Something I am noticing constantly is that AA is asking for VDB on the app yet ultimately clears two pages of stand bys. This tells me the number of late shows/no shows for flights is soaring. Lots of people I'm assuming are calling AA realizing they're not going to make their flight. I'd tag this to the "stupification" of society and leave it there.
If AA didn't have a flat tire rule and forced paxs to buy new tickets (probably something the ULCCs do) instead of putting them on standby might cure some of this practice. I know people that fly AA and think nothing of waking up late figuring at worst they will be put on standby for a later flight.