TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Every airline's boarding pass includes crucial information like seat number, passenger service class, departure time, flight number, and more. However, there is one code on the airline boarding pass that passengers dread, such as "GTE," "gate," or "see agent," which could indicate the lack of allocation of a seat on the aircraft.
Travel blogger Dan Miller once received the code "see agent" on his boarding pass earlier this year, as shared in his travel story on the blog Points with a Crew. According to him, the code indicates that the aircraft is actually overweight, and passengers are at risk of being removed from the flight. However, the code could also mean that the airline only needs to verify passports or visas for an international flight.
In Miller's case, his seat was already assigned even before arriving at the airport. However, he still advises passengers to check their boarding pass upon arrival at the airport, and inquire with the check-in staff or at the gate before the flight.
As reported by Travel+Leisure, in 2019, Air Canada gate agents admitted that they intentionally registered passengers with luggage, even on overcrowded flights. "If someone has the 'GTE' code on their boarding pass, it means they do not have a seat. So, just tell them to go to the gate," said the agent.
Air Canada later explained the meaning of the GTE code in a post in X in the same year. They added that in rare cases of overbooked flights, they would first ask for volunteers.
The codes "see agent" or "seat assigned at gate" do not necessarily mean that the flight will be canceled. Even in cases of overbooking, airlines usually ask for volunteers before forcibly canceling seats, as reported by Conde Nast Traveler.
Airlines have several reasons for inserting these codes into boarding passes. For example, some airlines do not provide seat assignments on the cheapest economy class until passengers arrive at the ticket counter or departure gate. Even with a legitimate seat, passengers may not be able to select it.
Sometimes, tickets purchased from one airline but operated by another may result in differences in seat allocation and data. Incomplete travel documents also allow airlines to apply these codes. The same goes for changes, such as aircraft replacement, cabin configuration, or flight route, where the boarding pass will be printed with the "see agent" indication.
As long as the reservation is confirmed and a valid boarding pass is obtained, the "see agent" code is generally just an instruction to meet the staff at the departure gate. In many cases, this issue can be swiftly resolved. It can even be an opportunity to get a better seat if there are seats blocked nearing departure.
Travelers should also carefully check the check-in time for the airline as it can vary at each airport.
In addition to seat assignments, passengers should check other information on their boarding passes. For instance, the SSS code may indicate that a passenger must undergo additional security checks. Meanwhile, the SEQ or sequence number code shows the passenger's check-in sequence. For security reasons, travelers should never post photos of their boarding passes on social media as the information on it could be exploited by malicious parties.
Editor's Choice: Flight Ticket vs Boarding Pass: Everything You Need to Know
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
