You're flying UAX into SFO.

There's a gate change.

There's an aircraft type change, requiring that seats be reassigned as the new seat map is different.

As above, but the GA doesn't believe that some seats must be redone as the new seat map will be different.

You see the FAs leave the gate area to buy coffee and food for themselves.

The airline website/app has posted a delay (or flightaware thinks there is a delay) but it's not posted at the airport and the GA denies it.

Your airline's flight status indicates that the inbound flight has diverted to a different airport and again, the GA claims otherwise.

The pilot is flying in from another airport and isn't on the ground yet.

Someone forgot to cater the plane.

tell me about it.....ugggh :(

The GA is counting pax to see how big of bus they'll need.

When there are multiple news crews filming in the check-in area.

When the check in agent says the armed offenders squad has just been called out. True story.

I've only flown Air Wisconsin once. We were delayed a considerable amount of time. We concluded it was due to badger stowage issues.

Classic one especially for short-ish haul. They'll often be able to get it out on time, but T-30 and no plane isn't a great sign.

- You see the crew sitting at the gate eating together.

-The GAs haven't started paging pax for upgrades/standby seats. If this doesn't start about 30 minutes before a domestic mainline flight, its a bad sign....

-On Air Canada, a concierge comes to the gate and starts paging a bunch of pax. You notice they all have Super Elite tags on their bags, and leave the podium and walk towards another gate...First ones re-accomodated before the dreaded delay announcement.

-You're waiting to board a full Embraer 175/190 and see every single pax with an oversized carry on...you'll be on the tarmac forever as half the bags get checked!

-When GAs rush through boarding, especially on express flights. Skip zones, and just call everyone, and immediately after make a final boarding call. At my home airport and frequent stops, this usually means there's a long wait to de-ice, and the sooner we get in line the better!

I once boarded a United flight, peeked into the cockpit and noticed that a section of the windshield was missing.

You wake up before your alarm, experience light traffic on the way to the airport, find a parking space right at the parking lot entrance, the shuttle is waiting for you when you get out of the car, there is no line at the counter, the security line is also non-existent, your bag goes through the xray without the belt even stopping, and you are at the closest gate to the checkpoint.

I came to this thread hoping to learn something new !
What is subtle about any of these pointers ?

It is May, June, July, or August, and the tv in the boarding area is showing the national weather radar. The first three drops of rain appear to have fallen on the tarmac at ATL.

If you live in an area where they stick the airport next to a large body of water- the alarm on your cell phone goes off, you check youe weather app, and it reports that the air temperature is 37F while the temperature in said large body of water is 61F.

As you are waiting for your flight to board, you see a deer run down the apron, followed by an airport cop in a golf cart. (I have a cousin whose first law enforcement job involved 'deer sweeps' at GRR)

It's time to begin boarding the flight and you see the gate agents quickly packing away all their things and leaving before an announcement is made over the PA system

Yep, that's it. Those two words can only mean one thing.