First time poster! Although long time reader...Sitting at a gate in MAD waiting for BA to LHR at 19:45, and there's an 18:20 with seats available but they are refusing to let me on.

One of the great benefits of booking BA used to be that if you had a late flight and arrived early at the airport they would let you on an earlier plane if there was room. After having tried the ticket desk, the customer service desk and the actual gate of the 18:20, this appears to no longer be the case?