My base is IAH and that is a HUGE issue. Why does it take five minutes or more (and yes, I've timed it several times) for an agent to show up to run the jetway up to the plane? An agent should be on the jetway when the plane pulls up. No excuses.

The clock starts ticking as soon as the plane sets the brakes. Those extra minutes waiting for an agent could easily make the difference between a delay and an ontime departure. They won't wait two or three minutes for a connecting pax to get to the gate but they think nothing of preventing a whole plane load of pax from getting off the inbound flight.

I also fly to MEM many times a year. It is comical to roll up on the ramp and have to wait several minutes for the rampers to come out of the breakroom and slowly walk up to the gate area to marshall us in. They must all be in their watching Jerry Springer and waiting for a commercial to come on. That's what you get with contract help.