Do you do anything about line cutting?

[John105]

We went to a restaurant yesterday, and were asked how many, 3, ok, need to wait.

Another group came, another waiter asked how many, they said 3, waiter said let me clear that table for you, and I said hmmm we were first.

Immediately my wife went to the other patron and the waiter and said, we will have to take that table as we have been waiting. Neither cared at all, nor did they object. So we took the table.

Honestly, it was awkward and I was thinking about it, I would have played the doormat and done nothing. It's my expectation that other patrons and the staff would respect first come, first served.

I have only once witnessed a physical altercation in a line cutting situation, South Street in Manhattan. A man beat the cutter silly, and in true Manhattan fashion, nobody did anything. It was at the Pathmark.

Contrast to the two barber shops in town. Both have so much business there is no place to sit. It can be awkward as if I walked in, I don't know who is next, I only take notice of who is already here, i.e. ahead of me.

To make matters even worse, there was 1/4 barbers who was popular. Now, some are waiting for him, the rest for the next available.

Yet, nobody cuts, and people are polite. I've even had people on at least 3 occasions allow me to go ahead of them--my darn then 9 y.o. is one who is waiting for only Tony. Me, I'll take anyone lol

What would you do if someone cut in front of you?

 

[CarLuver]

Cutters are like that . they know most folks will just huff and puff and give them means looks , but in the end do nothing. go to China, they make cutting an art .

the dude that got the beat down in NYC i would say probably won't do it again .

 

[Leo99]

I'd be mad at the waiter, not the other people.

 

[dishdude]

I wouldn't call that line cutting, sounds more like an incompetent host.

 

[Pew]

I wouldn't call that line cutting, sounds more like an incompetent host.

This, it's all on the host/ess to make sure people are sat in an orderly fashion.. The group that walked in ahead of you probably didn't know whether or not you were waiting for somebody else before being sat down, or other reasons.

But for line cutters like at say, at a grocery store..."the line starts back there."

 

[PWMDMD]

Depends on the circumstances and my mood. I'm a big guy who can put on a pretty good mean face when I need to but I also tend to give people the benefit of the doubt that they were unloved as children and just clueless people if the situation isn't time-sensitive or a mission critical.

 

[Urshurak776]

My wife and I went to the Jelly Roll concert last night. The lines to get a t-shirt were insane. Kind of chaos how it was organized. Some guy and his wife/girlfriend tried to slide into the side of the line up to the table. We were not next, but there was one other guy in front of us. I didn't have to say anything, the guy behind us lit them up. Big dude. Lots of Tattoos. He looked like a comic book. Needless to say, they got out of the way, fast.

The people working their could not have cared less who was next.

People suck. Bottom line.

 

[PontiacHO]

I have this happen more times than I like to think. The restaurant host is at fault here. I was at a festival Saturday night waiting in line to place a food order at a food truck. Line was already about 15 people deep. I typically won’t wait this long for just a burger but the grandkids were hungry and it was already past their normal dinner time. About 6 people up from me let another 6 people enter the line with them. I asked the guy ahead and behind me if they would join me to rectify the situation. Neither one of them would. I didn’t feel like getting jumped by Jerome, Shankwan, Jontaviaus, Octaviant, and thier sister Brendalyn, Sparkalina, and Wilamina.
I just waited. At 66, I’d best not fight more than 2 at a time!!

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

First thing you tell the host to get the manager!

 

[Pablo]

No soup for you!

 

[doitmyself]

Not of any help to the OP, just sharing a "cut in Line experience" several decades ago.

We were waiting for 1/2 hour at a Chi Chi's Mexican restaurant near Auburn Hills or Pontiac Michigan (cant remember) and this tall dude with date came in and asked to be seated immediately. The employees were all scurrying around in some sort of pandemonium. I was clueless (not a big basketball fan). They actually turned him away. Later, I found out it was a somewhat famous Detroit Pistons basketball player Grant Hill.

Go figure.

 

[Cujet]

After a cancelled flight had a NYer push me to the side and get in front of me as I was entering the cue to get another flight with 8 seats left.

Although I wanted to reposition his jaw, the airport is no place for that (all kidding aside, I am very slow to anger). So I simply left the cue, and went into the empty "Mosaic" (frequent flyer) line. Got my ticket and went back to being lazy for a few hours. I never saw the guy again....

 

[4WD]

I fly often and it sure happens - for a while when there was the random search down the jetway - I played the rude ones to get just enough in front of me - then once two were hooked I smiled whilst walking past them - of course inconsiderate PAX haul too much on the plane - and that helped

 

[dishdude]

I fly often and it sure happens - for a while when there was the random search down the jetway - I played the rude ones to get just enough in front of me - then once two were hooked I smiled whilst walking past them - of course inconsiderate PAX haul too much on the plane - and that helped

Those random inspections were so annoying. Thank god American is finally cracking down on the gate lice! I'm group 1 and have to wade through group 8 and 9? To the back of the line you go!

https://www.foxnews.com/travel/amer...irport-passengers-skip-lines-boarding-process

 

[Lubener]

It's not worth confronting those individuals.

 

[4WD]

Those random inspections were so annoying. Thank god American is finally cracking down on the gate lice! I'm group 1 and have to wade through group 8 and 9? To the back of the line you go!

https://www.foxnews.com/travel/amer...irport-passengers-skip-lines-boarding-process

It helps when the airlines actually setup good lines - but with so many airports becoming shopping malls you fly to - who has room for wide gate areas anymore?

 

[John105]

I'm the OP but the responses made me remember an incident in Montreal where me and 2 buddies were waiting for an elevator. As soon as the doors opened, a group of 4 rushed past us, into the packed elevator, and it was gone. One buddy was livid cursing up a storm. And that time I laughed. I said who's still on the 12th floor waiting, and who's now in the lobby ready to get a cab?

Then I said, where those folks come from, it's competitive, and literally they learned to do what they just did likely to get by day to day. Believe it or not, it's not personal at all. So I was laughing while my buddy was ready to hurt somebody. We were on vacation so wth no biggie. Life in the big city. I guess the general consensus is it's not up to the individual to be aware who's next. I kinda feel it is, but I do see the other way too. My barber shop example maybe is suburbia, not the "big city."

 

[97prizm]

We went to a restaurant yesterday, and were asked how many, 3, ok, need to wait.

Another group came, another waiter asked how many, they said 3, waiter said let me clear that table for you, and I said hmmm we were first.

Immediately my wife went to the other patron and the waiter and said, we will have to take that table as we have been waiting. Neither cared at all, nor did they object. So we took the table.

Honestly, it was awkward and I was thinking about it, I would have played the doormat and done nothing. It's my expectation that other patrons and the staff would respect first come, first served.

I have only once witnessed a physical altercation in a line cutting situation, South Street in Manhattan. A man beat the cutter silly, and in true Manhattan fashion, nobody did anything. It was at the Pathmark.

Contrast to the two barber shops in town. Both have so much business there is no place to sit. It can be awkward as if I walked in, I don't know who is next, I only take notice of who is already here, i.e. ahead of me.

To make matters even worse, there was 1/4 barbers who was popular. Now, some are waiting for him, the rest for the next available.

Yet, nobody cuts, and people are polite. I've even had people on at least 3 occasions allow me to go ahead of them--my darn then 9 y.o. is one who is waiting for only Tony. Me, I'll take anyone lol

What would you do if someone cut in front of you?

I didn't see it mentioned but is it possible that the group of three that came in after you were vip's or very frequent customers. Not to say it's right but sometimes restaurants have to bend over to keep vip's happy. The Capital Grill is like that. If you dine there enough you get a speciality locker and they'll special order alcohol and hold it for you. And I can bet that it's rare that a vip isn't seated at a capital grill.

 

[I<3oil]

This is one of the only things that England gets correct is the queueing. They are srs bidness when it comes to that. A+ job

 

[RaymondP]

Not sure of SouthWest Airline rules today, but some time ago I had a flight booked with them and they didn't provide seat assignments. First come, first served but didn't know this! I was early (first at the gate) assuming I would get a seat, waiting for the desk at the gate to be staffed to obtain a seat assignment. No one came but noticed people lining up early so became concerned. Eventually the desk was staffed so I cut in to the front to get my seat assignment. You can imagine the outcry. Told everyone within ear shot I had been there since the previous flight disembarked. Fortunately, they believed me and I was able to go to the front and board the aircraft. Left a very bad taste. Will never book a Southwest Airlines flight again, although no other issues and the crew announcements were entertaining.

Maybe different on SW Airlines today, but as accepted rules and common courtesies seem to have gone out the window, for whatever activity I engage in, I will purchase a ticket and solidify the seat assignments BEFORE leaving the house. And yes, sadly I am aware of situations where even assigned seats are fought over causing much distress to both cabin crew and other travelers.