Security Line Hastiness

Written by Joni Roberts

Traveler, storyteller, and public health advocate

The funniest of all are the people rushing through security.

Now of course the most logical response is that they are late for their flight or it is departing shortly, but because I watch people, that is rarely the case. I often find folks right outside security shopping in duty free. But the haste in which they moved through the line—you’d think they were a human ambulance.

Related to that is the lack of manners again. This haste is rarely followed with an acknowledgement. Rather, they forcibly push their way through to get to their desired destination.

So why the sprint?

• Genuine panic about missing a flight? Maybe, but evidence says otherwise.

• A belief that speed equals efficiency, even if it only gets you to the perfume counter faster?

• Or perhaps the assumption that if we don’t share a language, manners don’t apply?

I must say this observation occurs primarily in places where English is not the first language, and so I can’t help but wonder if perhaps the assumption is we don’t speak the same language so why try—just push your way through.

I’ve seen this in Africa, Europe, and Latin America—practically every continent—which makes it even more fascinating. Research project, anyone?

Whatever the cause, these airport sprinters remain one of the most amusing species to observe. Because while the rest of us are calmly removing our belts and laptops, they’re conducting a one-person relay race to nowhere.

Notes complete. Time to watch the next sprinter fly through security. Love people-watching too? Join the journey and get Field Notes in your inbox.