Originally Posted by ludocdoc

Nobody closes the doors at departure time. Its 10-15 mins before that you "must be in the boarding area." So this isnt an IDB. It's just a failure to provide leeway to an elite flier, whether that leeway is required or not.

FWIW, I was connecting UA to US in PHX a few weks ago, and my UA flight was 2 hours late. I was Plat at the time. The connection involves leaving terminal 2, catching a bus to T4, clearing security, and running about 4 miles (well, felt like it. Probably a real 0.5 miles or 0.75 miles total foot distance). I deplaned at 4:21 for a 4:49 flight. I got there at 4:40 feeling I had performed a miracle, and both the jetway door and aircraft door were closed. They had closed the door at 4:39 and didn't seem to have any idea I was likely to misconnect, had landed, whatever. I begged, they let me on. Then again, thats US not UA/CO.

edit: I see now the early colsing thing. Still, OP was probably technically too late to be an IDB, just reasonable to expect a courtesy when the airline knows (should know) you're on the ground. It's not like it's your origin and you might not even be at the airport.