BilligCharlie

Hi,

I would like to accompany my gf past security and wait with her at the airport for her flight. I figure it would be a nice morning of getting coffee/breakfast in the RCC. I have never asked for a gate pass before so I called the 1K desk* and asked about it. They said it was for accompanying a child, if there was an exception to be made, that would have to be done at the airport.

Is this the real policy? Can you only get a gate pass if you are accompanying children?

I know the general workaround is to buy a refundable fare ticket, but I do not want to buy a refundable fare ticket to refund because I do not want to deal with the hassle of returning it. I understand that it should be easy to return and I should get my money back, but I do not trust in the system and do not want to have to float a loan on credit card while United takes it's sweet time to do the refund. I also do not want to waste time tracking the refund and/or make multiple calls to get it refunded should that ever happen.

Does anyone have experience with getting a gate pass? Any advice?

Thanks in advance!

SouthPoleFlyer

Since you appear to be a 1K, just get an award ticket and then cancel later since there is no charge.
As a side note, I have been able to accompany a non-child (once my daughter and another time an older foreign student to the gate) after getting a gate pass at the 1K desk which also means you can go through the premium security lane.

Doug 1029

I had no difficulty getting a gate pass at IAD to accompany my mother-in-law to the gate. I just went up to the 1k checkin and asked for it. (Tongue in cheek comment, you could always put her in a wheelchair).

BilligCharlie

Good plan, thank you for that.

Plan is to try to get a gate pass, if that fails I'll just get an award ticket and cancel later.

One side note I forgot to mention when I put that I called the 1k desk*, it sounded like I called kmart. No mention of 1k desk at all. I prefer them to answer "Thanks for calling the 1k desk, how may I help you?" That way I know. Perhaps I should put that in the stupidest complaint forum

That's hilarious!

karenkay

I had no problem at IAH about a year ago getting a gate pass to hang out with my best friend who was passing through on her way across the pond...I just asked at the ticket/check-in counter. No problem.

This is one of those times where the agents at the airport are likely to be more helpful than the '1k desk.' @:-)

Not sure if it matters, but the agents weren't busy when I asked...might be one of those times where a few extra minutes could come in helpful. I was fully prepared to buy a refundable ticket, but it turned out not to be necessary.

1st Cav Vet

Last month, Southern California airport, major airline, ZERO problem getting gate pass to accompany daughter and her 9 year old to gate.

ual1960

Have had no problems at PDX and ORD by asking nicely, and in all cases it's been to hang out with the non-young, non-infirm. I suspect that the 1K Desk is doing the wise thing and not offering a blanket policy that may be interpreted differently locally.

Flyingeagle

I have been issued a gate pass to escort foreign students under 18 a number of times without any problems. I have even received a gate pass to escort my 82 year old mother in law to the gate.

I used to be able to use my Red Carpet Club membership to get a pass for meetings inside security but if you don't book a conference room they pretty much won't do it now. Seems silly since essentially there are a number of work arounds.

As far as a refundable ticket, it is easy to cancel it from the united.com website. I do it all the time for times when I want a gate pass for times when I know I couldn't get one. I haven't done the award ticket yet, though it seems like a nice twist.

chuck1

I've actually found all airlines to be relatively unreceptive to giving out gate passes even for unaccompanied minor arrivals.

Just last week at Kona I was meeting my nieces and nephew traveling as UMs with UA.

I went to the UA KOA counter and they said they didn't really want to give them and that they would be brought to baggage claim.

I really wanted to greet them and the UA counter was totally empty as was the TSA check point.

They gave it and when I got to the EMPTY TSA check point, the initial blue shirt agent asked why I had a gate pass as that section at KOA had no departures scheduled for quite a while. I explained and she told me that she would have to see if the supervisor would honor it!

I guess now the TSA can choose to even accept the gate pass even before you go through screening.

emcampbe

I was denied a gate pass by DL at CVG in circumstances that sound fairly similar to those mentioned above. I'm guessing its a YMMV thing, though perhaps some carriers are more flexible than others.

I think it would be great, if you happened to get denied, to then go ahead and tell the agent that, "ok, then I'd like to buy a refundable ticket to...[turn around and look at the departure board and pick a place and tell the agent]." Sure, they may know what you're doing, but perhaps they'll just give you a gate pass instead.

jyflyer

I've had no problem obtaining a gate pass either to accompany my mum or (future) mother-in-law at PIT. My guess it depends very much on the agent.. Even went to the US Airways club for breakfast

BilligCharlie

I'm going to try tomorrow at SFO... I'll report back tomorrow afternoon. Thanks for the additional replies.

SAN 1K

I've got gate passes at SAN many times to accompany (or meet) my wife and little kids. The only issues are during very busy, hectic holidays when they won't do it.

fastair

I wouldn't give you one for the stated reasons. Since the TSA took over the checkpoint, and tickets have a fee for their services, they limit the dptr area to ticketed passengers and those that need to be there (i.e. for a UM or disabled psgr.) What is the point in having a policy that prevents and limits non-ticketed passengers from the concourse if anyone can get there just to meet or see people off. It would be the same thing as prior to the TSA, except the flying public would be paying the bill for the TSA services that you are using and not paying. A la carte pricing in reverse!

ordua

is there a policy on this?