Damsel
I made the point again, because it is one of the more irritating issues I have when travelling by air. Surely, what I'm asking for is not unreasonable, that airline staff do not make me compensate for a few idiots. I make a previous point, and apologise if this is uncomfortable - ' you are not doing me a favour by allowing me to fly with your airline'.
I have heard your argument before from airline staff; my response - does it make the pax turn up any quicker, or stop you running around the airport, if you have all the other passengers waiting at the Gate before it opens.
I have been delayed on several occasions by passengers either turning up late or going missing and having luggage off-loaded. In common with I'd Rather, I'm less than impressed by those pax who think it amusing to arrive late with no good reason and smirk at the rest of us as they board.
I understand your frustrations, I share them and I am even less pleased that yourselves by delays. As I also stated this can cause my company lots of dosh. It also means that I lose valuable time, and I have to work during my 'supposedly leisure' time to catch up. I use the time in the lounge productively; I cannot use the time spent in a queue at the Gate; It is both wasted and irritating if it appears unnecessary.
One last point, have you thought that maybe some of those passengers thought that they had more time, because previously they had turned up and waited at a closed gate. Just a thought. I know that after the umpteenth time it happened to me, I'm very tempted now just to wait until the last call before making my way to the gate and boarding. This would have the added advantage that I don't have to wait in the aisle, while some dozo in front spends 5 mins filling the overhead locker with half his worldly goods.
One final point, in common with the others in this thread, the most important thing is communication. Not necessarily that you pass on information, but that you ensure we are not ignored or treated as if we are some kind of problem to be dealt with. Do not overwhelm us with useless information, but keep us informed effectively and most of us will co-operate.
[This message has been edited by VelvetStrokes (edited 21 May 2000).]