Originally Posted by LchChester

I know it is the same... but I have to have the booking reference in the first place - which I do not always have due to various reasons.

Plus I need to look for the booking reference instead of going to check in directly which is a little bit inconvenience ( i remember which flight i am taking but not the booking reference), but as other have mentioned it may be a security loophole, so perhaps it is a good change.