Dear Obscure2K,

Yes, yes, yes! I agree! This really irritates me.

You never know where you stand as some airports are really cracking on security and demand you be there at the stated time or you don't fly (Glasgow, Scotland).

In Johannesburg I had a Swiss Air manager ask me why I was standing in front of a closed ticket counter--at the 'required time'. 'Well,' he said, 'we don't open until xxx'. I had at least 30 more minutes to wait.

I still follow the rules although I often feel like I'm one of the few who does.

Yes, I agree that many people are far from ready when it comes their turn to check in. But I am often entertained by the people who have much too much baggage and find out what the overcharges are.