Meeting someone at the airport gate in the US?

Question

As of quite awhile back you're not able to meet people at the gate of the arriving flight.

However, I've come across certain sites like Churchill Executive Cars, which offers a concierge service that supposedly allows an agent of the company to meet the client at the gate or even on the tarmac and help them through the Immigration and Customs this one specifically in JFK but they offer similar service in other major New York Area airports.

VIP TARMAC

Additionally, we have tarmac service available that would allow a passenger to de-board the plane directly onto the tarmac where their luggage will be loaded into a private car, taken to a private immigration area, and then dropped with a Churchill Executive Cars driver outside the terminal to take them to their final destination.

VIP ARRIVALS

On arrivals, we will have a Churchill Executive Cars Agent meet the passengers at the gate when they de-board the airplane. The agent will have a sign with the passenger's name and Churchill logo and have a baggage porter ready to carry their carry-on bags. The agent will then whisk them through fast-track immigration and customs, and pass the passengers along to the Churchill Executive Cars driver to be taken to their final destination.

Now if this is true there is a way for someone to have clearance to go airside to meet a person but I was unable to find any references on how such a clearance can be attained.

So is this real? And can this be done by an Average Joe?

Answer 1

Yes, it's still possible, but it's at the airline's discretion.

I have two online sources for this:

• Family Going on a Trip? You Can Walk them All the Way to the Boarding Gate if You Ask

Airlines allow for "companions" to acquire what's called a "gate pass," which allows you to walk your traveling loved ones all the way to the final gate. To get one, just speak with the airline rep at the ticket desk, and try to have the actual ticket-holders with you at the time. The catch is that you'll need to present a valid reason for wanting to be there, since those gates are crowded enough as it is

• Gate passes for non-ticketed passengers - a quote from Northwest Airlines:

Gate passes are provided free of charge at the airport and issued under certain circumstances noted below. You will need to speak to an airport check-in agent for assistance in obtaining a gate pass. This policy is applicable to flights departing the U.S. only. Due to immigration requirements gate passes are not issued by non-U.S. airports or when an international flight is arriving in the U.S.

The following situations are eligible for the issuance of a gate pass:

• Parent/Guardian of minors under 18 traveling alone, or children that will be met at a connecting city and picked up by a parent or guardian. Note: Children do not have to participate in the Unaccompanied Minor Program for a parent or guardian to be issued a gate pass. Please see additional information about unaccompanied minors.
• Escort for elderly passengers or passengers with disabilities needing assistance. This may include someone who will push the wheelchair, provide transfer assistance in/out of the seat, provide extensive personal assistance not provided by airline personnel such as feeding/within lavatory or a sign language interpreter. Note: The adult does not need to participate in the Adult Assistance program for the person assisting them to be issued a gate pass. Please see additional information about the Adult Assistance Program.
• Oxygen providers. This may be an employee from a medical oxygen company who the customer has contracted with to provide oxygen on the ground or a friend or family member who will bring the oxygen to/from the gate area.
• Military families. Families of military service personnel are permitted through the screening checkpoint with a gate pass for both departing and arriving military family members.

So in conclusion, yes, there are some situations where you, as a non-passenger can reach the gate to see off / greet passengers, but you have to get a gate pass, and it's not a right, it's a privilege.

Answer 2

Companies like the mentioned limousine service, as well as some big tour operators like cruise lines, bus tours, etc sometimes have licensed meet & greet staff. These staff have had to undergo security clearance and are issued airport ids that allow them access to gate areas.

It is possible to be issued a temporary gate pass when sending off and meeting small children and elderly parents. But these privileges are limited and at the discretion of the airline or airport staff.

However getting access to the gate area for meeting friends and such won't happen unless there is some extraordinary circumstance.

Answer 3

Domestic departures and arrivals are not separated in the USA so your task is to get inside security. That's easy! Buy a refundable ticket for a flight say 6-8 hours later than your meeting, walk through security and the moment you have crossed security, cancel your ticket for a full refund. Of course you want to check the fine print before you do this but the worst I can remember is the cancel deadline being two hours, sometimes it's an even shorter period.