I swap numbers so you can either call or use the airport wifi to whatsapp the J1/2/3/4 pax and give the ground staff a good slap in the "loss of face".
The other bull
is the "sorry no time to get them from checkin to the gate as the flight will be delayed", why can't they just be issued with a boarding pass and wait at the gate?
CX just to let you know this is what other airlines do!
I actually know the answer it because the checkin staff will lose some of their power/control just like the way the rest of the company is run!