Jan 7, 2014, 1:35 pm
Last edit by: Michael D
United Club members and their guests are entitled to a gate pass to get through security and access the United Club at domestic airports, regardless of whether or not they are traveling.
Purchasing a one time Club pass does not entitle on to a gate pass. That is a benefit of United Club members until Aug 18, 2016.
*** AUGUST 2015 UPDATE ***
UA has announced that same day boarding passes will be required for UA club access effective August 18, 2016.
In a clarification, UA Insider clarified that there will be no more gate passes. See Post 195 at http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...-travel-6.html
Hi everyone, some answers for you on this new policy:
1.What about meetings/conference rooms? Will gate passes still be issued?
Customers can still reserve a conference room to use, with or without a same-day boarding pass. We will no longer issue gate passes for other uses.
The following information applies prior to that date.
There is a lot of confusion about this arrangement, so it is helpful to dispel some misimpressions you might have or might encounter: You do not need to book a conference room or make any sort of reservation to obtain a gate pass. Gate passes are an entitlement that come with your United Club membership, and not a discretionary favor. When you obtain a gate pass, your data is put through the same secure flight system that is used to approve boarding pass issuance. There is no reason to think that these gate passes are more of a security risk than the ability to simply buy a same-dayticket at the airport, and there is no evidence that the TSA has in any way limited the airlines' ability to issue gate passes. Gate passes are used extensively for other purposes, such as permitting parents to meet unaccompanied minors at their arrival gate.
To get a gate pass, simply go to a check-in counter at the airport, present your club membership card and photo ID, and ask for one.
At some airports, there are dedicated lanes for this and similar services:
You may get push-back from the counter agent, because this is a relatively unusual request. If that happens, try escalating through the following steps:
1. Ask for a gate pass.
2. Reference GG Checkpoint, Line 65** (screenshot courtesy of tarheelnj and updated June 2015) **Note: Nov 2015 update - Reference Line 68.
[IMG]
[/IMG]
3. Ask for a supervisor.
4. Ask the agent(s) to call the UC.
5. Call the UC directly, and ask them to talk to or directly call the counter agent. Many counter phones have direct lines, and you can ask the counter agent to provide you that info so that the UC can call them.
The phone number for a particular UC can be determined by calling the UC customer service line at 866-822-5827 (open 0800-2000 Central Time, daily). Here are some known phone numbers:
6. Give up, collect the names of everyone you've spoken with, and write to Premier Voice or 1K Voice with a polite request that the folks be retrained, and that a local service manager follow up with you so that you can be assured that you will be provided access next time you visit the airport. This last step may seem like overkill, but it will help ensure that other folks don't end up having the same problem with the agent(s) in the future.
To help track which airports are appropriately applying this policy, please consider noting below whether or not you were successful in obtaining a gate pass using a thumbs-up or thumbs-down icon. Then, provide a more detailed report in a post in this thread if you have time. (E.g.: "Asked at AUS and was denied by a surly agent; quickly gave up because it wasn't worth my time" or "Got a great agent at 1K/Plat check-in at EWR, wanted the pass to take my daughter through security and to the UC, agent took care of it in 2 minutes.")
ATL:
AUS: ^
BOS: ^ I've never been refused in about a half-dozen requests.
CLE: ^ Successful at least 3 times in 2014
DCA: ^ It took a manager making 2 phone calls, but got the passes for myself and my guest.
DFW: ^ Varies by agent. Often they call back to the club to verify that it is permitted.
DEN: ^ At both 1K and GS counters, agents handled with ease when presenting my UC card.
EWR: ^ Special Services
FLL: ^
GUM:
HNL: denied by supervisor "I am the boss"
IAD: ^ with comment that it is "intended for meetings," but no actual hesitation [from GS agent]
IAH: ^
JFK: ^ One instance where supervisor inappropriately denied issuance of gate pass, citing that it was against BA's policy (BA "operated" the terminal).
LAS:
LAX: ^
LGA: Outside of security, so gate pass is not needed.
MCO: The Ticket Agent looked at my United Club card, Passport and issued me a gate pass without question.
MSP: ^ Had to reference the GG Checkpoint line 65, otherwise it went well
ORD: ^
PHL: ^
PHX: ^
PDX: Variable: 1st, ref'd GG 65, then OK, 2nd time, full hassle, needed Super
SAN:
SAT:
SFO: ^ Had no problems previously, but just got refused by two separate agents on 3/14/2015. Had to escalate to supervisor to get the gate pass.
^ 6/19/2015: refused by agent at regular checkin; premier check-in agent first refused, then got ok from supervisor.
SEA: ^
SNA: ^ Agent had to ask another (former) CO agent for assistance, but no problems.
Purchasing a one time Club pass does not entitle on to a gate pass. That is a benefit of United Club members until Aug 18, 2016.
*** AUGUST 2015 UPDATE ***
UA has announced that same day boarding passes will be required for UA club access effective August 18, 2016.
In a clarification, UA Insider clarified that there will be no more gate passes. See Post 195 at http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...-travel-6.html
Hi everyone, some answers for you on this new policy:
1.What about meetings/conference rooms? Will gate passes still be issued?
Customers can still reserve a conference room to use, with or without a same-day boarding pass. We will no longer issue gate passes for other uses.
The following information applies prior to that date.
There is a lot of confusion about this arrangement, so it is helpful to dispel some misimpressions you might have or might encounter: You do not need to book a conference room or make any sort of reservation to obtain a gate pass. Gate passes are an entitlement that come with your United Club membership, and not a discretionary favor. When you obtain a gate pass, your data is put through the same secure flight system that is used to approve boarding pass issuance. There is no reason to think that these gate passes are more of a security risk than the ability to simply buy a same-dayticket at the airport, and there is no evidence that the TSA has in any way limited the airlines' ability to issue gate passes. Gate passes are used extensively for other purposes, such as permitting parents to meet unaccompanied minors at their arrival gate.
To get a gate pass, simply go to a check-in counter at the airport, present your club membership card and photo ID, and ask for one.
At some airports, there are dedicated lanes for this and similar services:
- EWR: [Fill in location]
You may get push-back from the counter agent, because this is a relatively unusual request. If that happens, try escalating through the following steps:
1. Ask for a gate pass.
2. Reference GG Checkpoint, Line 65** (screenshot courtesy of tarheelnj and updated June 2015) **Note: Nov 2015 update - Reference Line 68.
[IMG]
[/IMG]3. Ask for a supervisor.
4. Ask the agent(s) to call the UC.
5. Call the UC directly, and ask them to talk to or directly call the counter agent. Many counter phones have direct lines, and you can ask the counter agent to provide you that info so that the UC can call them.
The phone number for a particular UC can be determined by calling the UC customer service line at 866-822-5827 (open 0800-2000 Central Time, daily). Here are some known phone numbers:
- [Fill in]
6. Give up, collect the names of everyone you've spoken with, and write to Premier Voice or 1K Voice with a polite request that the folks be retrained, and that a local service manager follow up with you so that you can be assured that you will be provided access next time you visit the airport. This last step may seem like overkill, but it will help ensure that other folks don't end up having the same problem with the agent(s) in the future.
To help track which airports are appropriately applying this policy, please consider noting below whether or not you were successful in obtaining a gate pass using a thumbs-up or thumbs-down icon. Then, provide a more detailed report in a post in this thread if you have time. (E.g.: "Asked at AUS and was denied by a surly agent; quickly gave up because it wasn't worth my time" or "Got a great agent at 1K/Plat check-in at EWR, wanted the pass to take my daughter through security and to the UC, agent took care of it in 2 minutes.")
ATL:
AUS: ^
BOS: ^ I've never been refused in about a half-dozen requests.
CLE: ^ Successful at least 3 times in 2014
DCA: ^ It took a manager making 2 phone calls, but got the passes for myself and my guest.
DFW: ^ Varies by agent. Often they call back to the club to verify that it is permitted.
DEN: ^ At both 1K and GS counters, agents handled with ease when presenting my UC card.
EWR: ^ Special Services
FLL: ^
GUM:
HNL: denied by supervisor "I am the boss"
IAD: ^ with comment that it is "intended for meetings," but no actual hesitation [from GS agent]
IAH: ^
JFK: ^ One instance where supervisor inappropriately denied issuance of gate pass, citing that it was against BA's policy (BA "operated" the terminal).
LAS:
LAX: ^
LGA: Outside of security, so gate pass is not needed.
MCO: The Ticket Agent looked at my United Club card, Passport and issued me a gate pass without question.
MSP: ^ Had to reference the GG Checkpoint line 65, otherwise it went well
ORD: ^
PHL: ^
PHX: ^
PDX: Variable: 1st, ref'd GG 65, then OK, 2nd time, full hassle, needed Super
SAN:
SAT:
SFO: ^ Had no problems previously, but just got refused by two separate agents on 3/14/2015. Had to escalate to supervisor to get the gate pass.
^ 6/19/2015: refused by agent at regular checkin; premier check-in agent first refused, then got ok from supervisor.
SEA: ^
SNA: ^ Agent had to ask another (former) CO agent for assistance, but no problems.
Gate Pass for United Club Access (Discontinued)
Jul 25, 2018, 10:09 am
#556
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,884
Jul 25, 2018, 11:31 am
#557
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,618
While this is technically true if you get a gate pass for accompanying a handicap or wheel chair PAX you generally get "precheck" like treatment. Right to the front of the line, no body scan, typically don't remove shoes. But I get that this is not the case here. I post this just for those who may fall into this situation with a family member or loved one who is injured or disabled.
Nov 16, 2018, 5:16 pm
#558
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
Based on the experiences reported in this thread I think this will work, but I was wondering if anyone had any tips or something I'm not thinking about or a recent experience.
This coming Wednesday (day before Thanksgiving) I'm arriving EWR on an international flight that lands at 3pm. My elderly MIL is arriving EWR that night at 8:30pm. It is her first time traveling alone, and she is very nervous and also unable to walk long distances. I have requested wheelchair assistance. Given the likely traffic/transit situation in NYC on this very busy travel day, I was thinking of NOT going all the way home (in Manhattan) and then back out to pick her up. But 5 1/2 hours is a lot of time to kill in baggage claim.
I'm GS. Do you think I could get a gate pass from the GS lobby in the interest of meeting her? Furthermore, as I'll still have my same-day boarding pass from the inbound flight, will this work to get me into the United Club where I can kill time? Finally, will I get the GS escort past what I expect to be pretty bad security lines, where I won't have pre-check on the gate pass?
Trying to avoid the extra roundtrip to Newark or too much personal inconvenience waiting around.
This coming Wednesday (day before Thanksgiving) I'm arriving EWR on an international flight that lands at 3pm. My elderly MIL is arriving EWR that night at 8:30pm. It is her first time traveling alone, and she is very nervous and also unable to walk long distances. I have requested wheelchair assistance. Given the likely traffic/transit situation in NYC on this very busy travel day, I was thinking of NOT going all the way home (in Manhattan) and then back out to pick her up. But 5 1/2 hours is a lot of time to kill in baggage claim.
I'm GS. Do you think I could get a gate pass from the GS lobby in the interest of meeting her? Furthermore, as I'll still have my same-day boarding pass from the inbound flight, will this work to get me into the United Club where I can kill time? Finally, will I get the GS escort past what I expect to be pretty bad security lines, where I won't have pre-check on the gate pass?
Trying to avoid the extra roundtrip to Newark or too much personal inconvenience waiting around.
Nov 18, 2018, 4:50 pm
#559
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
Based on the experiences reported in this thread I think this will work, but I was wondering if anyone had any tips or something I'm not thinking about or a recent experience.
This coming Wednesday (day before Thanksgiving) I'm arriving EWR on an international flight that lands at 3pm. My elderly MIL is arriving EWR that night at 8:30pm. It is her first time traveling alone, and she is very nervous and also unable to walk long distances. I have requested wheelchair assistance. Given the likely traffic/transit situation in NYC on this very busy travel day, I was thinking of NOT going all the way home (in Manhattan) and then back out to pick her up. But 5 1/2 hours is a lot of time to kill in baggage claim.
I'm GS. Do you think I could get a gate pass from the GS lobby in the interest of meeting her? Furthermore, as I'll still have my same-day boarding pass from the inbound flight, will this work to get me into the United Club where I can kill time? Finally, will I get the GS escort past what I expect to be pretty bad security lines, where I won't have pre-check on the gate pass?
Trying to avoid the extra roundtrip to Newark or too much personal inconvenience waiting around.
This coming Wednesday (day before Thanksgiving) I'm arriving EWR on an international flight that lands at 3pm. My elderly MIL is arriving EWR that night at 8:30pm. It is her first time traveling alone, and she is very nervous and also unable to walk long distances. I have requested wheelchair assistance. Given the likely traffic/transit situation in NYC on this very busy travel day, I was thinking of NOT going all the way home (in Manhattan) and then back out to pick her up. But 5 1/2 hours is a lot of time to kill in baggage claim.
I'm GS. Do you think I could get a gate pass from the GS lobby in the interest of meeting her? Furthermore, as I'll still have my same-day boarding pass from the inbound flight, will this work to get me into the United Club where I can kill time? Finally, will I get the GS escort past what I expect to be pretty bad security lines, where I won't have pre-check on the gate pass?
Trying to avoid the extra roundtrip to Newark or too much personal inconvenience waiting around.
Nov 19, 2018, 7:16 am
#560
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA MM 1K, AA MM Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 3,235
Didn’t receive any responses but thought I’d report back...I stopped by the GS lobby on the outbound to inquire whether I could expect to get a gate pass for the situation on Wednesday. The agent said that unfortunately “due to the new regulations” they are only able to grant a gate pass for unaccompanied minors. So while YMMV, not something I would expect.
Nov 19, 2018, 11:45 am
#561
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lahaina, HI & Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,403
Gate passes seem to be easily obtained by drivers/escorts meeting celebrities at the gate open arrival. I've seen it in action on several flights from OGG-LAX over the past 6 months.
Nov 19, 2018, 11:56 am
#562
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO / LHR
Programs: UA GS 2.2MM / UC / AS Gold 75K / Bonvoy Plat / Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,028
Didn’t receive any responses but thought I’d report back...I stopped by the GS lobby on the outbound to inquire whether I could expect to get a gate pass for the situation on Wednesday. The agent said that unfortunately “due to the new regulations” they are only able to grant a gate pass for unaccompanied minors. So while YMMV, not something I would expect.