It also seems a sure thing, if implemented as described, for a challenge in the courts if anyone is denied boarding and their ticket money forfeited, through the Unfair Contract Terms Act.
It could, of course, be challenged, but I don't believe the courts would view it as an Unfair Contract. Ryanair and EasyJet both have some pretty harsh clauses in their conditions of carriage, but have been allowed to continue unhindered!
BA's Conditions of Carriage, to which you agree when you purchase your ticket:
6. Check-in and boarding
6a) Check-in deadlines
Check-in deadlines vary and your journey will be smoother if you allow plenty of time to check in. Please find out the check-in deadlines for your flights before you travel and keep to them. We may also tell you a time by which you must present yourself for check-in.
6b) The check-in deadline for your first flight
We or our authorised agents will tell you the check-in deadline for your first flight with us. Check-in deadlines for all our flights are set out in our website
www.ba.com and you can also ask us or our authorised agents for details at any time.
6c) You must check in by the check-in deadline
If you do not complete the check-in process by the check-in deadline, we may decide to cancel your reservation and not carry you. By completing the check-in process we mean that you have received your boarding pass for your flight.
6d) You must arrive at the boarding gate on time
You must be present at the boarding gate not later than the time we give you when you check in. We may decide not to carry you if you fail to arrive at the boarding gate on time.
6e) We are not liable if you fail to meet deadlines
We will not be liable to you for any loss or expense you suffer if you fail to meet check-in deadlines, fail to present yourself for check-in on time (if we tell you a time) or fail to be at the boarding gate on time.
Personally, I don't see what is so unfair or unreasonable in the Conditions of Carriage. What you are objecting to, as indeed I do, is the rigidity and absoluteness of any IT based solutions! The BAA "Jobsworth" will actually have absolutely no discretionary powers and neither will any of the front-line British Airways' staff.
But then, this is what is creeping in all over the place - it started with Speed Cameras, TV Licence monitoring, Road Tax monitoring and now Councils monitoring what rubbish we tip!
Computers are the curse of society - no wonder Islam calls them the devil's work (but the clever Imams tell their followers to put them to work for the good of mankind!)
H G Wells' 1984 is upon us 24 years late!