Gate Pass
 

I'd like to meet my wife in SFO and have a UA Club Card, I know I can get a gate pass, but rather than missing out on TSA Pre, I'm planning on buying a refundable First Class International ticket, and no-showing for the flight.

So, any problems with this? Also, I plan to do UA First Lounge, but interested in the best International first lounge possible at SFO any thoughts?

thanks

Well there is only one GFL/IFL at SFO so there you go. It is a nice one.

I was told last week by someone at UA that it is now possible to have your TT# added to the gate pass information (at least at SF:eek:). I've not heard reports of anyone trying this, though.

It should work but you'll probably draw more attention to yourself than a garden variety refundable ticket for gate pass purposes. They'll know you're in the lounge and may try to coddle you a bit in terms of making your flight.

I've done it many times with domestic refundable tickets so I can use Pre and access the Club..but never for an IFL. I don't think I'd want the attention.. plus I'm a Club member and using a refundable ticket to access a Club doesn't get me any other benefits that I don't already pay for.. but using an IFL does.

Fraud is not so great. Advertising that you plan to do it even less so.

Dealing with going through security to see your wife on a connection doesn't seem like such a hardship really, does it??

Redeeming miles for an F ticket also works well for this situation.

If you think that it is morally right to steal services (First Class Lounge with no intention of meeting their standard) then go right ahead. Pointing out that you plan to steal services in advance is not the best idea, however.

I'm sorry, going into the lounge with no intention to fly is fraud? or theft of services? Before you accuse people of committing crimes, you might want to think about what you're saying a bit more.

OP said he had a club card, but intended to use IFC lounge under what OP described as fraudulent circumstances. Access rules for IFC lounge say pretty clearly that you must have a ticket for a flight that day, having a ticket for a flight that day implies that you intend to fly. If you say you are buying the ticket for the sole purpose of using the lounge (and not the ticket) then I stand by my statement.

IMO, yes.

I have. I stand by my prior statement.

Conducting a transaction with the express purpose of acquiring something for free which you are not entitled to otherwise is hardly a morally strong position to be in. And I'm willing to bet that repeated actions of this sort over time would be considered a crime in many jurisdictions.

I would say that using the International First lounge with no intention of flying International First is fraud. You're falsely representing to the airline that you're going to pay for an International First flight, then once you have used that misrepresentation to gain access to services, not paying for them.

Kinda the definition of fraud really.

Both.

If you're just getting a refundable ticket to get past security and use the lounge you have purchased a lounge membership for, that's fine.


Although I question whether the hassle of buying the ticket is any better than the hassle of just waiting through the elite line instead of the TSA Pre line.

I wonder if the OP plans on leaving the house early tomorrow to catch the free breakfast at a local Marriott Fairfield Inn or Springhill Suites?

You would be wrong, because there is absolutely no deception involved. Last I checked, purchasing a refundable fare doesn't involve making a promise that you're gonna do your darnedest to actually take the flight. Thank god that the law doesn't work the way people on FT seem to think it does.

What else do you buy, consume part of and then refund for all your money back and consider it not theft?

You are correct that buying a refundable ticket in and of itself does not compel one to get on the plane and make that flight. But that's not at all the same thing as what the OP is proposing here.

The regular UC at SFO is not a bad place to hang out. There are many decent places to grab a bite to eat just outside the club, too.

There is a lot of wisdom shared above, and it seems that it prevails. Nice change in comparison to some of the something-for-nothing threads we see here. Now that you've asked for the advice, you've gotten a mix of pro and con for your idea. Count me among the cons.

We are members of the FFP of an airline that is already losing money. I wouldn't do anything that further contributes to the red ink on their bottom line just to get access to a fancy club. But that's me.