Nubboy
I second your thoughts, having done my expat spell working in 'Knoteetingham' some years ago (not in the airline business, but I took quite a lot of flights and saw what happened - wasta rules.)
The FA's (and ground staff) on most middle eastern airlines can get into serious trouble for upsetting passengers, thus the reluctance to intervene.
I am sure that Choncord will be older and wiser, next time.
For those who talk about the difficulties of bussing, easyJet (in one airport) segregate those people who pay a priority boarding fee, by the simple expedient of a belt type divider on the bus, which then draws up to the aircraft and disgorges them first, through the front door, with the rest being discharged through the rear door, at the suitable time. It seems to work pretty well, from my observation and I often wonder why it is not used more widely, being simple and efficient.