stant

I found this amusing. My son (20) has never flown alone and he was picking up a friend, them meeting me 18 hrs later after taking 4 flights for a guys getaway. I take him down to the checkin desks in Tampa and explain that even though he is an adult he has never flown alone before and I'd like a gate pass to see him off
​​​. The agent says this isn't possible, but if I want to I can talk to a manager. I was about to give up and leave, but I figured "why not". I said, would it change your mind if I was CK? Funnily enough the response was "I can give you a gate pass if you WANT".... Funny how things changed vs the experience the average traveler has, no?

I'm happy I got what I wanted, but a bit sad that those without status might not ...

MarkOK

Good. I'd pull that card too.

My first flight was at 17 with a school field trip, where I tagged along pre 2001. Second flight was at 22 solo for a visit to my grad school post 2001. Third flight was later that year to elope with my wife.
I remember still how overwhelminhlg it was. Flying is certainly a thing where a sort of street smarts, via experience, is needed and probably something we all forget we have.

karenkay

hey, whatever works. I think if you're polite and persistent, there's a way.

fwiw, I had a similar issue a few years back with UA, and told the ticket agent I'd just buy a fully refundable ticket if the gate pass was not a possibility. magically, the gate pass appeared.

lrdpenn

I don't know if I would call this "DYKWIA". Storming to the front of a queue flailing your status - yes.

I think it's very fair to expect a little rule bent, a little extra courtesy extended every once in a while. You are a good customer and it's smart for any business to differentiate customers, and nowadays airlines try their best to align customer status levels to profit driven. (as an aside I think the entire need for a gate pass is silly, anyone should be free to go to the gate if they go through security accompanying a boarding pass holder.)

john_ny

. I think it’s very sweet that you wanted to see your son off and make sure he was comfortable flying alone. I’m sure he appreciated your gesture. 😊

rucksack

You got the result you wanted here, but I wouldn't advertise this to an airline employee. It's prohibited by UA's Contract of Carriage (as well as most other airlines) to buy a ticket without intending to travel. Get a stubborn airline employee (which seems increasingly common these days) and your backup plan is ruined.

tkelvin69

While you are trying to be a nice parent there are reasons why you should have been denied. Airports are crowded, it costs time, money and staffing to accommodate you and everyone else who has their own desire to go to the gate. Hang out at the presecurity bar until it’s time to go.

nice thought but a no vote here.

DataPlumber

Maybe I am a bad parent, but I can’t image escorting my adult offspring through the airport.

I have teenagers that fly by themselves, all alone, several times a year.

Dave Noble

I disagree - either there is an entitlement to be able to get a gate pass , in which case one should have been provided or he was not entitled to a pass and so should have been declined

It is really poor to be inconsistemt on giving it out - there are Air carrier authorization forms for this process, but cannot see that there would be any justification for a regular 20 year old

nk15

His other option was to request wheelchair assistance, but he did not want to overdo it or anything like that…

Sheikh Yerbooty

Did my first solo flight at the age of 13. Not as a UM, straight up normal ticket. Dad drove me to the airport, I managed myself from there. Sent my daughter off on her first solo flight when she was 14, dropped her off at the airport and she handled herself from there. Daughter later remarked she much preferred flying along than with me or her mum, as she had total control over the pace, what to eat and drink, and where to hang out. I think she inherited that from me.

Microwave

As a reminder, descriptive thread titles are required by FlyerTalk’s rules. I’ve updated this thread’s title to meet that standard.

~Moderator

rmontelbon

Growth requires putting ourselves in uncomfortable positions.

AJNEDC

What is CK?

davidcamp6

Calvin Klein underpants?