds. Most of the time there is absolutely no delay. In Europe, the best hubs are Rome, Munich, Zurich and Paris CdG (all in the world top ten airports and full or partial 5 stars rating) the worst are Amsterdam, Heathrow or Madrid. « 60 min are the bare minimum under the most ideal circumstances » is pure b******t for the former, but probably true for the latter. And finally, let’s not be rude by avoiding to talk about the US hubs that are the worst possible in the world.
Load More Replies...
Monosyllabicgirl 1 year ago
This wasn't at an airport but recently I was at Walmart, which I usually avoid like the plague but there was something I could only purchase from there unfortunately. Each line had about 15+ customers in it. Some sort of a crazy run on Walmart that morning, idk! The cashiers were doing great and every single self service was open, probably like 20 registers. Those also had lines of 15+ people. I settled in to wait then heard 2 "ladies" walk past, an elderly mom and daughte, saying "I'm not waiting in these lines this is bullspit." Funnily enough I recognized them as I had just ejected them from the restaurant I work at for making the cashier cry. Because we charged 20 cents for extra cheese, like always. Anyway. I saw them move a heavy barrier to get in front and cut past 20 customers in line! Nope! I left cart with roommate and ran to the first CSM I could find. Made eye contact, pointed out the line and the moved barrier. Said they cut in front of all these people.
Monosyllabicgirl 1 year ago
To finish, lol. The CSM looked like he was going to let them through to avoid conflict. So I asked the people who had been waiting 10+ minutes if this was OK. Nope!! They got redirected to the back. Pretty sure they left without purchases. Both of them permanently look like they suck on lemons and the 60 yr old daughter has never been married or moved out of mom's house. I moved the barrier back and went back to my spot in queue to wait like everyone else. That really got my goat and I wish more people would intervene.
Load More Replies...
Meagan Glaser 1 year ago
every year, the huge university in our town welcomes in about 12,000 freshman students. They all have to live in dorms, and the dorms all move in on the same day. To manage that, there are a LOT of signs, rules, and people on the street conducting traffic and managing the lines of cars waiting to unload. It's a pretty well organized machine, all things considered. There are always loud, angry parents refusing to follow the instructions, backing it up with a someone proud AND beligerent "my baby is going away to college for the first time!" Loved telling them this is a FRESHMAN move in day, literally every single adult here is in the exact same situation you are. It was like a woman trying to yell "i'm pregnant" to demand special treatment at a lamaze class.
Jan Moore 1 year ago
We just got back from Costa Rica, our flight from Costa Rica was delayed for what ever reason. Originally we had a 2 1/2 hour layover. We got to Miami with maybe 11/4 hours. The first W/C parked us with the other W/C people and said you'll never make it. The W/C guy who picked us up promised he get us there. He practically ran us, my husband trying to keep up. I think the guy actually skipped customs. We got to the gate to find it closed and empty. Ended up taking a taxi to Ft. Lauderdale, spent about 2 hours in a hotel, had a economy seating to Dallas, with a 3 hour layover then a business seating to St. Louis. Then a 2 hour drive home. Made for 2 very long days.
Steve Hall 1 year ago
I wonder why they needed to check passports when it was only a one hour layover? Obviously I am not an international traveler.
Donkeywheel 1 year ago (edited)
Passengers jumping the lines are annoying yeah, but the most entitled people in these stories are the airport and local government people. Shame on them for planning many many flights at the same time with short stopovers while not willing to provide enough immigration officers. They will take the money (because don’t forget you passengers are paying for this) and provide the shittiest experience possible. Airlines have no control over it, they cannot streamline anything customs or immigration related. So people end up stressed in an unknown airport, fight each other, miss their connecting flights, because of the morons running the airport/local government who want their hub even if it’s completely undersized and understaffed.
DC and S 1 year ago
Absolutely!!!! Connections should be 2+ hours. Period. Maybe 3. Given that a plane boards 30+ minutes before the flight. And you have to get off the plane and get there, a one hour layover becomes 0 minutes. And that's IF the plane is on time. It's my biggest stressor flying. That and having room in the overhead bin above me for my bag.
Load More Replies... CaliPanda 1 year ago (edited)
Traveling from California to Germany, first flight leg was cancelled (happened more than once TBH). Re-routed through Amsterdam with a very tight connection. Went through Customs & Immigration, and still needed to wait in line for my next boarding pass. When I finally got it, the agent realized how late it was and told me to cut the security line so I’d make my next flight. I didn’t, but they still held the plane for me. THEY KNOW WHERE YOU ARE. If there are many people waiting to connect and the timing is reasonable, the plane will wait.
The Starsong Princess 1 year ago
At the Toronto airport, if they get backed up at customs, the airport staff will call your flight so you can go to the front of the line and make your flight. Otherwise, no queue jumping.
Verena 1 year ago
If you travel to Europe, you need to get through the passport-check of the first airport you land, even if this isn't your destination. Within the so-called Schengen-area of free travel, no "transit" exist. If you are not an EU-citizen, reserve enough time for this. 60 min are the bare minimum under the most ideal circumstances and won't be sufficient during peak travel times.
Donkeywheel 1 year ago (edited)
That’s not true. Some hub airports made everything smooth for transit precisely because they aspire to be quality hubs. Some didn’t, most of time the wannabe big airports that aim for quantity over quality. The average waiting time to clear immigration at Singapore Changi airport is 45 seconds. Yes, seconds. Most of the time there is absolutely no delay. In Europe, the best hubs are Rome, Munich, Zurich and Paris CdG (all in the world top ten airports and full or partial 5 stars rating) the worst are Amsterdam, Heathrow or Madrid. « 60 min are the bare minimum under the most ideal circumstances » is pure b******t for the former, but probably true for the latter. And finally, let’s not be rude by avoiding to talk about the US hubs that are the worst possible in the world.
Load More Replies... Monosyllabicgirl 1 year ago
This wasn't at an airport but recently I was at Walmart, which I usually avoid like the plague but there was something I could only purchase from there unfortunately. Each line had about 15+ customers in it. Some sort of a crazy run on Walmart that morning, idk! The cashiers were doing great and every single self service was open, probably like 20 registers. Those also had lines of 15+ people. I settled in to wait then heard 2 "ladies" walk past, an elderly mom and daughte, saying "I'm not waiting in these lines this is bullspit." Funnily enough I recognized them as I had just ejected them from the restaurant I work at for making the cashier cry. Because we charged 20 cents for extra cheese, like always. Anyway. I saw them move a heavy barrier to get in front and cut past 20 customers in line! Nope! I left cart with roommate and ran to the first CSM I could find. Made eye contact, pointed out the line and the moved barrier. Said they cut in front of all these people.
Monosyllabicgirl 1 year ago
To finish, lol. The CSM looked like he was going to let them through to avoid conflict. So I asked the people who had been waiting 10+ minutes if this was OK. Nope!! They got redirected to the back. Pretty sure they left without purchases. Both of them permanently look like they suck on lemons and the 60 yr old daughter has never been married or moved out of mom's house. I moved the barrier back and went back to my spot in queue to wait like everyone else. That really got my goat and I wish more people would intervene.
Load More Replies... Meagan Glaser 1 year ago
every year, the huge university in our town welcomes in about 12,000 freshman students. They all have to live in dorms, and the dorms all move in on the same day. To manage that, there are a LOT of signs, rules, and people on the street conducting traffic and managing the lines of cars waiting to unload. It's a pretty well organized machine, all things considered. There are always loud, angry parents refusing to follow the instructions, backing it up with a someone proud AND beligerent "my baby is going away to college for the first time!" Loved telling them this is a FRESHMAN move in day, literally every single adult here is in the exact same situation you are. It was like a woman trying to yell "i'm pregnant" to demand special treatment at a lamaze class.
Jan Moore 1 year ago
We just got back from Costa Rica, our flight from Costa Rica was delayed for what ever reason. Originally we had a 2 1/2 hour layover. We got to Miami with maybe 11/4 hours. The first W/C parked us with the other W/C people and said you'll never make it. The W/C guy who picked us up promised he get us there. He practically ran us, my husband trying to keep up. I think the guy actually skipped customs. We got to the gate to find it closed and empty. Ended up taking a taxi to Ft. Lauderdale, spent about 2 hours in a hotel, had a economy seating to Dallas, with a 3 hour layover then a business seating to St. Louis. Then a 2 hour drive home. Made for 2 very long days.
Steve Hall 1 year ago
I wonder why they needed to check passports when it was only a one hour layover? Obviously I am not an international traveler.
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