Something interesting happened to me 2 weeks ago. I was in the Group 1 line waiting to board a mainline flight. I was the last one in the line at that time. Then 2 guys, father and son, walked up. The father said we need to pre-board and was aggressively trying to get past me (the flight was already 2 hours late due to late inbound).

I told him if he needed to pre-board, they did not need to line up. He then left the son and went back out of the line to talk to the agent, I guess to verify what I told him.

The college-aged son looked embarrassed. I looked at their BP and it was Groups 3 and 4. Both seemed healthy. I asked the son what the deal was. He said that he has a ???? in his bag that has to go into the overhead bin (i.e. won't fit under the seat). I think it was a musical instrument but did not get the name of what he said. I said I didn't think they would let them pre-board. The son said "I don't know what he does but it works every time".

I can see the guy having a conversation with the GA and then they pre-boarded. When I got to the gate, I asked the GA what the deal was. The GA basically shrugged her shoulder and gave me that "what can I do" look.

I guess a lot of the time GAs and FAs have to look the other way - it is just not worth the fight. However, it is crazy how some people can work the system...