Yet another auto checkin website
Oct 5, 2017, 1:44 pm
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,254
Oct 5, 2017, 3:44 pm
#19
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 1,868
Not when you're traveling somewhere without cell service. I've gotten bitten by this a few times. I've also been an idiot and hit snooze on instinct when I'm woken up 24 hours before an early morning flight.
Fortunately I'm A-List and I've never had someone fight me over saving a standard middle seat for my companion.
If this is free, and it works for awhile, I'd argue that it's better than setting an alarm in certain situations.
Fortunately I'm A-List and I've never had someone fight me over saving a standard middle seat for my companion.
If this is free, and it works for awhile, I'd argue that it's better than setting an alarm in certain situations.
Oct 5, 2017, 4:00 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
Not if you're on a flight at T-24. In-flight wifi may not be fast / reliable enough, and may not even be available if you are still climbing or already descending at T-24 for your next flight (or if you're over water and the plane only has cell tower in-flight WiFi).
Oct 5, 2017, 4:08 pm
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4éme
Posts: 12,038
Southwest has in the past used threats of legal action against small operations based on their terms and conditions. T&C violations are generally alleged to be violations of the DCMA. That may not apply to a European company in Europe. The technical barriers are easily overcome. I doubt Lufthansa has access to only a few IP addresses.
I also wonder whether Lufthansa cares all that much, but we shall see.
It's an interesting legal question.
I also wonder whether Lufthansa cares all that much, but we shall see.
It's an interesting legal question.
From their website T&Cs
You also agree you will not use the Service for or in connection with offering any third party product or service not authorized or approved by Southwest. For example, online check-in service providers may not use Southwest web pages to check-in customers online or attempt to obtain for them a boarding pass in any certain boarding group.
https://www.southwest.com/html/about...OTER-BOTTOM-TC
Oct 5, 2017, 10:30 pm
#24
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,622
You could pick an empty flight, maybe some mid-Wednesday short hop, and buy a refundable fare. Cancel it after you look at the check-in result.
Except this would prove nothing about the chance the website will kill its Southwest functionality without notice the day before your real flight.
Except this would prove nothing about the chance the website will kill its Southwest functionality without notice the day before your real flight.
Oct 6, 2017, 4:55 am
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,189
Not when you're traveling somewhere without cell service. I've gotten bitten by this a few times. I've also been an idiot and hit snooze on instinct when I'm woken up 24 hours before an early morning flight.
Fortunately I'm A-List and I've never had someone fight me over saving a standard middle seat for my companion.
Fortunately I'm A-List and I've never had someone fight me over saving a standard middle seat for my companion.
I have about 40 friends off the top of my head I could ask to check me in if I am ever going to be in the desert at T-24.
Oct 6, 2017, 6:12 am
#26
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 921
For $2, you get auto check-in after everyone else
I bet Southwest could charge $10 or that T-23 Auto check-in and make quite a bit of money off of that alone!
Oct 6, 2017, 7:52 am
#27
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,813
Oct 6, 2017, 8:12 am
#28
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,698
Of course. What is written in law or statute, what is desired by the "aggrieved" party and what is upheld/decided/enforced by a court are often 3 different matters that can only play out by expensive litigation. It may boil down to has the most money over the long run. For $2 a transaction, its not going to last long...
Oct 6, 2017, 12:15 pm
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: RNO
Programs: AA/DL/UA
Posts: 10,774
The passenger has no legal right to any particular boarding position or range of positions, with the exception of BS, A list, and while not on the boarding pass, in reality, families boarding between A and B. An argument could be made that an EBCI who gets C-55 just for fun is due a refund. Those boarding position ranges are promised by Southwest as stated on their own website.
But for anyone else, they are not entitled to any particular boarding position(s). Southwest could legally assign boarding positions at random. Of course they're not going to do that, because there's no reason to do so.
But with auto check-in services, Southwest can punish the passenger who is trying to cheat the system by assigning C-55. The passenger has no recourse. As a plus, have the gate agent disallow the $40 upgrade option. You have no choice but to take the last middle seat there is.
Oct 6, 2017, 12:51 pm
#30
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,622
That's pretty brilliant. However the passenger can always delete the boarding pass and check in manually to improve the number. Think of this as training the passenger on the proper procedure. @:-)