I have an iron with an auto shut off feature. The iron shuts off if it has not been used for 8 minutes when its stood up on its heel, or 30 seconds if the soleplate is face down.
Is a Breville steam iron. Model IR73
The iron bleeps 6 times and a light on the top flashes when it switches off, and to restart it you have to start ironing again. The instructions still give a warning not to leave the iron unattended when the auto shut off function is in operation.
Seems a good idea for your girlfriend, but I find the 30 second turnoff annoying, it is too short a time and the iron is always bleeping and I have to keep moving the iron till it decides it will turn itself back on. I didnt know it did this when I bought it.. I needed one last year, and it was on offer as it was discontinued at Tesco.
Good though if you have the habit of forgetting to turn off the iron.