How to meet an arriving child at the gate - **UNBELIEVEABLE Update Feb. 28th**

[TheresaNY]

We will be picking up our DD friend at MCO this summer. She is 15 and has never flown before. Will I be permitted to get her at the gate? She is taking Southwest - their website says "no" - only minors under 12! I am concerned that this might be a deal breaker for the friend's mother. She (and I) does not like the idea of her walking alone from gate, tram, through concourse to finally meet us. Has anyone had any success at being allowed in to pick up a child at the gate ????????????

 

[uva185]

We will be picking up our DD friend at MCO this summer. She is 15 and has never flown before. Will I be permitted to get her at the gate? She is taking Southwest - their website says "no" - only minors under 12! I am concerned that this might be a deal breaker for the friend's mother. She (and I) does not like the idea of her walking alone from gate, tram, through concourse to finally meet us. Has anyone had any success at being allowed in to pick up a child at the gate ????????????

The easiest way to do it is buy a refundable ticket to get by security and then cancel it.

Some airlines may issue you a gate pass but it might be a hassle arguing with them since she is older. Just buy the refundable ticket and be done with it.

 

[TheresaNY]

The easiest way to do it is buy a refundable ticket to get by security and then cancel it.

Some airlines may issue you a gate pass but it might be a hassle arguing with them since she is older. Just buy the refundable ticket and be done with it.

REALLY ??? Can I get a refund for canceling the ticket the same day? I suppose it would have to be for that day and approximate time, right?

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Personally, I think buying a ticket to meet someone at the gate is kind of odd and would be a big hassle.

OP - a 15 year old should be able to handle getting from the arrival gate to a meeting place, even a first time flyer. Print out a map and give her directions to the meeting place:

http://www.orlandoairports.net/ops/terminal.htm

 

[Hannathy]

Personally, I think buying a ticket to meet someone at the gate is kind of odd and would be a big hassle.

OP - a 15 year old should be able to handle getting from the arrival gate to a meeting place, even a first time flyer. Print out a map and give her directions to the meeting place:

http://www.orlandoairports.net/ops/terminal.htm

I agree! at 15 she is hardly a child. That is why it is for under 12 or otherwords a child. If she can't handle herself at 15 doing this how is she going to go away to school in 2 yrs? All she has to do is follow the signs.

To answer your question, yes I was able to get a pass to meet a child, my 7 yr old DD, not a young woman.

 

[backyardponder]

Make sure she has a cell phone plus your cell phone number. Then call her mom as soon as you meet.

 

[uva185]

REALLY ??? Can I get a refund for canceling the ticket the same day? I suppose it would have to be for that day and approximate time, right?

Yup, its a painless process and I have done it a handful of times for various reasons.

#1 - Book a refundable ticket online.
#2 - Check in online and print your boarding pass.
#3 - Either cancel right after you have your boarding pass printed OR call and cancel after you exit security with your daughter's friend. (I recommend the latter.)

 

[ironz]

Yup, its a painless process and I have done it a handful of times for various reasons.

#1 - Book a refundable ticket online.
#2 - Check in online and print your boarding pass.
#3 - Either cancel right after you have your boarding pass printed OR call and cancel after you exit security with your daughter's friend. (I recommend the latter.)

And of course, all the easier, since the teen is flying on SW and you would be buying the refundable ticket on SW. They make it super easy.

Though, I do think a 15 y/o should be able to make it from the gate, onto the tram, and to the main terminal without any difficulty. As long as someone lets her know about the tram. She would be met not very far at all from the tram exit.

 

[kaytieeldr]

And of course, all the easier, since the teen is flying on SW and you would be buying the refundable ticket on SW. They make it super easy.

In fairness, a fully refundable ticket is equally easy (to cancel and get refunded) on ANY airline. It's just a pretty expensive route.

 

[Hannathy]

Can you cancel a ticket after you have checked in and received a boarding pass? Because you need a boarding pass to get thru security. Just wondering. You would also have to book a flight pretty far away from her arrival time to allow for any glitches in getting it canceled and is there a time frame they will let you thru security?


It seems like an awful lot of bother for a teen who in most state can be driving with a permit, but can't walk thru an airport.

 

[uva185]

Can you cancel a ticket after you have checked in and received a boarding pass? Because you need a boarding pass to get thru security. Just wondering. You would also have to book a flight pretty far away from her arrival time to allow for any glitches in getting it canceled and is there a time frame they will let you thru security?


It seems like an awful lot of bother for a teen who in most state can be driving with a permit, but can't walk thru an airport.

Yes you can most certainly cancel after checkin, as I stated above I have done this numerous times for various reasons. I have never been given the third degree or even questioned for why I am canceling.

 

[Hannathy]

Yes you can most certainly cancel after checkin, as I stated above I have done this numerous times for various reasons. I have never been given the third degree or even questioned for why I am canceling.

Thanks I was just wondering, still seems like a lot of bother for you and the airlines for no good reason IMO.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I don't think it's a good idea to buy a ticket with no intention of flying, then to check in for the flight, then to fail to board, and then to try to get a refund.

It's possible to make advance arrangements for a gate pass when meeting young children, the elderly, and passengers with special needs.

However, a 15-year-old without special needs should have no trouble following the other passengers out of the plane toward the exit from the secure area. Airports have signs directing arriving passengers to baggage claim. That's what passengers look for.

Just get to the airport early enough to figure out the arrival gate, what concourse it's in, and where that concourse has its exit from the secure side to the public side. Then wait on the public side.

Whenever meeting any passenger at the airport, it's good if both of you have cell phones. (The cell phone has to be turned off during flight.)

 

[msmayor]

I also think a 15-year-old should be able to navigate the terminal fine on her own...especially if you are in cell-phone contact with her.

How in the world is she going to get to her outbound gate? She'll have to get there by herself...if she's doing that, then getting to you after the flight shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Traveliz]

I also think a 15-year-old should be able to navigate the terminal fine on her own...especially if you are in cell-phone contact with her.

How in the world is she going to get to her outbound gate? She'll have to get there by herself...if she's doing that, then getting to you after the flight shouldn't be an issue.

LOL well if she is leaving from a small airport you might literally be able to see the gate from security - that is how it is at the two airports we use to go to Orlando from - the Orlando airport is much larger and a tad more complicated. I do think a 15 year old can navigate it though - basically you are just following the people ahead of you.

Liz

 

[uva185]

I don't think it's a good idea to buy a ticket with no intention of flying, then to check in for the flight, then to fail to board, and then to try to get a refund.

Try to get a refund? You make it sound like the OP may not get it or have difficulties doing so. This is simply NOT TRUE!

Many many people alter their travel plans after checkin everyday. The airlines are very much equipped to handle with these changes. Why do you think they overbook planes???

 

[goofy4tink]

Yes, people do that, but why bother??? It's not all the hard to get from the gates to the tram and then from the tram to the main terminal area. I would think a 15 y/o should be able to do that...she just flew alone. Getting from the gate to the terminal isn't going to be a big deal.
I am assuming we are talking about MCO here, right? If so, just give her instructions to follow the herd from the gate area, get on the tram, and then follow the herd past security areas. Tell her where you will meet her. Good to go.

 

[TheresaNY]

LOL well if she is leaving from a small airport you might literally be able to see the gate from security - that is how it is at the two airports we use to go to Orlando from - the Orlando airport is much larger and a tad more complicated. I do think a 15 year old can navigate it though - basically you are just following the people ahead of you.

Liz

Well, YES, she is leaving a very small airport and she is not MY child. She is my DD best friend and is the oldest in her family. I cannot really say much as to what they will or will not allow for their daughter. I simply said that I would "ask all my friends on the Boards" !!
I am GREATLY appreciating all of the responses, suggestions and ideas. We drive 98% of the time so I am not wildly familiar with MCO. The 2-3 times that we flew I remember a 5 mile hike from the terminal to the actual doors out! Was that because we were going to Magical Express?? Is it shorter to the terminal exit if NOT using ME????

 

[TheresaNY]

Personally, I think buying a ticket to meet someone at the gate is kind of odd and would be a big hassle.

OP - a 15 year old should be able to handle getting from the arrival gate to a meeting place, even a first time flyer. Print out a map and give her directions to the meeting place:

http://www.orlandoairports.net/ops/terminal.htm

Thanks for the maps. I had already looked them over previously, but since everyone kept saying how short the distance is I reexamind the maps much closer. It looks like we would be able to get pretty close to the trams, right? You go through security right in front of the trams..is that correct?? I personally agree that getting from the gate to the tram does not look monumental!

Which level will she be on when she gets off the tram, upper or lower? Should we go to departing or arriving flights to be on the correct level? It is upstairs, right? Boy, my memory is dusty and I was just there 18 months ago!! Guess I never real payed any attention!

 

[bumbershoot]

I do think a 15 year old, after studying the airport's website and maps, should be able to handle it.

But if there's concern, especially with SW, the refundable ticket is a great solution.

REALLY ??? Can I get a refund for canceling the ticket the same day? I suppose it would have to be for that day and approximate time, right?

Can you cancel a ticket after you have checked in and received a boarding pass?

My SIL is a lawyer. She flies SW for depositions and whatnot. And many more times than once her secretary has called her *while SIL is in the line to board* to tell her the deposition has been cancelled. SIL gets out of line, doesn't board, gets a refund automatically. Doesn't even have to request it.

I personally would request it (or at least make sure it's happened), but it's NOT a problem, especially with SW. You just have to tie up a few hundred for however long it takes.