Key to the flight deck? Or just a key to symbolize the event... There are no locks on aircraft doors.

Blimey Mike you were allowed to touch the jetty! ..at my base in the UK you needed to go on a course and be issued with a personal key to switch on and operate the jetty,something in my company both pilots and cabin crew were not allowed to get involved with.regards Jim

Engineers/ground handlers for 737 and above, without them they wouldn't be able to get into the aircraft, unless docked up to a jetway.

Yes to the flight deck. The locks were taken off after 9/11 with the cockpit door refit and strengthening. Cockpit door keys were given to all pilots and flight attendants as well as maintenance personnel (at Continental Airlines) after graduation. As I said, NOW, cockpit door keys don't exist. But, back then, they opened the cockpit door. As a matter of fact at COA, having your cockpit door key was essential equipment for all flight attendants at checkin inspection along with flashlight, flight attendant manuals, etc.Regards,Mike T.

Hey Jim. Oh heavens no! No one besides the gate agent or maintenance crew could touch the jetbridge (besides no one else knew how!). If the jetbridge wasn't up to the aircraft ya just had to sit and wait until someone showed up to drive it up to the airplane. I've seen maintenance drive it up to the airplane two or three times otherwise the gate agent was the only other person who touched it. Regards,Mike T.

Staffan:The reason is that many airlines have hundreds of aircraft, if pilots needed a different key for each one it would be a nightmare. Since the airport itself is a security controlled site and since the aircraft are either flying or at an airport, and since there has never been a case of someone stealing an airliner and going for a joyride, there is no reason for a key.Private aircraft are a different matter since they are often parked at airports that do not have security 24 hours a day AND there are plenty of examples of people stealing private aircraft.Regards,Mike T.

Wow. Thanks guys for all the feedback. Very interesting. I never knew. I just took for granted that if a several thousand dollar car had a key (and some newer ones a combination pad), so too would a multi-million dollar airliner! regards, Tom

On the Avro RJ, when there is no jetty or stairs connected to the aircraft, we can get in via the avionics bay door, which leads to a hatch in the cockpit .. then we can open the entry doors from the inside and drop the airstair if needed ..

The key handed over when title to the aircraft is passed is symbolic.

>Post 9/11 most cockpits are positive access>only so the cockpit door lock is now gone and must be opened>from inside the cockpit.Maybe I'm a bit thick, but imaging this...Last flight of the day, and the flight crew leaves the cockpit.The last one closes the cockpit door (by accident). Who's going to open the door from the outside next morning?