Hiding the number of fasteners missing from the wings might actually be a paid "frill" upgrade on some airlines.
You are missing one other key element in the economics: aircraft schedules are down YoY due to hiring and training shortages (check the first few pages of Frontier’s 10K for more details). So you have more leisure, work from destination (a new category of travelers), and business travelers rebounding, all against fewer flights. I have had good luck with last minute tickets by paying with miles.
