PLT RPT; B727; ABQ-DEN-LAX. CAPT REFUSED TO LET GATE AGENTS BOARD PAX WITH LESS THAN FAA MINIMUM CABIN CREW ON BOARD (FAR PART 121 PT 393).

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ACFT HAD ARRIVED FROM ABQ AS FLT ZZ; WITH 5 THROUGH PAX. COCKPIT AND CABIN CREW ORIGINATED IN DEN. 120 ORIGINATING PAX WERE SCHEDULED TO BOARD. SINCE THERE WAS THE MINIMUM FAR 121.391 FLT ATTENDANT COMPLEMENT ON BOARD (3) I TOLD THEM TO STAY ON BOARD FOR PAX ENPLANING. FLT ATTENDANT #1 TOLD THE GATE AGENT THAT EITHER CUSTOMER SVC WOULD TAKE TICKETS AT THE JETWAY; OR THE FLT ATTENDANTS WOULD TAKE TICKETS ON BOARD. THE AGENT WANTED A FLT ATTENDANT TO TAKE TICKETS IN THE TERMINAL; BUT I TOLD CUSTOMER SVC THAT I WANTED ALL 3 OF MY MINIMUM FAR 121.391 COMPLEMENT OF FLT ATTENDANTS ON BOARD THE ACFT FOR SAFETY REASONS. AT ABOUT XA05; A CUSTOMER SVC SUPVR MR X CAME DOWN THE JETWAY TO QUESTION MY ACTIONS. I TRIED TO EXPLAIN MY REASONING TO HIM; AS I VIEWED THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE. MR X KEPT INSISTING THAT IT WAS A CUSTOMER SVC/BOARDING ISSUE. HE SAID 'THE FAA SAYS THAT IS ALL WE NEED AND WE ARE UNDERSTAFFED.' I REITERATED THAT I CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE. MR X SAID; 'YOU'VE DONE THIS BEFORE; DISREGARDING CORPORATE POLICY.' I STATED THAT AS CAPT; I CONSIDERED IT A SAFETY ISSUE AND MY FLT ATTENDANTS WERE STAYING ON BOARD. HE ARGUED FOR 5-10 MINS; STATING THAT IT WOULD DELAY THE FLT. (THE FLT WAS 3 MINS LATE DEPARTING; AND IF HE HADN'T SPENT ALL THAT TIME ARGUING AND HELPED TAKE TICKETS; THERE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A DELAY.) THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP TO AIRLINE X OVER THE PAST 2 YRS WITH NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OR RESPONSE. IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS TO ME THAT AIRLINE X IS MORE CONCERNED WITH ON-TIME PERFORMANCE THAN SAFETY. RATHER THAN ADDRESS THE PROB; THEY TRY TO INTIMIDATE AND THREATEN COCKPIT/CABIN CREWS.