[azstar]

Originally Posted by Matt_FLL

I am offended by this post as a road warrior.

The original poster makes me sick. People like you are what make flying such an unpleasant experience.

I hope you're not serious. Even if it was 2 minutes, 5 minutes, or 7 minutes after the cut off time the flight would not be delayed. Situations like this occur hundreds of times every day and no one is the least bit inconvenienced, except, perhaps, the gate agent.

The problem is that gate agents are under tremendous pressure not to be one minute late, although D.O.T. statistics don't count a flight late unless it arrives more than 15 minutes late at its destination.

So, underpaid, overworked, indifferent employees will simply "close" the flight regardless of the hardship caused by someone standing in front of them, even if the jetway door is still open and the plane door has not been closed.