Nous sommes avant vous dans la queue."?

I guess it depends on whether you think of the position in the line as a physical or temporal place.

We can say both in English too.  Agree, if the queue is a physical line, much loved apparently in some parts of the English speaking world, “in front” more likely used. However, if the “queue” is more dispersed, “before” is frequently used. 

Or I got here before you, which emphasises the time.