Gate pass at Atlanta Hartsfield
I am expecting a 21-yr old exchange student from Brazil at the Atlanta airport. She's flying domestic on Southwest from New York, where she's being put on the plane by the exchange program after a week of orientation. She has very little English and no cell phone and has never been to the United States.
Normally I meet people outside the secured area either at baggage claim or at the one place where all passengers leave the secured area. However I'd like to meet her at the gate because
- to ease any anxiety she has navigating the world's busiest airport
- so she doesn't get lost finding the exit, which involves finding the underground train and taking it to the correct stop
- so I don't accidentally miss her in the throngs of people exiting the secured area every time the train arrives at the exit
Is there any way to get a gate pass? I can't find any information on the Southwest or ATL websites that don't address minors.
Best Answer
The usual process is simple enough, and free. Have someone like a parent or whoever bought the ticket contact the airline and give the the name(s) of whoever you want to meet the passenger. That person(s) goes to the ticket counter and picks up the gate pass then goes thru security just like normal. We are doing this today - my wife and I - at Atlanta to help our two grandchildren get on the plane and settled it. We did the same thing a week ago when they were getting off the plane. Their parents had called Southwest and had both of our names put on the OK-give-them-gate-passes list. It went zip zip zip.
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Can you get a gate pass at the Atlanta Airport?
You may ask for a gate pass from the check in desk, which will enable you to go airside.Can non passengers go through airport security?
Airport security used to be pretty loose, but since 2001, it's been severely tightened to avoid potential terrorism threats. That's why people without valid tickets aren't allowed to go through airport security \u2013 so that no person from the outside could get in without having the intention of flying somewhere.Can you wait for someone at the airport gate?
Meeting someone at the airport gate is possible but requires either an airport gate pass or an escort pass. If you'll be meeting someone who needs assistance (minors, elderly, disabled people, military personnel), you should be able to do that.Can you go into the airport to see someone off?
It is usually easy to get an escort pass. Simply go with your relative or friend to the check-in counter, request a pass, and present your photo ID. You can call ahead to get escort pass information, but you will probably be told that issuance of escort passes is determined locally by each airline.Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta airport: Dont' make these mistakes!
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Answer 2
You may ask for a gate pass from the check in desk, which will enable you to go airside. However, it is really supposed to be for escorting people to the aircraft, not collecting them from the aircraft. Therefore, I would call the airline to discuss it now.
Option 2 is to buy a fully refundable ticket for the day in question. Once you have got airside and met up with the person, exit the zone, tell the ticketing desk that you have changed your mind, will not be flying today and wish to action a refund. There may be a fee of 20 USD or so for this.
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