Southwest Gate Pass Experiences

[Elmo007]

I am wondering is anyone has had any recent experience requesting a gate pass from Southwest to accompany a young solo traveler (but not unaccompanied minor - for example anyone over 12) to the gate or to meet them at the gate upon arrival. I am particularly interested in Islip and Fort Lauderdale.

Thanks

 

[KGK]

Shouldn't be a problem. Get a pass at the ticket counter.

 

[MacDalt]

My brother has done this a couple of times for my mother. She's not disabled, just alone.

 

[tjmw2727]

I have done this a few times with SWA out of Philadelphia and a few out of Manchester NH without any issues at all. Both picking up an UM and dropping off I just went to the SWA ticket counter and showed the paperwork when I was picking up and when I went with the minor to check her in they gave me the gate pass.

I did arrive early to make sure we had no issues and I could get the child settled; buy a few extra snacks and a drink after security for the flight.

 

[NotUrsula]

How young is young? If the kid is a minor (12-17), you usually can get a gate pass without difficulty, but if you are defining "young" as over 18 but just inexperienced, probably not, unless there is some kind of disability involved.

They tend to be more liberal with gate passes for the old than they are for the young. Older people are more likely to be confused by automated systems, and also a lot less likely to simply accept what they are told without argument, so there are customer service concerns that play into that, because gate agents tend to be pretty busy.

 

[Elmo007]

How young is young? If the kid is a minor (12-17), you usually can get a gate pass without difficulty, but if you are defining "young" as over 18 but just inexperienced, probably not, unless there is some kind of disability involved.

They tend to be more liberal with gate passes for the old than they are for the young. Older people are more likely to be confused by automated systems, and also a lot less likely to simply accept what they are told without argument, so there are customer service concerns that play into that, because gate agents tend to be pretty busy.

Thanks for the info. I am talking about a 13 year old

 

[drinkme]

I was able to get one last year from SWA. I got it at the ticket counter.

 

[drinkme]

I was able to get one last year from SWA. I got it at the ticket counter.

I should add that my kids were 12 & 13 years old at the time. I stayed with them until they boarded. When the gate attendant asked if they were flying alone she then stopped the boarding line and walked the kids into the plane herself. When she got back she told me she wanted to alert the flight crew.

 

[mainemouselover]

I just got a gate pass from SWA in Houston and my sister did it in Boston with no problems for my 13 years old nephew last week. It was his first time flying alone and neither airports gave us any trouble. When I was picking him up they just looked up the flight to make sure he was on the flight and I received the pass. When I was dropping him off they asked me prior to me even asking for a pass.

I did notice security both times asked me a couple questions on why I was going thru and who I was picking up.

I think we were both more nervous about him flying alone then he was!!