May 2, 2021:
The Captain is piiiiiissssed...
He gives it to the gate agent good. "I told you not to board."
She says, "Zone told us to board."
He's ballistic. "I'm in charge. I override Zone. You do what I tell you."
She's embarrassed. The passengers in line are watching. "Alright," she says. "My bad. Do you want me to stop them?"
No, he practically spits, it's okay now, and it's too late anyway.
One final chapter before I round the jetway. The purser, livid, takes the phone, chews out the Zone people. "You don't go off on the gate crew when the Captain tells them not to board. The Captain overrides you. The Captain is in charge of the aircraft..." She's still fuming when I turn the corner.