I have always had a fear of missing my flights so I always get there early and go find the gate I am suppose to be at and make sure that flight is still scheduled for that gate.

As for arriving after they close that door... I had a friend that happened to and learned then that once that door is closed... that is IT! So make sure you are there!!!

The only time I was sure I had missed my flight was at the Denver airport I think, and I had to change airlines. Everyone I asked sent me off in a different direction when they had no idea where it was.. I wandered around that airport lost as could be with no clue where I was suppose to go. I finally found a security guard that told me I had to go down to another level and where to go and again, I followed his directions and like to have never found it and just when I did, it was take off time so I was sure I had missed it.. They were late for some reason and I had to run like crazy, but I made it!

It just sounds like your brother likes to live on the edge to me.