several suggestions!
 

The following are instances that happened on one travel day from Nicaragua to Washington, DC:

1. We were coming from Managua, Nicaragua flying into Houston to connect with a flight to DC. All the security stuff caused us to miss our flight. Either Continental could have had passengers with connecting flights within the hour go to the front of the line, or hold the plane for 5 minutes - that's all it would have taken - or advise in the beginning not to book connecting flights so close. This caused major inconvenience not only for the travelers but also for those picking up the travelers.

2. The next plane we got on was held up due to a baggage issue. If they can hold the plane for that why not for passengers who are just about there after going thru security??

3. On that flight one of the flight attendants was very rude. We asked about a soda cuz it appeared as though she was passing us by and her response was "I'm not going anywhere." with a very attitudinal tone. Highly unprofessional.

4. Once in DC - even though our plane was held up due to baggage issues - my luggage failed to make the flight. Hence another line to wait in and more delays.

It makes me question booking with Continental again......

#1--TSA does the security. continental or anyairline has nothing to do with that. TSA doesn't know what flights everybody is going out on. there is nothing that could have been done there. the security lines are not the airlines fault

#2-I have seen the airlines hold the planes but only on the last flight of the day. the gate agents dont know if your sitting at a bar or just now going through security.

#3-she had no right being rude. if she was as rude as you say she was, write to CO and complain

#4-hope you filed a baggage report. it sounds like because of the delay you had a tight connection and your bag failed to make it on the flight and didn't make it on the new flight after you missed your first one.

But it sounds to me that the only thing the airline is at fault here is for the bag being delayed and the rudness of the flight attendant. i dont think that missing your first flight due to the security lines was continentals fault

There is one other thing.. airlines should not permit very tight connections online or through an agent without the passenger being advised that they are unlikely to make it. It could come as a pop up box, which they have to click to confirm they have read it. That would reduce a lot of the problems created by the airlines own website suggesting routings which are almost impossible to make.