Originally Posted by
Spiff
The best solution would be to stop restricting airside access to ticketed passengers only or just get rid of the stupid agency that began requiring gate passes to escort someone airside.
I agree that airside access shouldn't be for ticketed passengers only. As long as you are able to clear security, you should be able to go. But I understand why they restrict it to ticketed passengers. There are some airports that are just so busy that it makes sense to only let those flying go through so as to not create more traffic.
Originally Posted by
sbm12
You know that airlines overbook flights to account for this sort of thing, right??
REALLY??
You may not like it, but with the way the TSA and airlines behave these days a typical and reasonable action such as escorting someone to or from the gate is now such a ridiculously inconvenient - and in some cases inaccessible - task to accomplish through their stupid rules.
The ridiculous inconvenience is a result of those who succeeded in flying planes with passengers into buildings. Do I like the TSA? No. Am I glad they are there? Yes... even if it really might be a false sense of security.
I think most airlines would provide gate/security passes to someone who wants to escort someone to the gate. Maybe they only issue it to someone who is taking an elderly/handicapped person or where a minor is traveling by themselves. Does TSA stop people from going through even though they have a pass from the airline?
Originally Posted by
studentff
1) The whole point of a refundable ticket is that you're paying extra for the privilege of canceling with no penalty. A "small cancellation fee" would defeat that..
Is 5 bucks really that big of a deal to someone that can afford to travel on a refundable ticket? I know the point of a refundable ticket. And while I agree that a small cancellation fee would defeat the refundable ticket idea, it would make a person think twice before booking a ticket just to get to the gate vs. someone who wants to buy a refundable ticket for legitimate travel (whether they make the trip or not). You're basically getting all your money back but a few bucks. To not have to deal with the high cancellation fees of $50-$100-$150 and receive a voucher for future travel... I think it's fair to say that the privelege of canceling without penalty would still be there cuz you'd still be getting a full refund (pretty much).
3) Buying and canceling a refundable ticket hurts nobody, particularly if you buy a ticket for the last flight of the night, print a boarding pass, and shortly thereafter cancel the ticket. The chances that someone will be denied travel as a result of this brief (1-2 hour) window are minuscule. And even then, it's more likely they would be denied cheaper travel than be denied travel at all, because many airlines are willing to sell full-fare tickets on nearly-oversold or actually-oversold flights.
Whenever I've bought a ticket for this purpose, I've bought a ticket on the latest available flight of the day and usually canceled it many hours before the actual flight..
Like I said, I have no probs with people buying and canceling refundable tickets whether it is days ahead or 1 minute before the flight. It's when it's not for a legitimate reason... such
just going to sit with someone at the gate. Just get a pass from the airline! But to each his own and this is my opinion (which I'm entitled to).
All that said, are we OT?
