Refundable ticket to help family to gate
Feb 16, 2014, 1:35 pm
#31
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Don't waste your time. I'm wondering how many of the people telling you to purchase a ticket or that you have to go ahead of time or that it's difficult or that DL needs to get approval from TSA (!?!) have actually ever asked for or gotten gate passes. It's not that difficult. Get to the airport early enough to allow time to ask for a manager, but just ask the person checking you in at the airport and you'll most likely be given the pass without issue. They'll see your kids. They'll know you are an FO. IME experience, it won't be an issue. You won't get PC (I did ask last time), but you'll get a pass, like I've gotten many times. At many airports.
Feb 16, 2014, 1:57 pm
#32
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As a United Club member, UA will give me and my guests gate passes to visit the club. But these (and other) gate passes don't entitle one to PreCheck. I do this fairly often. Recently I waited 30 minutes for screening at EWR on a gate pass. Had I purchased a ticket and refunded I would have been through the screening process in under tw
minutes. I'll be purchasing tickets in the future...
minutes. I'll be purchasing tickets in the future...
Feb 16, 2014, 2:17 pm
#33
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What if the person buying the "temporary" ticket purchases the last available seat for that flight, preventing someone else who actually needs to fly from doing so? It is not uncommon to see flights so full that the airline will not sell any additional seats.
Or, if someone elects to take advantage of the 24-hour protection, rather than buying the refundable ticket... what if the person buying the "temporary" ticket purchases the last available T fare for that flight, forcing someone else who actually intends to fly to purchase, say, a B fare?
Someone else ends up paying an extraordinary premium (either in terms of inconvenience or actual out-of-pocket cost) to facilitate the convenience sought by the "temporary" purchaser.
I have asked similar questions here before, and no proponent of these types of subterfuge has stepped up to give a direct answer.
Feb 16, 2014, 2:20 pm
#34
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Where do you see that?
If you look here it doesn't say anything about tickets issued on the day of departure not qualifying for risk free cancellation.
As someone who has more than once gotten all the way to the gate with a ticket issued only hours before and then realized that I didn't need/ want to go anywhere I can say with complete confidence that tickets purchased for same day travel are still qualified for risk free cancellation until the time of departure.
If you look here it doesn't say anything about tickets issued on the day of departure not qualifying for risk free cancellation.
As someone who has more than once gotten all the way to the gate with a ticket issued only hours before and then realized that I didn't need/ want to go anywhere I can say with complete confidence that tickets purchased for same day travel are still qualified for risk free cancellation until the time of departure.
The fact that you may have gotten a refund not withstanding, the rules are clear...no cost free refund on the same day absent purchasing a fully refundable ticket.
Feb 16, 2014, 2:55 pm
#35
Join Date: Jul 2006
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I don't think it's even the airline's ultimate fault. It's the greedy TSA who don't want to staff up for visitors they can't charge a "security fee". As if the excess fees they pocket isn't enough for connecting flights during which you don't go through the checkpoint except at the origin. TSA leans on the airlines to reduce the work they do for freeloading airside visitors.
Feb 16, 2014, 3:31 pm
#36
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What if the person buying the "temporary" ticket purchases the last available seat for that flight, preventing someone else who actually needs to fly from doing so? It is not uncommon to see flights so full that the airline will not sell any additional seats.
I don't see this as any kind of ethical dilemma. If it happens often enough, the change that should take place is not permitting "security" entities to examine credentials at all - everyone should be able to go airside without playing games. Heck, I think that's a fine idea right now, regardless of how many are buying fully-refundable tickets just to go airside.
Feb 16, 2014, 4:10 pm
#37
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Granted. And, sometimes the airline stops selling tickets on flights. It could come down to the relative times when the 'temporary" purchaser and the intended legitimate passenger attempt to buy their tickets.
One would hope so, but I suspect that it would be an exercise in unbridled optimism to assume that the average "temporary" purchaser would have a adequate understanding of the issue, and a sufficient appreciation for others, to put that much thought into the matter.
One would hope so, but I suspect that it would be an exercise in unbridled optimism to assume that the average "temporary" purchaser would have a adequate understanding of the issue, and a sufficient appreciation for others, to put that much thought into the matter.
Feb 16, 2014, 4:12 pm
#38
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One would hope so, but I suspect that it would be an exercise in unbridled optimism to assume that the average "temporary" purchaser would have a adequate understanding of the issue, and a sufficient appreciation for others, to put that much thought into the matter.
Solution: Get rid of all document/ID checking by the "security" apparatus.
Feb 16, 2014, 4:27 pm
#39
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,688
In the terms and conditions. Within 24 hours of purchase or midnight of the day of departure whichever comes first.
The fact that you may have gotten a refund not withstanding, the rules are clear...no cost free refund on the same day absent purchasing a fully refundable ticket.
The fact that you may have gotten a refund not withstanding, the rules are clear...no cost free refund on the same day absent purchasing a fully refundable ticket.
Feb 16, 2014, 5:24 pm
#40
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Every airport is different. My point being, don't assume. The way to guarantee disappointment is to expect that someone's going to take sympathy on you and give you a gate pass on a walk-up the day of.
Feb 16, 2014, 5:33 pm
#41
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Every airport also maintains their own policies on gate passes. Not even two airports in the same region (e.g. LGA and JFK) share the same policies for employees and escort policies for gate access.
Your best bet if you want a gate pass -- don't call. I'd walk into that airport when it's not busy and talk to an airline rep several days before you want a gate pass, explain your situation and schedule your visit. Depending on the airport you typically need at least 24 hours, but in some 72+ hours of lead time.
Otherwise, buying a ticket and refunding it is a valid option. But (my opinion and speculation only), I suspect that using this frequently to get airside will probably get you flagged in the airline and TSA databases. Like the person that abuses a retail store generous return policy -- at some point, you're costing the airline opportunity and inventory, and it'll be a problem. It's just a loophole to get airside.
Your best bet if you want a gate pass -- don't call. I'd walk into that airport when it's not busy and talk to an airline rep several days before you want a gate pass, explain your situation and schedule your visit. Depending on the airport you typically need at least 24 hours, but in some 72+ hours of lead time.
Otherwise, buying a ticket and refunding it is a valid option. But (my opinion and speculation only), I suspect that using this frequently to get airside will probably get you flagged in the airline and TSA databases. Like the person that abuses a retail store generous return policy -- at some point, you're costing the airline opportunity and inventory, and it'll be a problem. It's just a loophole to get airside.
Beyond getting PreCheck, I would assume that getting a gate pass does not give SkyPriority to elites, right? If so, this is an argument for purchasing an ticket and canceling.
Last edited by MSPeconomist; Feb 16, 2014 at 5:39 pm
Feb 16, 2014, 5:39 pm
#42
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If you do it the unofficial buy-a-ticket method, there are no such restrictions, but I'd venture those that find going to the airport an expensive inconvenience are probably the same people that would be uneasy about locking up a few hundred bucks on a plane ticket, even if they'll get a credit back a few days later.
Feb 16, 2014, 5:40 pm
#43
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Seems like airlines are missing a revenue stream opportunity here. $25.00 pre-check gate-pass! No dealing with tickets, and actually get to the gate quickly.
I'd pay for this.
I'd pay for this.
Feb 16, 2014, 5:43 pm
#44
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Example: LGA Terminal C/D requires 72 hours clearance with a form with the Port Authority and presence on a separate TSA list for the day of entry. That's for me to get a contractor who actually has business to do in the airport to go airside. Emergency access day of is now fairly complicated compared to even 2 years ago. MSP requires 24 hours notice before a gate pass can be issued.
Every airport is different. My point being, don't assume. The way to guarantee disappointment is to expect that someone's going to take sympathy on you and give you a gate pass on a walk-up the day of.
Every airport is different. My point being, don't assume. The way to guarantee disappointment is to expect that someone's going to take sympathy on you and give you a gate pass on a walk-up the day of.
Seriously. Do a Google search for "airport gate pass" and you will see article after article about getting gate passes, but not a single story about someone being denied a gate pass. And nothing about non-contractors having to go to the airport days ahead of time, having to fill out forms or different airports having their own rules.
Feb 16, 2014, 5:49 pm
#45
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The OP isn't a contractor doing work at the airport. I've actually done a gate pass at LGA without 72 hours notice. Three months ago. I flew to NYC with my then 17 YO niece who was looking at NYU. She flew back before me. I was given a gate pass to take her to the flight. It took two minutes to get the pass. All I had to do was ask.