I experienced this comedy of errors in a big way. Things turned out ok.
In March, I was scheduled to fly on an Award ticket from Aus to LHR via DFW.

AA lost my seat assignment 2A on the LHR flight, but I eventually got 1A after too much drama that could have been avoided.

Anyway the flight from AUS arrived in DFW arrived on time. i had about 1hour 20 minutes. I got to the AC in terminal D. The gate area was already full of passengers. Boarding was supposed begin in about 35 minutes.

The AC offered me flagship dining. I said ok, but thought it would be rushed and I would be eating a mediocre meal on the plane. I went to the dining area and the meal was actually ok.

I realized that boarding was about to begin. I left the dining area and realized that there was no lane at the gate. I could see the gate/Tarmac area from the AC, but the waiting passengers downstairs could not.

The people in the AC were not aware of the plan. The boarding time and and went. The departure time came and went and the monitors still indicated on time. The plane was towed to the gate about 8:00 and then about 8:30-8:45 preparations for boarding stopped because the entire airport shut down for a thunderstorm.

The plane started boarding at 10:30 or so for what was supposed to be a 6:40 departure. I think the actual pushback was 11:30.

Anyway the monitors, The AC never had realistic times of departure. The thunderstorm was beyond AAs control. The planes maintence needs were not communicated.

Times posted kept coming and going. At about 10:20 the skies were starting to clear. AC had no info. I went for a walk in the main terminal, saw some FA head into the gate. A couple of minutes later, an announcement was made asking all passengers to report to the gate. I was basically in the area. As I walked up they started boarding.