Originally Posted by
Bicostal
Contractors, tour groups, guests of airport staff are not the same process as the in need passenger escort. In some documents it's referred to as a "demonstrated need" pass. It applies to children, elderly, and disabled. They are at the discretion of the airline but rarely refused. There is no need to do this in advance.
The rules are inconsistently applied. Technically it's 1 set of rules... non-traveling members that are airside (not just in the SIDA) are the responsibility of the person signing for their access. While it is not required to go ahead of time, I am an advocate of better safe than sorry. Gate passes are not a right... they're a courtesy.
The policy should change, but as it stands today, it's a controlled access area.