airlines are more finance companies than aviation. all the money comes from credit card partnerships and leveraging the reward programs into funds to do greasy market shit. the planes and people crewing them just provide liquid capital to fund that

ultra low cost lines like spirit were dependent on low cost fuel forever to not get eaten by creditors

i've done this with standbys. ask for a seat on the app or hotline, march up to the gate, and watch a nigga fall off the list
sorry niggy i'm going home 3 hours early have a seat