Airlink will off load your bags and take your money!

My husband and I booked a flight with Airlink to depart at 15:05, 24 December to fly to Johannesburg from Cape town. We checked in online and dropped our bags at the airport by 14:05. With our bags checked in, we arrived at the boarding gate at exactly 14:52 which was 2 minutes after the required time as indicated on the boarding pass. We were denied access to the aircraft and I quote the words of the gate operator “you missed your flight. The captain made the call and you weren’t here. We will off load your bags now”. She then continued after we pleaded that she ask the Captain to please accommodate us the day before Christmas with “I don’t make the rules. The captain decided we should close the gate. We are off loading your bags. Wait here for your bags. You should go out the same way you came in”. She then explained how we can go to the ticket office to book another flight. At the time when the aircraft were supposed to take off they were still busy off loading our bags. There we were stranded, out of pocket and had to book a new flight in order to be able to be with family on Christmas Day. We decided to not book a flight with Airlink again and chose a different airline. The way the gate operator handled the situation was really unprofessional and just plain rude! Her tone of voice was attacking and she didn’t even show any sympathy on the day before Christmas knowing that people who travels will spend time with family. If we not by means to buy another ticket to fly we were going to miss precious time with family. We used to be very happy with the service from Airlink but after this flight we will not even recommend Airlink to any of our friends or family. Customer service from Airlink is pathetic and it seems like the company is only looking after the interest of their shareholders and their customers’ interest comes last!