A few years ago I was cutting it close for a flight from New York to Maine. Everyone else had boarded when I got to the gate. When my wrinkled, self-printed boa

A few years ago I was cutting it close for a flight from New York to Maine. Everyone else had boarded when I got to the gate. When my wrinkled, self-printed boarding pass threw error noises, the agent told me just to go, "and run!" I breathed a sigh of relief when I was on the plane, but puzzled that a French tourist was in my seat. When we saw that both our tickets had the same seat we called over a flight attendant. "Wait, where are you flying?" she asked. "Portland, Maine?" With this comment I now fully understand the terror came to her face as she exclaimed, "This plane is going to Paris! Sir, you have to get off this plane immediately! Run, sir, run!" They shut the door behind me as I left. So yes, always double check your gate assignments at the airport, as they may have changed.