I've done this many times at EWR. The last time was mid-December 07. I just stopped at the elite counter, showed ID and PC card, and the agent gave us 2 gate passes. Hope that helps.

What are everyone's experiences with gate passes recently? Yesterday, I had to pick-up 2 interviewees at IAH, terminal B and I prefer to get gate passes than to circle the airport or go to the cell phone lot.

Experience 1, ~9AM: Agent said I can only get a pass for an unaccompanied minor or if I'm traveling. I nicely said it was GG Checkpoint, Line 53 and she said that she'd never heard of it when I said I'd done it in the past. Her comment was "well, things change every week around here and you cannot get a pass." I asked her to check Line 53 or call the PC. She checked the line and gave me a pass and apologized for the delay.

Experience 2, ~3PM: Agent said "they've become very strict about gate passes and no longer give a pass unless I pay to book a conference room in the PC." I asked when this changed and she said "recently, as they're very strict about who we're allowed to give passes to." I said I had received one this morning and she had to call the PC to "verify my card was still valid" even though it's a lifetime member.

I emailed CO a few weeks ago and asked for a formal policy on this and what to do if the agents are aware that we're entitled a gate pass. The response was the canned "PC members are allowed to get a gate pass". What else can we do so they train their employees? It's also annoying to get a lot of attitude from an employee who thinks they're correct... whether they are or not, it's just bad customer service!

if you have a very good reason and a very NICE check-in agent, you may be able to get a gate pass:

1. in 2006 Dropping my fiance off at IAD when severe storms were forecast - checkin agent gave me a pass to accompany her so that she would not be alone in case the flight was delayed or cancelled - agent volunteered to do this - I did not ask as it didnt occur to me it would be possible.

2. within the 6 months I have used this: when passengers have physical disabilities they will often give a pass. This works best when the PNR notes that the pax needs assistance. But it has also worked for me just by asking saying "my grandmother is flying and really would like someone with her/meet her." You can explain the pax is not necessarily disabled, but is just old, not confident, scared of flying, etc. If you look honest and are sincere, it will probably work.

of course, in these situations you would not be able to bring anyone else with you.

and, of course, it all depends on which agent you ask.............

I will add that I always carry the phone number of the PC at EWR (my 'home' airport) in my cell phone. Occasionally I run into a less-than-cooperative agent and have to call the PC for help. They typically ask you to put the agent on the phone. If the Agent refuses (this really does happen), the PC then asks for the ID of the terminal the agent is at. The Agent has given me this in the past. In about 15 seconds, my gate pass pops out of the printer. The agent at this point, just hands it to me, although it is quite evident he/she is pi**ed.

That's great advice, I would love to pull that off.

I just wanted to bump up this post as I found this information simply...

AWSOME!!!!!!

Simply put GREAT STUFF!!!

Wouldnt it be nice if CO would be able to program their terminals so that when you swipe your PC card in the machine it ask: "Would you like gates passes?" Then you would type in the information for the agent. It would make ever ones' life easier in my book.

^^^^

I can't stand fighting with agents every single time I want a gate pass