Originally Posted by
Eastbay1K
The 15 minutes early doesn't say before departure time, or before boarding time, or before check-in time. So, for me, it is too soon to make judgment. Out of curiosity, does your BP give a boarding time 30 or 40 minutes prior to departure time? Sometimes, flights are already boarded 30 minutes prior to departure even though that is the BP "start" time. (They should change the time on the BPs.)
Sounds to me like they got there 15 minutes before departure (so 5 min before door closure). There's no other plausible way AS would know to give their seats away considering they had already checked in. AS clearly states that you are giving up the right to your seat if not at the gate 40 min before departure at LAS. Shame on AS for even giving them any compensation at all.