How do I get a gate pass?
 

Other than the "captain obvious" of getting a gate pass (getting a refundable ticket - which some may not be able to do, due to lack of money, etc, which is why I'm asking this question), how do I get a gate pass? I haven't had any luck at all today at DCA - I went to each airline counter and asked for a gate pass, and they asked me why - and when I told them I was meeting a friend at the gate (which wasn't true, I just wanted to go inside the gate area to see what it's like), they asked what my friend's name was and if s/he needed special assistance. I couldn't lie because they wanted my non-existent friend's last name. I have read stories of people getting gate passes without questions asked, so how do I achieve this?

Thanks.

Other than the ploy of buying a refundable ticket if you can deal with the cash flow, the only other way to get a gate pass of which I'm aware is to say you have a meeting at one of the airline clubs that are inside the secure area. You might actually have to be a member of the club, however. This is more expensive than buying the refundable ticket.

I don't think that it should be an issue if you have a legitimate reason, but " I just wanted to go inside the gate area to see what it's like" doesn't seem to cut it. Care to elaborate?

I didn't say that I just wanted to enter the gate area to see what it's like. I tried to cover up with the "meeting a friend" ploy, but it didn't work since they asked for further information.

I was wondering how it's achieved because I've read some stories of people just asking for a gate pass and getting one without any questions asked. I mean, come on! As long as I'm screened and don't have anything dangerous on me, then what's the harm in me going in the secure area?

There is no way of "just asking for a gate pass and getting one without any questions asked." The stories you've heard are urban myths.

Fully Refundable Ticket.

Why would you want to mess around with anything else? :confused:

Whatcha mean by messing around with anything else?

Trying to game the counter agents.

Fully refundable tickets are straightforward, legal, and costs nothing but a little bit of time.

I feel sorry for those airports that invested in airside shopping that are now feeling the pinch. Perhaps, someday, we'll put the TSA genie back in its box.

Asking for a gate pass, scheduling a "meeting" at the airline lounge, escorting a person who needs assistance...

Screw the TSA and screw Kip Hawley. Book a fully-refundable ticket, go airside, do what you feel you need to do, and then refund the ticket. Telling the TSA to go pound sand on the way out of the terminal is optional but recommended. @:-)

Actually, it was the FAA who decided no un-ticketed passengers past the security checkpoints after 9/11, not TSA. TSA just adopted their rule. I think the FAA is in control of that certain rule.

Doesn't matter. DHS controls both agencies now.

I'm surprised you were not flagged by a LEO, not to mention what was going through your mind attempting this in the first place?

While I don't agree on the TSA practice, I have no choice as a non USA resident, but really, doing what you did was pretty dumb thing to do, to just to see what it's like.

Not to mention, if caught, you would most likely end up on the no-fly list just for this stunt alone. On FT and trying to get on no-fly list?

Given the risk, I doubt you really did this and are just making the scenario up.

Actually, no they don't. FAA is under the Department of Transportation (DOT). No affiliation with the DHS.

Is what you said sacrasm? What I did was not illegal. Why would I be flagged by a LEO? The airport I was at had the counters far away from each other, but I still could be seen (by airline workers and security cameras), and nobody seemed to care. Even if I did get flagged by a LEO, I wouldn't get arrested or anything, because I didn't do anything wrong. The most that could have happened to me would probably be a warning, or (at the absolute worst), be asked politely to leave the airport premises. Oh, and for those of you who are wondering if I did this while other people were waiting in line - no worries... I only went to the "dead" counters where nobody was waiting, so I didn't waste anyone's times (except, possibly the airline workers, but, hey, they're working anyway).

Why would I turn up on the no-fly list just for doing that? While it may be suspicious, it's not a BIG deal.

I don't understand what the big deal is, honestly...

No it was not sarcasm, it was serious.

Giving a false reason for entry to a restricted area.

Doubt that very much, If you need to see the other side, you have not gone through security very often, you would have been held for hours at the local police station while the FBI questioned you.

Suspicious? Lets see, trying to gain entry airside without a valid reason. That is enough for them.

Do I really need to say STUPID!