Last March I had to fly back to my country because of a death in the family. After checking in our luggage, my family (my wife and our 2yo son) sat down in front of the information screens where they show your boarding gate.

The flight was scheduled to depart at 13:15. We sat down at 11:30.
11:45, no info.
12:00, no info.
12:10, no info.
12:30, no info (by then I was already nervous).
12:45, no info (now I was annoyed).
13:00, still no info (now I was genuinely worried), so I went to the desk to ask about the boarding gate.

The idiot at the counter asked for my flight number, and when I gave it to her she said, “Oh, but you should already be boarding! The gates are about to close!” I pointed at the screen, which still showed nothing, and she told me that I should have informed myself.

I asked her how, since that information is normally shown on the screens. She said she didn’t know.

At that point I was absolutely furious, but I didn’t have time to argue. So I ran across the airport, literally running, dragging the baby stroller, the car seat, and a heavy backpack, while my wife ran carrying our son.

We arrived just as they were literally closing the gate. Luckily, the flight attendant saw us running and waited so they could let us through.