More help for the English gal!

[suki_blue]

Okay, American airports.

How far can you go without a ticket?

In England you check your luggage in, show your passport and get your boarding pass at the check-in desk, then you have to show your passport and b-pass as you go through into the Duty Free area. This is where there are more shops and restaraunts and it also has access to all the gates and lounges. If you have no ticket, then you cannot get into this area.

So, how does it work in america? For international flights?

I have been to America, but it was a couple of years ago and the whole thing is a bit of a blur. Can't remember.

So, just to ramble on a bit more, if you were not the one flying, but you were there to hang out and say goodbye, could you go right up to the gate? Or just the check in desk? Or the duty free? Lounge?

Detail would be appreciated.

Thank you!

Comments

[crazydiamondsue.livejournal.com]

Mmm...I have been to DFW (Dallas), JFK (New York) and O'Hare (Chicago). Oh, crap, I just read that you wrote international flights. Hmmm...I flew from DFW to Mexico City, but I don't know if that's technically "international." But basically it's as you described, you check your bags, present your ticket, get your boarding pass and then show your passport and boarding pass again to get into the actual terminal where the restaurants, shops and gates are. I don't know of any major airports that allow visitors past the lobby anymore. Hope that helps, some.

[phendog.livejournal.com]

Hmmm...w/o a ticket or w/o a reservation on the plane?

They're really strict about luggage matching. You don't need a paper ticket to check your bag in, but they look you up in the computer and check your ID. If you don't have a reservation and proper ID no luggage.

I THINK you can make it all the way to the gate otherwise and then they require your boarding pass. You have to present your ticket at the counter to get your boarding pass. Might want a confirmation on that though...I'm thinking they don't check for tickets at the metal detectors, but I could be wrong.

[cleeaz.livejournal.com]

You can't get anywhere in American airports after you've gone the security check. Up till then you can be anywhere you want to be. I got in to drop off & pick-up Ashley only because she's under the age of sixteen. Still had to go through security w/ papers to show that yes I was picking her up and yes I was her mother (major PITA). Cindy Lee

[lunabee34.livejournal.com]

I think everyone else has really explained it. Basically, you can go to luggage claim and the lobby if you don't have a ticket. Once you go through the metal detector to get where the shops and things are, you must have a ticket.

Oh, and you can have five books of matches with you, but no lighters whatsoever on the plane. *shrugs*