Is it acceptable to hold someone’s place in a queue if only one person swaps in?
Posted by Bigashuk-2@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 34 comments
I was in a long queue recently and someone a few places ahead seemed to be holding a spot for another person who arrived later.
It wasn’t a group pushing in. From what I could tell, one person waited, then swapped out when the other person arrived.
It made me wonder what people generally think is acceptable in the UK.
Would you be okay with it if:
it was one person swapping for one person?
the person had popped to the toilet or to get food?
they were running a few minutes late?
they couldn’t comfortably stand in a long queue?
Or is holding a place always bad queue etiquette?
Clueingforbeggs@reddit
One for one: yes One for many: depends how that affects the rest of the queue, so normally no. Gone to the toilet: I’d assume they had a medical condition, or the queue was a long one. Yes Gone to get food: I’d assume they had a medical reason (low blood sugar, etc) or didn’t realise there was no food available, if applicable. Yes. Arrived late: no. That’s what the back of the queue is for. Can’t stand for long: yes, so long as they arrived at that time and then just went somewhere else to sit.
Timely_Egg_6827@reddit
Generally all fine if a tight family unit - not fine if single person holding for a big group. I do on occasion if meeting someone for a prepaid ticketed concert. Doors open but queues form early as seating can be scarce. My joints are not great and I can't stand for a concert but feel bad using the accessibility forms. So my partner tends to get there earlier as his work finishes earlier and I join him in queue. Not the only people doing that at that venue.
Queues can take a while and stepping away for the loo reasonable. In fact, I've seen strangers hold places for people who really really needed to go. Queues shouldn't be endurance events.
The other case is people who hire people to wait in queues for highly valued goods - that's just annoying. Seen for popular gigs/standing room shows. Exception would be if your own child.
MxFluff@reddit
As someone who forced himself to queue for years because I felt bad using accessibility - if you can't stand for long, then you can't stand for long. Or, in other words, if accessibility options make a situation more accessible to you, then please don't feel bad using them; they're there to make an event (or whatever) as pleasant to you as any fully healthy person.
Dean_Kirk_CaptainK@reddit
One person leaving the queue for a brief time for a toilet trip or similar: fine. Otherwise no.
g00gleb00gle@reddit
Not been to the new Bluey at Alton tower have you. That’s caused some fuss recently.
Mental_Body_5496@reddit
Was the post triggered by this?
Check out this story: What sparked 'queue jump' row at new Paw Patrol ride at Chessington https://flip.it/Qt4CqI from Flipboard.
Any_Preference_4147@reddit
All fine in my book. The only time I'd get annoyed is if one person was holding a spot for a group. That's taking the piss. Of course, being the good Brit that I am, I wouldn't say a word, seethe in silence and spend the remainder of my time in the queue wondering how some people can be so inconsiderate.
LittleSadRufus@reddit
Depends on the queue. For a restaurant and the group will all be seated together at one table? Fine. Normal, in fact.
At the barbers and each will be processed individually and in turn? They can fuck right off.
funfun151@reddit
Good queue nuance.
SomeHSomeE@reddit
Don't forget playing out in your head scenarios of a deeply whitty and sarcastic quip that calls them out publicly, with everyone else in the queue nodding along with approval or joining in while the queue jumpers slink off in shame.
Jaded_Valuable439@reddit
It’s ok if they’re literally swapping places, but if everyone held a spot for one person, then id say no.
Probably depends on the situation… buses, toilets or food/drinks then probably not. Planes, gigs, cinemas.. fine.
I was queuing for the toilet in a shopping centre a while ago, and this lady stepped out of the queue to wait outside the disabled toilet, then when she realised there was someone in it, came and tried to push back into where she was. That annoyed me lol. I was pretty desperate and the queue was longggg but I still waited.
She may have been disabled, can’t really judge on that, but it seemed like she was just trying to push in.
Lunaspoona@reddit
One person, fine. A group or whole family? Back of the queue you go!
Secret_Bird6060@reddit
Even then it depends on the activity. If it's something where a family causes me little or no more delay than a single person then that's ok too.
Emperors-Peace@reddit
Agreed. Cinema, supermarket etc. fine. Fast food place, bar etc. nope.
Random_Nobody1991@reddit
Yeah, unless it’s a parent/small child where one needs the loo for example, I’d say it’s fine to hold their space, but not the whole family. If they all need to go somewhere it’s probably going to take a while.
Vequihellin@reddit
Depends. If you're queueing at a supermarket checkout, and the person who 'subs in' has a massive trolley full of stuff, then it's pretty out of order, but if they have a small basket then it's fine.
If you're queuing to buy a limited quantity item, and 1 person becomes 2 or more, also out of order. But if, say, you're queuing to buy tickets into an attraction or something, then I don't really mind because the transaction to buy 1 ticket is the same as the transaction to buy more.
Antique_Committee268@reddit
Totally fine! As an example I had a aircast boot on last year and was struggling to stand in the long airport lines, I sat down and walked back over to my friends when it was moving. Same in a long airport queue it's totally normal for 2 people queuing together, if one pops to the loo then rejoins with their friend(s) thats fine.
Prestigious_Emu6039@reddit
For one other individual? Yes.
For two individuals? Eyebrow raise and stare.
Three or more? "Excuse me.."
JeffSergeant@reddit
It depends on the queue. If its a group activity, then one person queuing for the group is fine. If its a theme park and I'm queuing for 50 minutes, think the end is in sight, only to end up 5 places further back because you were 'saving a place' for all your mates, there will be serious tutting
andreibirsan92@reddit
SpudFire@reddit
That sounds fine to me. I'm no further back than I was before they swapped.
If they let one person in front rather than swapping then I wouldn't be too bothered either. When they let a big group of people in front then that is taking the piss, or say buying drinks for a load of people that just came along to save them queueing because that still adds a lot of time to how long I'm then waiting.
gander8622@reddit
All your scenarios are fine I think.
If it was a ticketed event and I was getting in regardless and assigned seating. Then someone being joined by mates is fine. I can't get too excited.
If it was something that was limited supply, I'd be annoyed and that's not on.
But then this gets complex if says it's a bar and someone is doing a round and someone joins with them. They were probably going to order several drinks anyway, but if they're getting orders from a large table as they're queuing and it's only one or two bar staff. I think I'd be annoyed.
I think these scenarios it's contextual.
SarkyMs@reddit
Would you have left the queue if 4 more people were in it?
irisiane@reddit
Depends on the kind of queue.
For example at a pharmacy the actual patient might be disabled or ill but want to talk personally to the pharmacist. Having some else queue there is very reasonable.
For a group it depends what the queue is for. One person lining for a group buying only tickets is sensible, but not generally for entry to a ride where headcounts can be limited.
A-Willow-Wand@reddit
I don’t know why but I would prefer it if one person came and joined the person in the queue rather than swapping out. Swapping out feels like when someone stands in a parking spot
Lonely-Job484@reddit
It's contextual. 1 for 1 swap is fine, or at least can't be punished with more than a quiet 'tut'. 1 person (re)joining a group is generally fine.
Multiple people, unless there's an obvious reason, would invite a query and suggestion they head to the back of the line unless there was a decent reason (e.g. person with injury or otherwise unable to stand easily, young kids struggling with a long queue/needing toilets etc) - though ideally this would be policed by whoever is managing the queue/event/location rather than by those in the queue.
dj2ball@reddit
IMO these are all fine reasons to be ok with it.
L-0-T-H-0-S@reddit
Perfectly acceptable. It's nothing I wouldn't do for someone or ask someone to do for me if genuinely pushed.
AirlineSevere7456@reddit
I have 0 issues with one person being in line for the rest of their family group. Usually obvious when they come and go or swap around.
RayaQueen@reddit
I think holding a place is pretty normal.
Trash_Panda_Leaves@reddit
Yes. I have seizures so I cant stand for long, I often have to let my Mum stand in line for me. At the Pharmacy recently 3 people went ahead of me and 2 were eyeing each other about the girl who pushed in front and I'm there leaning on a pillar looking irony in the face.
Anxious-Bottle7468@reddit
All of those are ok
AdonisCarbonado@reddit
I think this is a paid role in certain scenarios.
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