I arrived at Houston Hobby airport two hours early for my return flight home to RDU via Nashvile on 27May2009, hoping maybe to make the earlier flight in case it was delayed. No such luck, as it was showing on the boards as departed, at check-in.

Once in terminal, I continued to check the boards and was surprised to see the earlier flight which had "departed," was now with status of "boarding." I walked up to nearest open gate agent and asked what was the story and apparently it was an equipment change. He sold me a ticket for flight 3829 literally AFTER they had closed the doors and officially "departed."

I have always routinely checked terminal departure boards and subscribed to WN messaging for gate changes and flight status of my ticketed flight, but now I also check the earlier flights too because you never know.

I've walked up to the gate for earlier flight with open seats before doors were closed on other airlines, with a full fare ticket and been denied boarding because the gate agent couldn't be bothered with the paperwork. As usual, Southwest is Numero Uno on flexibility. ^