You can be as respectful as you like but that doesn't lessen the distance between the Staff travel counter and the Departure gate. Everybody I have ever seen is respectful to the point of obsequiousness to the Staff. Culturally, they seem to be unhelpful in my experience (albeit, only 28 years). Well done to you VR for having such a nice time. Most, I suspect, would beg to differ - respectfully, of course.