Wrong Side of the Line

My husband and I have traveled through Frankfurt, Germany, on our way to other European destinations many times. We can navigate border control pretty well, and we know the line can take an hour or so on occasion. We plan our connecting flights with ample time for the wait. The Frankfurt Airport recently implemented a new system (the EES [Entry/Exit System]) which requires all non-European (non-EU) travelers to stop at a kiosk, scan their passport, get a facial scan, and get digital fingerprints taken. THEN, get into the line to repeat the process with a border patrol agent before getting your passport stamped and being allowed entry. I guess eventually this redundancy won’t be needed. On this particular trip, the wait was at least two and a half hours long (if not more), and after the stanchion queue, the line ran down the side of the terminal for at least two gates. To add insult to injury, border patrol only had two agents working for at least the first hour and a half.

Mid wait, a family of five with a mother-in-law in tow, started pushing their way up the line, asking if they could move ahead because they were going to miss their connecting flight which left in ten minutes. Ok, first of all, that was bad planning on your part. Second, is that true? I ask because after about 50 people were kind or dumb enough to allow them that opportunity, one gentleman said no because his flight was also leaving in ten minutes and we all had to wait. He was anticipating missing his flight, insisting the airport help coordinate rescheduling his flight, and recommended this family do the same. After being graciously allowed to jump the line by 50+ complete strangers with no obligation to do so, she asked him to show her his boarding pass! She couldn’t believe there was someone else with such a tight connection who wasn’t also pushing up the line.

Her next suggestion? “Come with us. Together we can try to make our flights.” Meanwhile, the entire line was privy to this conversation. How lucky do you think they were to move up from this spot in line? They weren’t. At that point, I couldn’t believe what happened next. The mother-in-law who was sheepishly trailing behind, then darted under the stanchions and into the European passport line, teasing the family as she went, and scaring the border patrol agents. Apparently, she had a European passport the whole time, but was just going to travel with her family. When it looked like they might not make the flight, she bailed! What was odd, was after this display of family dynamics, we could see her waiting for them on the other side of the glass. If you’re worried about not making this ultra-tight connection, what are you waiting for?

After the family could no longer call on the good graces of others, they started to work the line, glad-handing everyone in front of them, wooing them to allow them to get ahead in the line. It worked for a few minutes. 

Because the line was moving so slowly, we all got to stand and watch the entire spectacle unfold. Once the family finally met with the agent, as they got fingerprinted and scanned again (which took an eternity), the wife kept turning around to the crowd, mouthing “Thank You”, clasping her hands together, and putting on the most pathetic face as if we all just gave alms to the poor, clothing and feeding her entitled family for a week. At that point, I think the crowd was plotting an ambush. Just go already. I thought your flight was leaving…Whether they made said flight or not, I don’t think anyone cared. Thankfully, they weren’t on our flight.

My Traveler’s Tidbit in all of this is: when traveling internationally, make sure you leave ample time for border control and customs procedures which vary from country to country. Visit the websites of all of the countries you will be passing through on your travel days to check if there is any construction, new procedures implemented, or closures which might slow you down, contributing to your need for additional connection time. It will save you from missing your flight or being this person, making enemies in multiple countries as you travel.

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