Hah, been there, done that, with my Russian wife at Vnukovo airport in Moscow, except we both did get on plane last, after I handed US $170 bribe money to group of stewardesses and 2 pilots huddled on tarmac. But high wind caught all US Dollars and Russian staff were on their hands and knees chasing dollars blowing all over tarmac. Sad I never got a picture of it. Two “sto-away” girls were inside bathroom on plane.
That must be in the 90s, because pilot salary is quite high and no one would risk it over your pennies.