TravelBuzz! - Picking up unaccompanied minors

Which organization is it that sets the rules for picking up unaccompanied minors ? My sons are returning to SEA and I want to go to the gate with my wife so we can both pick them up. Will we both be able to get gate passes or is there some policy that restricts it to only one person ? Is this the airport, airline or TSA policy ?

Ever since post 9/11, I don't think un-ticketed passengers are allowed to proceed to the front of the gate. This is AFAIK and don't know if there are exceptions.

Escorting UMs is indeed one exception. Don't know if you would get one or two passes though.

If you really want to be safe, buy two refundable tickets just to get through security.

If you really want to be safe, buy two refundable tickets just to get through security.
I don't think it would be refundable once you past through security. One would need a boarding pass to go through security meaning that one must have already checked-in.

yeah UM's parents/relatives who are picking them up can get in past security. I'm not sure how it works. You may want to visit the respective airline's subforum here (select "airline programs and then they'll appear) and then ask there.

I don't think it would be refundable once you past through security. One would need a boarding pass to go through security meaning that one must have already checked-in.

It''s refundable if you're not on the aircraft when it leaves the gate. Folks on FT post about doing this all the time. I've always assumed they were telling the truth.

However, it's not necessary in this case. The airline ticket agents can issue passes to the gates. I have seen >1 parent meeting an unaccompanied minor.

Doesn't the airline escort the UM out to a point where no ticket is required by the parent who will pick up the UM? Namely to the boundary of the unsecured areas of the main terminal just outside the checkpoints?

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It''s refundable if you're not on the aircraft when it leaves the gate. Folks on FT post about doing this all the time. I've always assumed they were telling the truth.

However, it's not necessary in this case. The airline ticket agents can issue passes to the gates. I have seen >1 parent meeting an unaccompanied minor.

There's no need to do this, a gate pass is available. However, the refundable ticket option is feasible. Once you exit security after using your boarding pass, go back to the ticket counter, reverse your check-in, and ask for a refund. Simple.

My sister was able to meet my kids at the gate on the outbound and I was able to meet them at the gate on the return. CO prefers the authorized person to pick up the UM at the gate. My kids were traveling as unaccompanied minors which cost extra money. CO like many airlines requires a small fee for any minors to travel alone. My sister was listed an authorized person to pick my kids.

For CO, I went to the check-in counter and told them that my kids were traveling as UM. They check my ID and issued the gate pass for me to get through the security. Call your airline and ask them for the procedure.

Last time we did UM with USAir, their policy was to allow only one person to get a gate pass to take the minor past security. More recently, with Delta, our 15 yo daughter was not flying with UM service, but was flying alone. They gave my wife a gate pass with no problems. Didn't ask if they would let both parents have one (I was flying the same day, so I had a BP and didn't need a gate pass).

In both cases, the gate pass included secondary screening.

Getting a gate pass for a UM pick-up or drop-off hasn't been problematic for me at SMF or SFO. For international arriving UMs, I do have to wait outside customs however the UM is escorted by airline personnel through immigration & customs.

Once I made the mistake of only listing my brother-in-law as the authorized person for UM pick-up when I sent my niece back to Mexico City. At MEX, my sister-in-law went to the airport since my brother-in-law was busy at work; Mexicana Airlines would not release my niece to her mom since she was not listed as authorized for pick up. My brother-in-law had to scramble down to the airport to pick up their daughter. From that episode I learned to always list both parents on the authorized pick-up list along with a backup relative just in case.

There's another potential work-around if the policy at your airport/airline is to grant only one gate pass. If you have a lounge membership with any airline that has an airside lounge in the appropriate terminal, you can arrange a "meeting" at the lounge that day, and get a gate pass to attend the meeting.

I still get the gate pass right to the gate for sending off and picking up
the UM.

It all depends on the airline/gate agent, Jetblue staff will accompany
the UM to the baggage area.

Some answers

1. Refundable tickets work. I once did that to meet my SO when he only had 30 minutes here in PHX - no time for him to go thru security.

2. I dont understand the need to meet 15 yr olds "at the gate". In most states at 15 you already have a learners permit to drive - it you are going to trust them behind the wheel of a car - I think they can manage to walk out thru security by themselves. When my youngest was 15 she was already spouting Rule 240 at HP agents ;)

2. I dont understand the need to meet 15 yr olds "at the gate". In most states at 15 you already have a learners permit to drive - it you are going to trust them behind the wheel of a car - I think they can manage to walk out thru security by themselves. When my youngest was 15 she was already spouting Rule 240 at HP agents ;)

The answer is very clear... irregular operations... often, one will have a 15 yr. old travel as a UM, because of the POTENTIAL for an irregop.

For example, my kids fly non-stop CVG-PBI, but if there was a problem enroute, and Delta had to DIVERT the flight to Atlanta --- if my kids were NOT listed as UM; they would be on their OWN IN ATLANTA. If there was NOT another flight that day, they would need to figure out the overnight in a hotel, or stay in the airport alone.

I don't know about you --- but, would you like your 15 year old to be ON THEIR OWN in an airport overnight.... NOT ME; but, that is just my opinion.

If a child [any age] is listed as a UM; the airline is responsible for that child; NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS to the flight !

and yes, if they are listed as a UM; you need to bring them to the gate for the handoff to airline personnel.