THE FLC OF AN A320 MOVED THE ACFT BACK 3 FT FOR ALIGNMENT WITH THE PAX DOOR AFTER THE ACFT HAD BEEN PARKED AT THE GATE FOR A FEW MINS AND THE PAX WERE UP OUT OF THEIR SEATS GATHERING THEIR CARRY-ON BAGGAGE.

Narrative

WE ARRIVED AT GATE XA AND SECURED THE ACFT. AFTER A FEW MINS; WE WERE NOTIFIED BY CUSTOMER SVC THAT WE NEEDED TO MOVE THE JET BACK ABOUT 3 FT TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE PAX HAD BEEN UP AND GATHERING THEIR BELONGINGS FOR ABOUT 5 MINS WHEN I MADE A PA AND ADVISED THEM OF THE SIT. I TOLD THEM I KNEW THEY WERE ALREADY UP BUT WE HAD TO MOVE THE JET TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE JET WAS MOVED BACK WITHOUT INCIDENT. AS I WAS SAYING BYE TO THE PAX; 1 PAX ASKED IF I WAS THE CAPT. I TOLD HIM I WAS; AND HE SAID WE NEEDED TO TALK. OUT IN THE JETWAY HE IDENTED HIMSELF AS AN FAA EMPLOYEE AND TOLD ME I HAD DONE 'THE MOST STUPID THING' BY PUSHING BACK THE JET WITH PEOPLE STANDING. HE ADVISED ME HE WILL SUBMIT A RPT TO FSDO THE FOLLOWING MONDAY AND THAT HE 'WAS SORRY TO RUIN MY EVENING.' I MADE NO OTHER STATEMENTS OR COMMENTS OTHER THAN EXCHANGING NAMES. SINCE WE WERE 1 1/2 HRS LATE; I WANTED TO GET THE PAX TO THE TERMINAL AS QUICKLY AND SAFELY AS POSSIBLE. AFTER THE 1 1/2 HR DELAY AND MORE DELAY TO OPEN THE DOOR; I DIDN'T WANT TO ADD TO FRUSTRATIONS BY HAVING THE PAX STORE THEIR BELONGINGS AND TAKING THEIR SEATS SO WE COULD PUSH THE JET 3-4 FT. I DID NOT BELIEVE THIS WAS UNSAFE. THERE WERE NO OTHER INCIDENTS ON THIS FLT.