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Airport Certification

March 13, 2009 02:26PM
I have another question.....I have several companies sending me shops at the Airport. However, some are stating you need to have a certification or clearance to do the shop.

Does anyone know how to get the cert??? Or is this someone that already works at the airport that has the clearance to do the shop??
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More About Certification
March 13, 2009 04:00PM
Folks who work at the airport do have clearance behind the security area. These shops tend to be available to ticketed passengers who can get through security. A year or so ago I noted one company that was offering to assist shoppers in getting clearance to go through security without a ticket, but I only saw it once and it was with a company that the fee offered would not have paid my airport parking.

I have done a fair number of airport shops but all based on being a ticketed passenger. My home airport offers relatively little shops before or after security so are not worth the travel and parking even if I had clearance. But when I go visit my son in another state or we are flying out on vacation, that is a good time for me to load the boat as I can never get from here to there without at least one layover. I also did airport shops all day when I was flown into a not-too-distant major airport by the MSP to evaluate about 25 locations before and after security in a single day.
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March 13, 2009 04:58PM
That day in the airport sounds like one long hell to me. :-)

**********************************************************************
“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
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March 13, 2009 06:36PM
It was, but it paid very well for the day's effort. Most airport shops pay only about $5 and reimburse up to about $5 so are really feasible mostly to grab a 'progressive lunch' between a few locations during a layover. This one for the day paid over $400 and reimbursed over $100, some of it useful stuff other than just food, plus it paid the ticket directly so I didn't even have to out-of-pocket that.
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March 13, 2009 06:46PM
Wow! great pay for sure. but still, a day in the airport visiting airport stores and restaurants...

**********************************************************************
“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
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March 13, 2009 07:31PM
Agreed. Not something I would undertake lightly again. My feet were sore, I really wanted a cigarette and I was really tired. After every few shops I would sit down and write them up rather than try to remember everything in my 'fog'. But it was an interesting and unusual day and I am glad I did it.
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March 13, 2009 08:50PM
I've had a memorable experience at the airport as well. But, I still like them. 3 or 4 times a year, whenever I can get several - scheduled with different MSPs, I'll schedule them; and I only do it when I'm not flying. The least I've done it for was $125 fees and $80 reimbursement. Normally, somebody will reimburse my parking, and occasionally I'll even get mileage.

To get past security, you need a ticket. I purchase a one-way refundable ticket for $240. After completing my shops, I either stop at the ticket counter and tell them I had a change of plans, or I call when I get home, and get credit. The charge and credit are both on the same cycle.
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March 13, 2009 10:18PM
You must be near a decent size airport. My home airport hardly has enough even to bother scheduling them when I am outbound from here--at most one or two.
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March 15, 2009 01:55AM
Ooh, that's good Mert. I didn't even think of that! I live so close to a major airport, but I am never a ticketed passenger, and if I am I am not going to be doing shops that day.

I find Airport shops daily, but never take them. I wonder if I can manage to schedule them all for one day? hmmmm.
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March 15, 2009 04:24AM
We have the technology! Watch the departure time of your "flight". Since 9-11, some airports won't allow you past Security more than three hours prior to flight. Carefully check the criteria for the refundable ticket. I use Delta because it has the lowest priced refundable ticket, and have never had a problem. Schedule your shops by time and concourse. A small carry-on bag will hold your guidelines, camera, etc. going in. Leaving, it will hold receipts and required purchases - doggy bags, gift and electronic shops, sporting goods . . .

It's a different kind of route building. Some MSPs will work with you on due dates. Can't wait to hear about your first airport shop!!!
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March 18, 2009 12:42AM
So there's no other way to become Airport Certified? You mean the only way to get thru the secure area is to purchase a ticket? There has to be some way for us MS to certify our feild agent status. There has to be some site or agency that can help with this matter.
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March 18, 2009 02:33AM
See my note above near the top of the thread. Last year one of the MSPs was offering to help get a shopper who would regularly and routinely do the airports authorization to go behind security. I haven't seen that lately but then again I have little interest in the very few shops available at my local airport.
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