Regrexit

I am half English and half Spanish. I grew up in England but after Brexit happened I decided to move to Spain to get my Spanish passport back as it is much easier to have an EU passport when travelling around Europe and inheriting my grandparent’s house.

I work at a tourist-heavy airport, and since my English is fluent I am usually assigned to the area where passengers disembarking from their planes need to be directed to the correct immigration lines. They are split into three lines: One for Spanish, One for the EU, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Japan, and one for all the rest.

Luckily I have only experienced the following once, but once was enough to remember! 

I see some holidaygoers with British passports enter the wrong line.

Me: “Excuse me, but you need to join the “other” queue.”

Passenger: “Oh, it’s okay, we’re British.”

Me: “Yes, and you need to join the “other” queue.”

Passenger: “No, we’re British. We need to be in this queue.”

Me: “This queue is for the EU, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Japan. British passport holders need to join the “other” queue.”

The passenger glances over at the “other” queue, which is noticeably more diverse, and looks visually disgusted.

Passenger: “No, we don’t belong with them! We’re British!”

Me: “This queue is for the EU, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan.”

Passenger: “We’re European!”

Me: “And this queue is for the EU. Non EU-member states join the “other” queue.”

Passenger: “You’re just doing this to punish us, aren’t you?!”

Me: “As far as I am aware, sir, this line has always been for the EU, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan. We have changed nothing.”

Passenger: “You’re just angry we took our borders back!”

Me: “Sir, again I have to ask you to join the other queue.”

Passenger: “You love pushing us into the longer line, don’t you!”

Me: “Again, sir, as far as I am aware, sir, this line has always been for the EU, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan. We have changed nothing. You can remain in this queue, but the immigration officer will only send you to where I am advising you to go now, thus saving you time.”

Passenger: “This is ridiculous! Pure discrimination!”

The passenger angrily marches to the correct line, sneering at everyone around them. I was told they also complained to the immigration officer when they entered the country and moaned that the officer’s accent was too thick.