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Old 07-11-2009, 10:42 AM
 
88 posts, read 272,425 times
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Our two sons, 12 and 13, flew unescorted at different times in the last few months. We were able to get a visitor pass for one adult to take them and pick them up. The other family members had to wait outside security. I think probably you can only get the pass if they are officially "Unescorted", whatever that age range is.
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Old 07-11-2009, 11:02 AM
 
8,231 posts, read 17,259,246 times
Reputation: 3696
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fiddi View Post
Our two sons, 12 and 13, flew unescorted at different times in the last few months. We were able to get a visitor pass for one adult to take them and pick them up. The other family members had to wait outside security. I think probably you can only get the pass if they are officially "Unescorted", whatever that age range is.
that's what they said. ours is 17, so i guess they thought she was too old.
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Old 07-11-2009, 11:18 AM
 
Location: The Village
1,621 posts, read 4,573,877 times
Reputation: 692
Quote:
Originally Posted by mimimomx3 View Post
Just got back from dropping off our kid at the airport. She's a teenager, and I thought for sure they'd let us escort her to the gate, even though we (mom and dad) aren't travelling. NO WAY. We tried two ticket agents, nope. We tried two security check points, nope. So....unless we look really criminal, they will NOT let you through without a boarding pass.

Also...did you know that with a first class ticket or 'premium pass' membership, you can bypass security altoghether? If I were a terrorist, I would sure kick in for first class! That's some hard core security they have going, right?


This is completely and absolutely false. You can cut in line, yes, but you are definitely going to be screened.

These problems you are mentioning have nothing to do with ABIA, they are common to all American airports since 9-11.
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Old 07-11-2009, 11:25 AM
 
8,231 posts, read 17,259,246 times
Reputation: 3696
Quote:
Originally Posted by theloneranger View Post
[/b]

This is completely and absolutely false. You can cut in line, yes, but you are definitely going to be screened.

These problems you are mentioning have nothing to do with ABIA, they are common to all American airports since 9-11.
Unless you were standing next to me, you really can't say it's false. Next to the middle security station, there is a line with a sign. The sign says 'priority customers'. A family of 3 walked up to the sign and asked the TSA officer 'what is this line for?'. The TSA officer said 'it's for airport personnel, first class and preferred customers'. That is VERBATIM. My DH and I were both shocked. The family waited until the other TSA officer, who was checking the documents of the less priveleged who were waiting in the long security line, turned to them. He looked at the boarding passes (not the ID) and checked them off quickly. That was it.

I can't say exactly if this happens at other airports for 'preferred customers', I know that airport personnel have a special line, but at ABIA this was going on this morning.

I find you quite rude to imply that I'm making this up.
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Old 07-11-2009, 11:57 AM
 
Location: The Village
1,621 posts, read 4,573,877 times
Reputation: 692
Quote:
Originally Posted by mimimomx3 View Post
Unless you were standing next to me, you really can't say it's false. Next to the middle security station, there is a line with a sign. The sign says 'priority customers'. A family of 3 walked up to the sign and asked the TSA officer 'what is this line for?'. The TSA officer said 'it's for airport personnel, first class and preferred customers'. That is VERBATIM. My DH and I were both shocked. The family waited until the other TSA officer, who was checking the documents of the less priveleged who were waiting in the long security line, turned to them. He looked at the boarding passes (not the ID) and checked them off quickly. That was it.

I can't say exactly if this happens at other airports for 'preferred customers', I know that airport personnel have a special line, but at ABIA this was going on this morning.

I find you quite rude to imply that I'm making this up.
I have flown first class on numerous occasions and this is never the case. So, if it was happening today, it ought not to have. They still have to get their baggage screened and get go through a metal detector, even in the "priority line." Their IDs still get checked--many passengers place their IDs inside their bording pass so the TSA can check them both at the same time. If they aren't, they are in violation of the law and you should definitely report this.

But you're story doesn't check out with the facts of how airport security in this country has worked for nearly ten years.
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Old 07-11-2009, 12:09 PM
 
Location: Central Texas
13,715 posts, read 31,016,095 times
Reputation: 9270
Quote:
Originally Posted by mimimomx3 View Post
Unless you were standing next to me, you really can't say it's false. Next to the middle security station, there is a line with a sign. The sign says 'priority customers'. A family of 3 walked up to the sign and asked the TSA officer 'what is this line for?'. The TSA officer said 'it's for airport personnel, first class and preferred customers'. That is VERBATIM. My DH and I were both shocked. The family waited until the other TSA officer, who was checking the documents of the less priveleged who were waiting in the long security line, turned to them. He looked at the boarding passes (not the ID) and checked them off quickly. That was it.

I can't say exactly if this happens at other airports for 'preferred customers', I know that airport personnel have a special line, but at ABIA this was going on this morning.

I find you quite rude to imply that I'm making this up.
I'm sorry but I do not believe you. First class passengers can take advantage of priority - but they do not bypass security. They still go through scanners like every one else. Somehow you missed seeing them go through the scanners.
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Old 07-11-2009, 12:33 PM
 
434 posts, read 1,076,564 times
Reputation: 155
Quote:
Originally Posted by mlassoff View Post
Yes, I think it's nice to have some local establishments in the airport serving food. However, it would be very nice and convenient to have a McDonald's and a Starbucks. The only thing for breakfast is a $4 breakfast taco.
are you sure they were not meant for Mexican construction workers?



Quote:
While on the subject, as anyone else found the restaurants extremely disorganized?
If you want well-organized, efficient 24-hr restaurants at the airport, stick with Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai or Beijing.
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Old 07-11-2009, 03:49 PM
 
8,231 posts, read 17,259,246 times
Reputation: 3696
Quote:
Originally Posted by theloneranger View Post
I have flown first class on numerous occasions and this is never the case. So, if it was happening today, it ought not to have. They still have to get their baggage screened and get go through a metal detector, even in the "priority line." Their IDs still get checked--many passengers place their IDs inside their bording pass so the TSA can check them both at the same time. If they aren't, they are in violation of the law and you should definitely report this.

But you're story doesn't check out with the facts of how airport security in this country has worked for nearly ten years.
Wow! I confess...it didn't happen! I'm lying. You are so omniscient, you know it all.

How nice that you've flown first class. How sad that you didn't avail yourself of the special line for you in security. If you have a minute, drive on over to the airport and check out the line and the sign in the middle security checkpoint. Oh, wait, I made that up! Never mind.

I didn't say anything about the family NOT going through the metal detector. They did. They just didn't have to wait in the long line, and they had their ticket checked, not their ID. Oh, wait, they didn't, I'm making that up. I keep forgetting.
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Old 07-11-2009, 04:30 PM
 
Location: The Big D
14,862 posts, read 42,695,785 times
Reputation: 5787
Quote:
Originally Posted by atxcio View Post
I agree 100% on the hours.. I know the flight hours are limited at ABIA, but I've been through there when there were lots of passengers and everything was closed... sometimes very early in the evening. Like 6:00PM early!! That is truly a shame, and the airport SHOULD demand a certain minimum time that those places must be open.
Even the larger airports the food service vendors close early. At Atlanta all food service closes PROMPTLY at 9:00pm. I've been thru there enough to know lately and it is CRAZY! Thousands and thousands of people are still crammed into every nook and cranny and they close up. People that realize it swarm the last few open to try and get anything. Atlanta is a MAJOR hub for the nation and this is still the practice.

Quote:
Originally Posted by mimimomx3 View Post
My experience is that all airport food is overpriced.
You mean it is absurd to pay $4 for a bottle of water. Normally at the store you can get a case of 24 for $4.99. It does stink.

Quote:
Originally Posted by mlassoff View Post
I am simply asking for more options, with better hours.

The airport can do a better job of serving its customers. There is no excuse for everything to be closed when hungry passengers are in the terminal.
I'll give you a tip......
NEVER fly thru Miami. They have ZERO for food service. Well, there is one "sit down" bar & grill type place that is HIGHLY overpriced and DINKY at the end of one terminal. There is a Pizza Hut and Samuel Adams combined in another terminal and then a few newstands and cart vendors w/ prepackaged sandwiches and drinks. The carts close EARLY and that might be the ONLY thing in that entire terminal you are in. Miami is a "huge" (cough-cough) international airport that has jack for food service. When your stuck there for a layover for 4 hours it can take that long to wait in line for a pizza as that is about the only thing worth getting and it might not be in the terminals your in. Just get there before they close. If you want McD's at Miami, your out of luck. The only hamburger is at that Island place at the end of terminal B that will cost you about $15 and an hour wait for a table.

Quote:
Originally Posted by mlassoff View Post
And again, no one has addressed that the local chains can't seem to provide service at all hours when people are in the terminal.
Even the national chains close up early at all of the other much larger airports across the country. 9:00pm seems to be the standard although I've seen some close at 6:00.

Quote:
Originally Posted by AustinSpartan View Post
A 24-hour restaurant makes absolutely no sense at ABIA.

It's a telling sign when the airport lounges close at 6pm.
There isn't even a place open in Atlanta past 9:00 and they have flights going in and out of there at all hours of the day and night.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Austin97 View Post
Similar sized airport is john wayne in orange county and the food selection there is awful and generic.
Honestly, the selection at Austin is better than Miami and several others. DFW has most airports beat handsdown when it comes to food selection. Some of the best ones are in Terminal D that are local and are always crowded and very good.

Quote:
Originally Posted by mlassoff View Post
Its no longer required that you show your boarding pass to go through security. Which means someone who isn't flying can easily go through security to meet a relative, see someone off, or eat. I don't know if the official policy is that you need to be flying that day to go through security.
um, I just flew the other day and we were REQUIRED to show a boarding pass AND ID going and coming. There has not been a change in that at all. They checked them at DFW, Las Vegas, Tulsa and Dallas Love. Friends fly out of Austin to meet us and they had to show ID and boarding pass as well.

Quote:
Originally Posted by mlassoff View Post
I think that there is no official policy to let non-boarding pass holders past security. However, since they are not asking for boarding passes you certainly could walk right through. This is definitely happening nationwide. Was through AUS and SLC yesterday and no boarding pass requests.

I'd be HIGHLY shocked if they are letting people thru w/ no boarding pass. Are you sure you didn't show it to someone at the BEGINNING of the security line and then put it away by the time you go to the tables to disrobe and go thru the metal detectors? Some airports do have it set up that way now so that you are not fumbling w/ your ID and boarding pass as your trying to unload all of your belongings and clothes into the tubs.


Quote:
Originally Posted by hoffdano View Post
I'm sorry but I do not believe you. First class passengers can take advantage of priority - but they do not bypass security. They still go through scanners like every one else. Somehow you missed seeing them go through the scanners.
Correct, there is a priority line for those that have first class and are priority. But they STILL go thru security. They just get to bypass the long lines. Some airports have their security setup a bit different. If the priority person has APPLIED for this service (like someone that travels weekly for business) and their background is checked they are given that access to "bypass" the more thorough security that the rest of the flying public must go thru. They won't have to take off shoes and such but they still go thru "security" just of the weaker form. This is only at "select airports" though. Not every single airport has this priority security line.

There is nothing on the TSA website about not needing a boarding pass or ID to get thru the checkpoints. Most airports now have someone stationed PRIOR to the actual metal detectors and screeners to verify this information so that you can put it safely away so it isn't left somewhere as your fumbling w/ your stuff to get thru the scanners. They even tell you that you can put it away after they verify it and "mark it".
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Old 07-11-2009, 04:30 PM
 
Location: The Village
1,621 posts, read 4,573,877 times
Reputation: 692
Quote:
Originally Posted by mimimomx3 View Post
Wow! I confess...it didn't happen! I'm lying. You are so omniscient, you know it all.

How nice that you've flown first class. How sad that you didn't avail yourself of the special line for you in security. If you have a minute, drive on over to the airport and check out the line and the sign in the middle security checkpoint. Oh, wait, I made that up! Never mind.

I didn't say anything about the family NOT going through the metal detector. They did. They just didn't have to wait in the long line, and they had their ticket checked, not their ID. Oh, wait, they didn't, I'm making that up. I keep forgetting.
No, it just seems that you didn't get the best view of the situation being in the middle of a long line.

You specifically said that they "didn't go through security." Even in a priority line, that is NOT POSSIBLE. IF it did happen like you say it is, it is a SERIOUS security breach and you should report it to the TSA instead of ranting about it on an internet forum.

I guarantee you that their identification had been checked before they boarded the plane, regardless of what you state. Again, if it wasn't, I highly encourage you to report this massive breach of security to the TSA.
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