what about this one? what if the flight is running a half hour late? would they let you stand by then? just kidding, but it is an interesting scenario.

a riddle wrapped inside of a quagmire neatly placed in a puzzle, as i call it.

we can surmise "til the cows come home" on lovely www.flyertalk.com but, at the end of the day, it will just depend on what side of the pillow the agent that you get woke up on.