Few Cloudy, I totally agree with what you said about delays but the gate does close 15 mins before we are due to push back. Most of our flights are 30-40 mins turn rounds and small a/c. In BA's ticket info at Gatwick check-in for a flight closes 30 mins before. Pax are requested to be at the gate 40 mins before so that all pax can be on board no later than 10 mins before departure. It seems pax get lost between check-in and the gate judging by the number of times we have to offload bags.