How come a plane can wait for a politician but cannot wait for a common person ?

Question

when the time of departure arrives

Answer 1

I know for a fact that my wife has denied boarding for a US Senator who arrived too late for boarding.  The good Senator took it in stride because they knew they screwed up.

Answer 2

Because you don't have the ability to shut down their carrier but a politician can have all kinds of investigations started to address his complaint - not us though - stinks, doesn't it?

Answer 3

For the same reason that when those guys get old, they do not go on Medicare, like us commoners.  They have their own plan that is far superior to Medicare.

Answer 4

Have you been on a plane waiting for a politician? I haven't. I have, however, been forced to delay departure on my flights on several occasions because "normal people" were on their way.

It depends on the circumstances, and they are many and varied. If the person who is late is traveling internationally, if they are actually running through the airport or have not yet checked in, if their connecting flight is not on the ground yet and how badly making this flight late will affect the rest of the departures for the day. For instance, if a flight crew is beginning a five or six leg day and there will be no time to make up then one late departure can cause the other four or five flights they work that day to be late as well costing the airline hundreds of thousands of dollars. Not to mention potentially causing hundreds of other travelers to miss connecting flights all over the country.

In my experience, if they know you're on your way they will try to wait.

I'm still trying to picture an announcement where you're told the flight is being delayed for a politician...hmmm. :)