Originally Posted by FLAK

If you can get in touch with the flight crew you stand a pretty good chance of getting on, unless the airplane is overweight to the point of pulling bags. It seems like gate agents often go out of their way to let you know the plane is full, and you're not getting on. I'm pretty sure they get points for bumping the most pilots - added points for bumping the competition crews. If it's YOUR company's flight and/or YOUR company's ground handling you should be ok. I've been compelled many times to reach over the counter and manhandle an agent or two (SYX GRR, r.i.p.) but ALWAYS keep your cool. Know your boarding priority code and be prepared to regulate. NWA may not have the greatest agents, but you have to get a signature from the CA so it takes the bitter anti-pilot agents out of the loop