Agent at RDU: AA is "cracking down" on Gate Passes
Nov 12, 2012, 9:37 am
#1
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Agent at RDU: AA is "cracking down" on Gate Passes
Don't know how true this is, but there's a long discussion on the UA page about getting a gate pass if you're a United Club member.
Anyway, I arrived really early to pick up my brother last week at RDU and I figured it would be a nice treat if I was waiting at the gate. I asked a ticketing agent about a gate pass and she told me they were only now available for UMs and that AA is "cracking down" on the issuing of passes. I asked about Admirals Club members (never a problem in the past) and was told that didn't change the situation.
Seems a silly thing for her/AA to get so worked up over.
Anyway, I arrived really early to pick up my brother last week at RDU and I figured it would be a nice treat if I was waiting at the gate. I asked a ticketing agent about a gate pass and she told me they were only now available for UMs and that AA is "cracking down" on the issuing of passes. I asked about Admirals Club members (never a problem in the past) and was told that didn't change the situation.
Seems a silly thing for her/AA to get so worked up over.
Nov 12, 2012, 9:39 am
#2
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Maybe a local thing? But the AC gate pass generally is available contacting Club 'phone number 24 hours in advance; though some of us have been fortunate having them issued by the ticket counter agents, it's not to be expected.
Nov 12, 2012, 9:44 am
#3
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just out of curiosity, do gate passes cost the airlines anything? is it something they have to pay to the airport?
Nov 12, 2012, 9:46 am
#4
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The agent's denial of the OP's request is precisely why full Y tickets are still very useful. I sometimes change my mind about travel at the last minute and decide not to fly.
I was under the impression that gate passes generally were issued only for UM for the past 11 years (ever since the federal government banned non-flyers from the sterile area nationwide).
Club access reservations are a whole other animal, and the 24hr notice has long been the rule.
I was under the impression that gate passes generally were issued only for UM for the past 11 years (ever since the federal government banned non-flyers from the sterile area nationwide).
Club access reservations are a whole other animal, and the 24hr notice has long been the rule.
Nov 12, 2012, 9:49 am
#5
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By the way, my "gate pass" looked just like a legitimate Y ticket for a non-existant flight. Are they always like that? (IIRC correctly the UA ones are clearly identified as just gate passes.)
Nov 12, 2012, 9:53 am
#6
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The agent's denial of the OP's request is precisely why full Y tickets are still very useful. I sometimes change my mind about travel at the last minute and decide not to fly.
I was under the impression that gate passes generally were issued only for UM for the past 11 years (ever since the federal government banned non-flyers from the sterile area nationwide).
Club access reservations are a whole other animal, and the 24hr notice has long been the rule.
I was under the impression that gate passes generally were issued only for UM for the past 11 years (ever since the federal government banned non-flyers from the sterile area nationwide).
Club access reservations are a whole other animal, and the 24hr notice has long been the rule.
Nov 12, 2012, 10:09 am
#7
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Fully Refundable Ticket. No muss, no fuss. No one should ever have to seek permission to go airside.
Nov 12, 2012, 10:40 am
#8
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It's enough of a pain getting through security and people lined up for boarding and blocking the halls and to add unnecessary people to the secure area is a poor idea.
It also costs both the airlines and the airport/government to deal with these people who can't wait 5 minutes for someone to walk to baggage claim. Seems a silly thing for a non-passenger to get worked up over.
Good for RDU!
It also costs both the airlines and the airport/government to deal with these people who can't wait 5 minutes for someone to walk to baggage claim. Seems a silly thing for a non-passenger to get worked up over.
Good for RDU!
Nov 12, 2012, 11:18 am
#9
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This is not some 'right' that is being infringed and encouraging people to gain access air-side on false pretenses is in my opinion irresponsible.
Nov 12, 2012, 11:20 am
#10
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It's enough of a pain getting through security and people lined up for boarding and blocking the halls and to add unnecessary people to the secure area is a poor idea.
It also costs both the airlines and the airport/government to deal with these people who can't wait 5 minutes for someone to walk to baggage claim. Seems a silly thing for a non-passenger to get worked up over.
Good for RDU!
It also costs both the airlines and the airport/government to deal with these people who can't wait 5 minutes for someone to walk to baggage claim. Seems a silly thing for a non-passenger to get worked up over.
Good for RDU!
That's also the reason I didn't want to risk a refundable ticket, with only one flight left, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to cancel it in time.
Also...who said I was worked up?
Nov 12, 2012, 11:31 am
#11
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I don't agree at all. If someone wants to go airside, that's their affair. It is no one else's business.
Nov 12, 2012, 11:46 am
#12
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It's enough of a pain getting through security and people lined up for boarding and blocking the halls and to add unnecessary people to the secure area is a poor idea.
It also costs both the airlines and the airport/government to deal with these people who can't wait 5 minutes for someone to walk to baggage claim. Seems a silly thing for a non-passenger to get worked up over.
It also costs both the airlines and the airport/government to deal with these people who can't wait 5 minutes for someone to walk to baggage claim. Seems a silly thing for a non-passenger to get worked up over.
If you buy a ticket, then you have a "right" to be airside. Simple as that.
Nov 12, 2012, 12:33 pm
#13
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Just sayin'
Nov 12, 2012, 12:36 pm
#14
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It's enough of a pain getting through security and people lined up for boarding and blocking the halls and to add unnecessary people to the secure area is a poor idea.
It also costs both the airlines and the airport/government to deal with these people who can't wait 5 minutes for someone to walk to baggage claim. Seems a silly thing for a non-passenger to get worked up over.
Good for RDU!
It also costs both the airlines and the airport/government to deal with these people who can't wait 5 minutes for someone to walk to baggage claim. Seems a silly thing for a non-passenger to get worked up over.
Good for RDU!
It sounds like RDU is simply conforming to the published rules. MCI was always glad to issue a gate pass to any AC member that walked up, but alas, that AC is now closed.
Nov 12, 2012, 12:45 pm
#15
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Reminds me of the conversation with TSA
I think it is at Detroit where there is a hotel that has direct airside access. But you have to go through local police first who have to (at least a year ago) manually fill out an entire page of paperwork and then you present it 10 feet away at the TSA checkpoint and go through screening. I commented that it would be a lot easier on everyone if I just bought a fully refundable ticket and walked through. I got the knowing nod from the TSA officer as he acknowledged to me that it was all just for show with the police check.