Leave tickets
Hey Mephistopheles!
You might be technically correct in everything you say but whatever it is, it's not acceptable.
The other day two friends were in fact nearly bumped on leave tickets. They were simply being refused check-in until the last moment, a la "ID90-style". Ground staff claimed it had to do with the booking class, not boarding priority.
Personally I tried to book leave tickets yesterday. I can transit via multiple GF-destinations and the concerned flights are far from full. Yet the system is refusing the booking being made as; "there are no available seats on the selected dates". I've checked a 4-day period including "split-leave"-tickets with the same result.
Essentially Panama Jack is correct in saying we've lost our leave tickets. At least, they are to be considered a bonus if you manage to get one...
I sincerely hope this is brought up at the pilot meeting on the 4th.