I'd open the door again. Massage what I need to massage, make it happen. I try to make sure to look into the windows in the terminal if possible to see if there is any pilot waving frantically-- I've got a few guys on with that check. Or I make the walk for one last visual sweep in the gate area.

I've also had some fantastic flight crews in the past get me on as well, a few times I have had to jump across a gap (a manageable gap-- no crazy health risk) between a pulled jet bridge and the airplane with a welcoming crew on board, that's a very awesome feeling.

The giant wrinkle in all this is usually gate agents, not pilots. I have had gate agents go all out to get me on and others that belligerently denied me any sort of access to the aircraft. That is frustrating.

No one else will watch our backs but ourselves. We are pilots first and foremost, regardless of employers. Good goes around.