Airport Gate Passes for Military Passenger Family
Members
In January 2004, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
issued a security directive pertaining to military passengers that
allows the airlines to issue a special access pass that allows family
members to accompany the service member through airport security check
points or to meet them at the arrival gates.
According to TSA Security Directive 1544-01-10w (Access to Sterile
Concourse for Non-traveling Individuals), Military Passenger Family
Members may be given a pass to escort the military passenger to the
gate or to meet a military passenger's inbound arrival at the gate.
According to a TSA spokesperson, family members who want to escort the
service member to the departure gate need to process through the ticket
line when the service member checks in. The airline will issue the
special access passes and the group will need to proceed through the
security station at the same time.
Family members who want to meet their service member at the arrival
gate should first check to see if the airport has a USO Office. The USO
is working with TSA and the airlines to secure the special access
passes. If the airport does not have a USO Office, family members
should go to the ticket counter of the airline that the military member
is flying on and request the passes. Family members will need to
present the pass and photo ID to get through the security checkpoint.
The TSA spokesperson said that not all airports and airlines are able
to issue the special access passes to meet returning service members at
the gate due to local security situations. She added, one way to make
this process easier, is for the traveling service member to inform the
ticket agent at check in, that family members will be contacting the
ticket office at the arrival destination to request the special passes.
