Wirelessly posted (Blackberry Tour: BlackBerry9630/5.0.0.732 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

I've seen this happen a few times on full flights. Being proactive about soliciting gate-checks end up saving a few minutes on the back end of the boarding process. They seem to do this especially when there's approaching weather, or they're otherwise pressed for time to snag a spot in line for takeoff.