Is There an Exemption Process to Meet Passengers at the Gate?

Ted

Ted

The pilot formerly known as Twin Engine Ted
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Tomorrow my mom flies into CVG. She had an accident a week ago and is still not fully mobile. I'd like to meet her at the gate if I can. She's too proud to ask for a wheelchair.

I have no idea if there's a way to make that happen in today's security theater environment. Can any of you who know more about this stuff enlighten me? Airline is Delta (GoJet I think is the regional, LGA to CVG landing at 3:30 pm).
 
Not that I am aware of, but you can go to ticketing and ask. You can also prearrange the wheelchair if its gonna be a prob.
 
There is a process to get a gate pass to escort unaccompanied minors under 15. Call the airline ASAP to find out if that applies to your situation, too, and to make arrangements. And leave your pocket knife home.

You might also want to check this page from Delta.
 
I've seen a gate pass issued in the past. So long as they can tie you to a passenger, I don't think it is much of an issue.
 
If you have a good reason you can get a gate pass,you do have to go through security.
 
Yes, you can get a pass from a ticketing agent then go through security to the gate.
 
Used to do it all the time at Sea-Tac, but the security folks shut that down 30 years ago.

Bob Gardner
 
Done it many times. Call the airline the day before and they'll set you up.
 
I was taking my grandparents (both within spitting distance of 80 but still in great health) to the airport for a flight and was helping them check in expecting to say goodbye. The desk agent looked at me and said, your taking them to the gate right? I said can i do that? She said absolutely and printed me out a pass. I walked through security and everything with them and hung out at the gate. Defiantly doable.
 
bobmrg said:
Used to do it all the time at Sea-Tac, but the security folks shut that down 30 years ago.

Bob Gardner
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Actually, the airlines shut it down. The original purpose of only letting ticketed passengers with id past security was to prevent the resale of tickets. It wasn't considered a security issue until much later.
 
I've done it as recently as last month.

Go to the counter with a copy of your mother's itinerary. Best if you have the same surname. Show them your ID and request to meet her at the gate. If they hesitate request the wheelchair pickup for her since that is sill better.

Should be no issue.
 
Again -- call the airline as soon as possible to make arrangements lest you get caught at the end of a long line at the ticket counter while your mother sits at the gate.
 
bobmrg said:
Used to do it all the time at Sea-Tac, but the security folks shut that down 30 years ago.

Bob Gardner
Click to expand...

I've done it a couple times a year for the past 5 or 6 years at Sea-Tac. It sure isn't as easy as it was when I was a kid but it is still possible.
 
Called Delta, they said that's at the discretion of the people at the ticket counter. So I'll try to get there early enough for that.
 
Mention the word ADA in your request.
 
weilke said:
Mention the word ADA in your request.
Click to expand...
Unless Ted is disabled by the ADA's definition, I don't think that will help him much. The airline is entirely free to say "no" and provide their own people to help get Mom from the get to the exit from the security area without violating that law. And check the link I posted regarding Delta's policies for travelers with physical disabilities -- it's pretty comprehensive in its provisions to help them get where they are going as long as you don't surprise them by just showing up at the airport needing assistance without prior notice.
 
I wanted to thank everyone for their help/advice, and say that I'm writing this waiting at the gate for mom to get off. :)

Like I posted earlier, I called Delta and they said that it was at the discretion of the agents at the airport. Got here and explained the situation. She started to give me another instruction and then stopped and said "You know what, I'll just issue you a gate pass." She said in the future I was supposed to call reservations ahead of time so they could flag the passenger/ticket as someone who could get a gate pass. The person I talked to this morning was less friendly, so that might have been the reason for the discrepancy.

Now for the real fun to begin...
 
Last fall got a gate pass when Rachel was flying solo with both kids - I wanted to help her get to the gate in one piece. I went up to the ticket agent outside security and asked for a gate pass. The guy looked at me and said "We don't give these things out just to be helpful...." Then rolled his eyes and gave me one "as a favor".

WTH do you give them out for if you're not being helpful!?

Next time I need to do something like that, I'll buy a refundable ticket to Walla-Walla, Washington to get me through security and then cancel the ticket before the flight leaves.
 
Ted DuPuis said:
Tomorrow my mom flies into CVG. She had an accident a week ago and is still not fully mobile. I'd like to meet her at the gate if I can. She's too proud to ask for a wheelchair.

I have no idea if there's a way to make that happen in today's security theater environment. Can any of you who know more about this stuff enlighten me? Airline is Delta (GoJet I think is the regional, LGA to CVG landing at 3:30 pm).
Click to expand...

Yes, you can go up to the main counter and the explain the situation and the ticket agent will hand you a pass that gets you through security.
 
ahkahn said:
I've seen a gate pass issued in the past. So long as they can tie you to a passenger, I don't think it is much of an issue.
Click to expand...

It's not at all, I pick up a lady in a wheelchair all the time, it's always just a proforma ask is all and I'm issued a pass.
 
Ted DuPuis said:
I wanted to thank everyone for their help/advice, and say that I'm writing this waiting at the gate for mom to get off. :)

Like I posted earlier, I called Delta and they said that it was at the discretion of the agents at the airport. Got here and explained the situation. She started to give me another instruction and then stopped and said "You know what, I'll just issue you a gate pass." She said in the future I was supposed to call reservations ahead of time so they could flag the passenger/ticket as someone who could get a gate pass. The person I talked to this morning was less friendly, so that might have been the reason for the discrepancy.

Now for the real fun to begin...
Click to expand...

Henning said:
Yes, you can go up to the main counter and the explain the situation and the ticket agent will hand you a pass that gets you through security.
Click to expand...


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My wife was offerred a gate pass to assist her mom, apparently the ticket agent figured it would save her the trouble of rounding up an assistant and a wheelchair. She saw me standing off to the side and asked if I wanted one, too. I had to decline, because I wasn't expecting it I still had a pocketknife I wanted to keep.

So whatever airline that was, maybe SWA, they were 2 for 2 in offering without being asked. In that case, my MIL was with us. I don't know how they would have acted if we would have asked about meeting someone that hadn't arrived.
 
Lindberg said:
Actually, the airlines shut it down. The original purpose of only letting ticketed passengers with id past security was to prevent the resale of tickets. It wasn't considered a security issue until much later.
Click to expand...

OK...I misinterpreted the OP. What I was referring to was parking a GA plane at the terminal and walking in from the air side to meet pax. Accompanying pax to the gate within the terminal is not normally a problem.

Bob
 
Henning said:
Yes, you can go up to the main counter and the explain the situation and the ticket agent will hand you a pass that gets you through security.
Click to expand...
Or even better, you can do what the airline asks and call ahead so they have the pass waiting for you.
 
Or simply buy a fully refundable ticket for a flight that day, go through security, fetch your mom, then call and refund the ticket.
 
Ron Levy said:
Unless Ted is disabled by the ADA's definition, I don't think that will help him much. The airline is entirely free to say "no" and provide their own people to help get Mom from the get to the exit from the security area without violating that law.
Click to expand...

There is an entire FAR section on this and I have found US carriers to be extremely accomodating when it comes to doing everything possible to keep their passengers from looking up the 'compliance' and 'complaints' part of that FAR. That reg even states that they can't force you to use a particular disability related service they provide (e.g. preboarding). If someone with his service rhino wants to be helped down the jetway by foot 1/2 way into group 3 boarding (and holds up the departure), there is little the airline can do about it.

It has been my personal experience with Delta that they will readily give me a gate pass to meet my disabled passengers. That doesn't mean that the young somali guy from 'Airserv' or 'Eulen' won't be there as well, but in the end all the airline wants is not having to put my complaint into the report they submit to the DOT IG.

Foreign carriers dont give a ####.
 
bobmrg said:
OK...I misinterpreted the OP. What I was referring to was parking a GA plane at the terminal and walking in from the air side to meet pax. Accompanying pax to the gate within the terminal is not normally a problem.

Bob
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Now that would be awesome. I don't think we'll ever see that again in my lifetime.
 
I was going to suggest sending the 'scuse cart for her but sounds like it worked out OK.
 
Henning said:
It's not at all, I pick up a lady in a wheelchair all the time, it's always just a proforma ask is all and I'm issued a pass.
Click to expand...

I would imagine that FLL sees an above average issuance of these things... lol...
 
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