Originally Posted by
DeltaDX
Now it's even before!
Does that authority vest when he wakes up in his hotel room? 
And I agree with you: if the company says a person is authorized to ride on their airplane, the captain will be held responsible if he disallows it.
It could. Especially if there are issues regarding show times as it pertains to rest issues or maintenance. He or she isn't exerting Pilot in Command over anything, but Certainly Captain Authority, by amending the aircraft report time.
To your second statement, of course he or she may have to answer for his decision. Hell, the phone rings if we push 1 minute past departure time. But whether it be a Chief Pilot, Director of Operations, Fleet Manager, VP of Flight or Santa Clause...once the words "PIC/Captain Authority" or "safety of flight" are spoken, the conversation is over. Every single time.
It is concerning to me that as a dispatcher you don't understand this. You would make a great crew scheduler though!