[ChrisH]

Flights are closed 10 minutes prior to departure time, because if they continued allowing the passengers to board, until the departure time, the flights would never leave on time. The pilots have to have a final passenger, and bag count, and do a weight and balance, to make sure the aircraft is within weight and balance limitations. This can take 5-10 minutes, and they have to re-do it, everytime you add another passenger, or bag, so there has to be a cut off to allow this, and to also allow the flight to be out, on time. It is clearly stated at airports that you should be within the gate area no later than 30 minutes prior to departure, and, you should be onboard the aircraft no later than 10 minutes prior to departure. At some airports, it may even be 15 minutes prior to departure. If you are not on the aircraft by that time, your seats are given away to standby passengers.

The airlines are not required to call you out by name. Passengers are responsible for being there, for their flight. Boarding calls are made, but names do not have to be called, specifically. I find it hypocritical that passengers complain about flight delays, when the plane leaves late, but passengers think they can be late for their flights, and expect the airline to wait for them. Not going to happen. Printed on tickets, is the departure time of the flight, and, the boarding time. If someone cannot get to their flight, on time, that is on them, not the airline, or the gate agent. I personally wait until 10 minuts prior to departure, and if someone doesn't show up, too bad, I give there seat away. I'm not trying to be mean, but if I wait for them, and the flight goes out late, then I get into trouble, about why the flight was late.