BoardFirst Shuts Down
Oct 10, 2007, 4:34 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Hinterlands, CA
Posts: 363
BoardFirst Shuts Down
Southwest's win kills boarding-pass Web site
BoardFirst.com, a popular Phoenix-based service that helped Southwest Airlines' passengers score the best boarding spots, has shut down.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepu...10.html?&wired
BoardFirst.com, a popular Phoenix-based service that helped Southwest Airlines' passengers score the best boarding spots, has shut down.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepu...10.html?&wired
Oct 10, 2007, 9:22 am
#2
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: WN CP
Posts: 6,360
Oct 10, 2007, 9:34 am
#3
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: 21,620
I'll bet the next step is CAPTCHA, followed shortly by offering A's for an extra charge.
Oct 10, 2007, 11:00 am
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Dog House
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, AA EXP, WN A-List, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 1,245
I never used BoardFirst, and I can understand that Southwest does not want other parties accessing their site for commercial purposes, but what about sites that access their site and don't charge for it?
I found another site out there that promises to check you in for your flight 24 hours in advance (same concept as BoardFirst) but does not charge for it. They give you an option to donate, but it's not required. Will Southwest try to shut them down?
I found another site out there that promises to check you in for your flight 24 hours in advance (same concept as BoardFirst) but does not charge for it. They give you an option to donate, but it's not required. Will Southwest try to shut them down?
Oct 10, 2007, 11:16 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: WN CP
Posts: 6,360
I think they would be successful in obtaining permanent injunctions against free and donation-based sites using most of the same breach of contract arguments they successfully employed against BoardFirst.
Oct 10, 2007, 1:04 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,717
Good riddance.
Better for everyone to be playing by the same rules. 24 hour rule works for me (much better than the idiotic midnight checkin option, or previously the first-to-the-airport option), but I have no problems with upcoming (?) pay-extra for a good seat plan. UA has been doing it for a while (E+) - an easy way to add $$ to the bottom line.
Better for everyone to be playing by the same rules. 24 hour rule works for me (much better than the idiotic midnight checkin option, or previously the first-to-the-airport option), but I have no problems with upcoming (?) pay-extra for a good seat plan. UA has been doing it for a while (E+) - an easy way to add $$ to the bottom line.
Oct 10, 2007, 1:51 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: WN CP
Posts: 6,360
I'm not sure if BoardFirst charged at submission or only after they secured your boarding pass. If the former, I would demand and expect an immediate refund. Failing that I would pursue a charge dispute.
Oct 10, 2007, 2:00 pm
#9
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: 21,620
It's interesting that Southwest sued the only company using manual check-in, and has left some of the automated services alone. That tells me that Southwest has other means (e.g., CAPTCHA) up its sleeve to shut them down.
I wonder if some randomization in the page layout for OLCI would accomplish the same thing without burdening customers with CAPTCHA.
I wonder if some randomization in the page layout for OLCI would accomplish the same thing without burdening customers with CAPTCHA.
Oct 10, 2007, 2:02 pm
#10
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: 21,620
I'll bet Kate will take care of everyone who already paid. Southwest wouldn't mind at this stage and perhaps has already made a secret deal with her to shut the service down and end the legal fight.
Oct 10, 2007, 2:03 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: WN CP
Posts: 6,360
I think they decided to concentrate on the most high-profile site and then use its success there to clobber lesser sites. I'm not sure CAPTCHA is in the cards.
Oct 10, 2007, 2:13 pm
#12
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: 21,620
Oct 10, 2007, 2:23 pm
#13
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: WN CP
Posts: 6,360
Why would there need to be a secret deal? BoardFirst pretty much had its ... handed to it in the above-noted order, hence the permanent injunction.
Oct 10, 2007, 2:34 pm
#14
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: WN CP
Posts: 6,360
CAPTCHAs were suggested early and often last year. I think they would have been implemented by now if WN thought they were necessary to complicate OLCI to defeat BP sites and software (it already exists and costs less than three uses of BoardFirst).
Oct 10, 2007, 2:38 pm
#15
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: WN CP
Posts: 6,360
It is interesting to note that WN was ready to use an FT post in their case:
The following is a list of the documents Plaintiff expects to offer:
10. Documents produced by Southwest:
m. SWA/BOARD 75-76 -- Flyertalk posting regarding BoardFirst