[vicki a carrow]

To whom it may concern, Your airline caused me a lot of inconvenience. My flight was at 520pm, on Jan 1st 2013. I was at the airport in plenty of time. When I arrived at the gate after a long security line, to find out the plane left at least 5 minutes early, leaving not only me but 9 additional passengers on same flight stranded. I was very upset to find the women at the counter very rude. They really didn't seem to care. Your airline cost me quite a bit. To have to call a ride and them use their gas and tolls to come back and pick me up again and turn around and have to bring me back for my flight the next day. Not to mention you cost me a day's pay due to not being able to get home in time. I normally fly Southwest, but thought I would try your airline. I will be returning to southwest unless I am compensated for my loss. Flight #615 Confirmation #B64D3F. I would appreciate your consideration in this matter. Thank you Vicki A Carrow E-mail vickicarrow1923@verizon.net

[xjcaptain]

What was the scheduled departure time and when did you arrive at the gate?

[The_Judge]

She already said the scheduled departure time was 520p. I looked up the flight and it left at 513p. She has a valid complaint.

[azstar]

Doesn't almost every contract of carriage state that you have to be at the gate 10-20 mins before departure? Most state "loss of reservation" or "subject to cancellation" if you're not there in time.

[The_Judge]

When I worked for NWA, we were never allowed to close the door more than 3 minutes early on a narrow body, 5 minutes on a wide. She has a complaint. Write to the DOT and have facts and do it unemotionally and you will prevail.

[Gromit801]

We still don't know what time she got to the gate. Most airlines have a 30 minutes cut-off, and if you're not at the gate by then, you're a no show and your seats have been given to standby passengers. So if the OP wasn't at the gate prior to the cutoff, and they seated everyone who was there in time, then yes, any plane can leave early.

[The_Judge]

Wrong but nobody ever really listens to the people who actually dispatched airplanes.

[Gromit801]

But I do listen to the gate agents who control the boarding process.

[The_Judge]

Which is what I did. Actually the supervisor of those people. So when people like the OP had an issue, the ***** gate agent whines to a supervisor to handle it. Again, the OP has a valid point.

[Ombudsman]

According to AirTran's website the cutoff time to be at the gate is 10 minutes prior to departure time. If all other passengers were seated, overhead bins closed, etc. @ 5:10 it is quite conceivable the gate agent closed the flight out in the computer, delivered the final paperwork to the crew, and got the door closed within 3 minutes which is the posted departure time of 5:13. Unfortunately I don't think the OP has a case as she indicated the aircraft departed "at least 5 minute early" so we can only assume she was at the gate around 5:15. I've missed flights myself due to various reasons (traffic, long TSA lines, late hotel shuttles, once I mistook the "boarding time" printed on the boarding pass for the actual departure time) but the bottom line is if one does not make the cutoff time either outside at the counter or at the gate they are at the mercy of the airline and their rules/terms. The OP complained of additional gas/tolls and lost wages due to returning to BWI one day later but never stated the airline charged her to change her reservation to the following day so at least ATA made an exception to their own rules and waived the $75 change fee and any additional fare which, rebooking last-minute, could have been expensive.