It was based on an educated opinion and years of attending movie screenings. So in a sense, I do have some formal rules and stuff in front of me that no one else has, and just because there is no rule stated doesn't mean they won't boot you out once you're at the theater. This is their show (the people running the screeing) and they can do whatever they want.
I hate to be the one who breaks this to you, but they (the movie company booking the theatre) ALWAYS overbook the facilities. Why, you ask? To make sure the theatre is filled becuase they are paying for it. As I said before, I've been to many screenings and they ALWAYS hand out more tickets then there are seats and some people AWAYS get turned away for one reason or another. There is also a small area for the press and YOU can't sit there unless you're in the press. If you doubt this then call you theater and ask them, I already did.
You're right, life is rarely fair. But... let me tell you somthing... IF this screening is like the ALL the screenings I've been to in the past, not everyone will get in, not everyone will be guaranteed a seat and they will be denying entry to some people. You won't be notified that you broke the rules and you won't know until you get there.
Yes, that be unfair for them to drive all the way to the theatre to be denied entry, but you know what? Including myself, I know hundreds of people that has happend to. The screening is paid for my Warners Bros. and they are hoping you will see it and tell everyone who couldn't go to see the film on Friday. It's a promo, they don't really care who gets in as long as the theatre is filled.
Now, THIS screening COULD be different. I has been so far, but who knows... Maybe we will all get in and maybe we're all guaranteed seats, BUT I called my theatre and there are 280 seats at thier IMAX. So let's see... 114 tickets handed out on the net... each ticket is worth 2... so that's 228... 280 minus 228 is 52. So... why would Warners Bros. pay to book a theatre and not fill it? I don't know, do you?
No, I wouldn't think they have gotten their just desserts. I've only been trying to give a few warnings so that people are not surprised.