Holding pens
Cabin Crew and Pilots love holding pens - the simple reason is we can know if everyone is at the gate. If they are, we can leave on time!
When the agent tells me the final pax figure, if its a gated pen i always ask is everyone in the pen. If they are not, i want to know if those peoples bags are being located. majority of the time the ground agent has already got the boys downstairs looking for them.
If you turn up late to the gate and make the flight, the bags go on. But if your stuck in world duty free looking at junk - we're gone, up up and away!!!!
Always handy if there has been a delay to the arrival of the aircraft on stand. It allows us to get away quicker.
I no there are other reasons, but thats why we love them!!
As to whats happening to T3 - No idea, sorry!!