[Butch Cassidy Slept Here]

even if they have to yell

In travelling to one airport near my home that's pretty-much how it's done. My "drill" goes something like this: You find the gate. Then you locate the gate agent(s) and try to remember what they look like. Watch for "switching-up" of staff. The object is to be within hearing distance of the gate agent when the boarding announcement is made. One has to keep in mind aircraft noise may significantly drown-out the announcement. So the closer you can get, the better (as long as you don't wind-up exchanging phone numbers!) Getting close may be difficult to accomplish during holiday periods. Unlike mainline flights the sight of people lining-up at the boarding door can't be relied on because you can't be sure, just based on sight, what flight is being boarded. Since the airport I speak of here is an Essential Air Service city, a crowd of much more than 8 to 10 people at the boarding door means it's NOT my city.