need to be done. It takes time so that way they can be ready to push at scheduled departure time.

That’s why you can show up to the gate and the plane’s still there but they won’t let you board. I have been there and it’s frustrating but there is reasoning behind it.

As far when they’ll hold a flight and when they won’t, that’s a good question. I don’t know if there is a definitive answer.

Lots of things can affect that decision. How many passengers, weather, crew rest, is another plane waiting for the gate, etc.. Sometimes it might just be because of who’s the operations manager for that night.