Cutting (in Line) - Covert Cutting

Covert Cutting

In lieu of following the procedure mentioned above, some will "cut in line" by joining up with family members or friends already standing in line. This action is usually more acceptable, but can still be considered "cutting." Many times, this action is purely out of convenience, when one member of the group "saves a place" for the other members, especially when the wait is lengthy. However, this is not always the case. It is more acceptable when the two people are simply together to conduct one transaction, however if both people plan to conduct one transaction each, it is particularly disrespectful (especially in queues with slow cycle times due to high individual transaction times).

In busy areas where time is of the essence, such as in airports, one can sometimes observe "queue drift," where an impatient person treats the line as though it were a slow-moving race, using every movement of the line to cut in front of others in an effort to achieve the pole position. This is enabled by a funnel effect, where there are a large number of people trying to enter the same narrow entrance at the same time and where no formal queue is in place. This can often be seen at the bottom of ski lifts, especially where there are more entry gates (for checking lift passes) than seats on each lift. Queue drifters are usually less obvious than more overt line cutters; while they are annoying to those who notice them, they usually manage to avoid detection.