Originally Posted by jrl767

huh? a cart would block a determined person from getting to the cockpit door for maybe six seconds ... besides, how would you secure a cart in front of the door for taxi, takeoff, and landing?

Originally Posted by Tracer_SEA

But it's not the gate agents' job to track pilots or replace pilots if they are AWOL... Just like it's not their job to track the weather and make judgments about whether to board a flight based on weather conditions

They have a hundred other things to do that can keep them busy/distracted.

As you note, this was a rare occurrence. Usually the pilots are there on time. Did one of them have a family emergency? Or were they on time but the shuttle driver at their crew hotel called in sick?

My sense here is that the answer is super mundane, not in Alaska's direct control, and not indicative of a trend...