No hostility here brother, if that’s what came across. I was just asking what your statement was based on, and I used a common internet phrasing for it.

It’s not about pilot’s seat or not, it’s about regulations. You mentioned US airlines, you have to understand that airlines have very little power over what they can and can’t do, they can just ask and hope. When an airport is their main hub, they get a little more leverage.

But it’s always:

• FAA (or whatever regulatory body outside the US).
• Airport Authority.
• Airlines.

The point is, an airline wanting to offer that service isn’t enough. It’s always up to the authority to judge if the biggest risk/hassle is having VIP amongst peasants or having personal escorts.

All of that being said, yes, it does happen daily and like I mentioned with the chartering of airplane and using corporate sides of airports and such, there are definitely a bunch of ways around it. It’s just not as easy as “well US airlines do it all the time” is all I’m saying. And considering how strict Japan is on about everything, I wouldn’t be surprised that their policy is “no one on the ramp unless they are an airport employee”