In my years at DPO and WNY (now BWT) airports, we held for no-one, except medivacs amd family emergencies.
Over the years I left every alleged major businessman in the area behind and when they jumped up and down I simply asked them why 71 people should be delayed in their departure for one who couldn't make it on time.
Know what? It worked.
The worst problems were when 300lb West Coast miners rocked up late.
7 minutes prior to departure was the cutoff, and anyone after then would often be distressed to hear that stand-bys were in their seats. That allowed us to finalise the (manual) load and trim and get the girl away on schedule.
It is a little more difficult these days with slf off- bags off rules, but the morons who check in late only need to be hit with an upgrade penalty and a significant delay to make them realise they are no more important than any other passenger.
The main problem is the marketing w@nkers who continue to stroke these idiots and make them feel that they are better than mum and dad spending their hard earned on a long awaited holiday.
Such is the industry today's poor crews and trafficys have inherited.
Best all.
EWL