Tamara,
I am not trying to stick up for United, but keep the following in mind.
There is a policy that you have to be on board the aircraft by a certain time, usually 10-15 minutes prior to departure. It varies for different airlines, and different airports. The reason for this rule, is that once all of the passengers, and bags, have been loaded, the pilots have to have a count, of each, and perform weight, and balance calculations. If they continue to allow people to board, etc., beyond the cutoff time, the pilots will have to continue to re-do this, and it will lead to a delay. As it is, it can take them 10 minutes to perform all of these calculations, and fill out the required paperwork. This is why there is usually at least a 10 minute cutoff time, and again, in some instances, a greater than 10 minute cutoff time. For example, on large aircraft, carrying larger numbers of passengers, there may be a 15 minute cutoff.
I know it seems crazy that you were only 1.5 minutes late, but unfortunately, the line has to be drawn somewhere. If they extend the cutoff 1.5 minutes, than next time, someone will be 2.5 minutes late, and want it to be extended again, and so on.
I realize that the gate agent told you, you had time to eat, but never go by what the agent says. They don't know just how long it will take your food, etc., to be prepared, how long lines may be at the restaurant, etc.
The agents should have made final boarding calls, which you say they did not. For this, I would call the United custome care line, and explain your situation. They may offer you, and the people you were flying with, a voucher. Writing letters sometimes works, but it is often times better to call, because sometimes the letters do not get read, or they get so many, that they get lost in the process.
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