Brent writes:

When you calculate how much those people are worth an hour (and 24/7
avaialbility is expected) the time to go to an airport check in fly the next
scheduled flight on their $300 ticket its more expensive to have them
standing in the line and sitting in the terminal than to have the jet ready.

They are "worth" whatever the market will bear. The company doesn't actually
lose money if they are idle or occupied for a few hours. There are other,
lower-level employees who would be missed a lot sooner.