For nearly 25 years, the airport security checkpoint has been where most goodbyes ended. A new TSA program is bringing back something many travelers remember from another era: walking a loved one all the way to the gate, even when you are not flying.
Gateside by TSA PreCheck now allows approved visitors to pass through security without a boarding pass at 13 participating U.S. airports. The free program is meant for moments such as seeing off a family member, welcoming someone at the gate, meeting a friend during a long layover, or visiting terminal restaurants and stores.
There is an important catch. This is not open gate access for everyone. Applicants must belong to TSA PreCheck or another eligible trusted-traveler program, have a Known Traveler Number, apply ahead of time, and receive approval.
How Gateside by TSA PreCheck works
Eligible visitors should apply online between one and three days before the day they want to enter the airport. TSA says approval is required before arriving, and the number of passes may be limited during busy periods.
If approved, the visitor brings an acceptable form of identification and shows the approval status displayed in the online portal. According to Associated Press reporting on the launch, the pass is valid for one calendar day and permits reentry during that day.
Visitors use the TSA PreCheck lane and still go through security screening. The program changes who may request access to the secure side of the terminal; it does not remove the checkpoint or its rules.
Children may accompany an approved adult when they are included in the application, according to Business Insider’s explanation of the program. Families should check the Gateside portal carefully when applying so every visitor is properly included.
The 13 airports offering Gateside access
Gateside by TSA PreCheck is initially available at these airports:
- Clinton National Airport (LIT) in Little Rock, Arkansas
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in Texas
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) in Michigan
- Eppley Airfield (OMA) in Omaha, Nebraska
- Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas, Nevada
- Indianapolis International Airport (IND) in Indiana
- John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) in Ohio
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in California
- Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) in Arizona
- Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) in Utah
- San Diego International Airport (SAN) in California
- Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) in Kansas
- Will Rogers International Airport (OKC) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
TSA has said it expects the program to reach additional airports in the coming months. Until then, having TSA PreCheck does not automatically grant non-ticketed gate access at an airport that is not on the participating list.
What visitors can actually do beyond security
The emotional appeal is obvious. Parents can stay with an adult child before a major move. Grandparents can meet family members as they step off a flight. A friend can turn a long layover into lunch together instead of watching the clock alone beside a charging station.
The program also opens access to restaurants and shops located beyond security. Some airports have spent years turning their terminals into miniature versions of their cities, complete with local food, art, and retail that previously required a boarding pass to experience.
Still, visitors should treat Gateside as an airport-access program, not a guaranteed day pass. Approval may be limited, particularly during peak travel hours. Participants must follow airport rules and the same code of conduct that applies to ticketed travelers.
Why this feels like such a big change
Before the September 11 attacks, friends and relatives could generally accompany travelers to the gate. Sweeping security changes after 2001 made the checkpoint the dividing line between passengers and everyone else.
Individual airports have experimented with visitor passes in recent years, but Gateside creates a TSA-branded option tied to trusted-traveler membership across a group of airports. Launching it near the 25th anniversary of September 11 gives the change an especially nostalgic weight: the airport farewell, once a familiar part of American life, is edging back into view.
What to know before applying
- Apply early: Submit the request one to three days before the planned visit.
- Wait for approval: TSA PreCheck membership alone does not guarantee entry.
- Bring acceptable ID: Visitors must verify their identity at the checkpoint.
- Check every person: Make sure accompanying children are included as required.
- Expect normal screening: Airport security and prohibited-item rules still apply.
- Confirm the airport: Only the 13 participating locations currently offer Gateside.
Anyone planning a gate-side reunion or farewell should review the official Gateside eligibility and application page shortly before visiting. Participating airports, available times, and pass limits may change as the program expands.
For approved visitors, though, the reward is wonderfully simple: a few more minutes together before takeoff, or the chance to be the first familiar face someone sees when they arrive.
