once on a flight MAN-DXB-SIN i was late...arrived 20 mins before plane was due to depart,because to problems with my train journey from hull, check in had already closed, but i had already checked in online so they said it was alright, they whisked my bags away and slapped a fast track sticker on my boarding pass and i made the flight. i was travelling in economy.

and twice before i've completely missed the flight, but they just put me on the next one, no charges or anything. I dont know if they have become more strict since.

oh, and in october, i had an emergency and had to get on the next available flight to KUL, i showed up at gatwick 30 mins before departure time and they sold me a ticket on the spot for that flight, even though check-in had technically closed. I was panicking but the agent was taking his own sweet time to print out the ticket and taking my card payment :|

again, they let me use fast track so i'd be on board in time