I am all for not boarding the aircraft until the entire crew is there. Just think about a nearly full -200 sitting there for over a half hour, only to have the last remaining crew member available call in fatigued...
Exactly like a sitation the other day I had in MEM except the CSA was willing to sacrifice customer service to avoid getting in trouble for a delay.
Here's the story: Short turn between out and backs and had to go from B19 to A21. Wasn't hungry, made a quick pit-stop, and made the LONG walk to A21, and check in with the CSA right about 30 prior. Conversation went something like this:
CSA: Hi there! Here's your paperwork. F/A's already down at the plane-She'll be ready to board 2 min after you get down there.
Me: Great...Is the CA down there as well?
CSA: No...he hasn't checked in yet.
Me: Oh...Well, if he hasn't checked in yet, lets hold up on boarding until he does check in.
CSA: (worried look on his face) Uhh....we can't do that....
Me: Uhhh...Yes, we can. We don't know how long the CA is going to be. It could be 2 min from now or 2 hours from now, and I'd rather have passengers sitting up here waiting on him rather than being cramped on the plane. Lets give if it a minute or two and if he's still not here I'll call crew scheduling.
CSA: Uhhhh...ok....Are you willing to take the delay?
Me: Absolutely
CSA: (suprised look on his face) Oh okay....
Turns out that the CA walks up within the next minute or two, and the flight goes out on time. But it still makes me p*#&ed that our CUSTOMER SERVICE agents refused to use some common sense....