[csdileo]

I was 7 minutes before the flight took off running to the gate and they gave me freakin seat away!!!!!! Funny thing they said they gave it away 3 minutes before! I have never had this happen on Continental!!!!!!! Or Delta!!!

[Gromit801]

Then you've had an unbelievable string of fantastic luck, because every airline I know of closes the flight at least 10-30 minutes prior to departure.

[azstar]

In an airlines contract of carriage, sometimes printed inside a ticket jacket, it usually states that passengers must be in the boarding area 10-20 minutes prior to flight departure or their reservations can be cancelled.