For the first time in a generation, saying goodbye at the airport may no longer have to end at the security checkpoint.
The Transportation Security Administration has introduced Gateside by TSA PreCheck, a new program allowing eligible travelers to pass through airport security without holding a plane ticket. The program brings back a familiar part of air travel that largely disappeared after September 11, 2001: walking a loved one to the gate or waiting inside the terminal to welcome them home.
However, this is not a return to unrestricted airport access. Visitors must be members of TSA PreCheck or another qualifying trusted-traveler program, apply in advance and receive approval before entering the secure terminal.
What is Gateside by TSA Precheck?
Gateside allows approved TSA PreCheck members to enter participating airport terminals even when they are not scheduled to fly that day.
TSA says the program can be used to:
- Accompany a friend or family member to the gate
- Welcome an arriving traveler inside the terminal
- Meet someone during a long layover
- Meet with a business associate or employee
- Visit airport restaurants and shops beyond security
This makes the program especially meaningful for families sending someone on an important trip, parents accompanying older children, couples beginning a long-distance separation or anyone welcoming a loved one home after an extended absence.
For premium travelers, it could also make lengthy connections feel more personal. A local family member, friend or colleague may be able to meet an eligible traveler inside the terminal during a long domestic layover rather than waiting outside security.
Who is eligible for Gateside by TSA Precheck?
The program is primarily available to active TSA PreCheck members. Members of certain other trusted-traveler programs may also qualify if they have a valid Known Traveler Number.
Gateside access is free, but approval is not automatic. Applicants must submit their request online at least one day and no more than three days before the planned airport visit.
Information entered on the application must match the visitor’s identification and trusted-traveler records. Applications may be denied if the information cannot be verified or if the airport has already reached its daily visitor limit.
Approved adults may include children in their applications, although each child’s information must be provided.
How does Gateside by TSA Precheck work?
Eligible visitors can follow these steps:
- Apply through the Gateside portal one to three days before the requested visit.
- Enter the participating airport, intended date and required personal information.
- Provide a valid Known Traveler Number.
- Wait for TSA approval before traveling to the airport.
- Bring an acceptable form of identification and access to the approved Gateside status on a mobile device.
- Proceed through the TSA PreCheck screening lane.
Approved visitors will still undergo airport security screening and must follow the same rules concerning prohibited items as ticketed passengers.
A Gateside approval is valid for one calendar day. Visitors may leave and reenter the secure terminal during that day, subject to airport procedures and operating conditions.
Which airports are eligible for Gateside by TSA Precheck?
Gateside by TSA PreCheck initially launched at 13 airports:
- Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA)
- John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
- Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT)
- Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
- Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT)
- Will Rogers International Airport (OKC)
- Eppley Airfield (OMA)
- San Diego International Airport (SAN)
- Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
TSA plans to expand the program to additional airports in the coming months, according to reports from NBC News and the Associated Press.
Several airports already operate their own visitor-pass programs, but their application procedures, screening lanes, hours and eligibility requirements may differ from TSA’s new Gateside program.
What should travelers know?
A Gateside approval provides access to the secure side of the terminal, but it is not the same as an airline ticket or boarding pass.
Visitors cannot board a flight, enter restricted airline areas or access international customs facilities. Lounge access should not be assumed either. Most airline lounges require eligible same-day travel in addition to a qualifying membership, ticket or credit card benefit.
Access may also be limited during busy travel periods. Participating airports are expected to cap the number of passes available each day so that ticketed passengers continue to receive priority at security checkpoints.
Even with approval, TSA and airport officials may restrict or suspend access because of security concerns, checkpoint congestion or other operational conditions.
Before September 11, it was common for friends and family to remain with travelers until boarding or wait at the gate as an arriving aircraft pulled in. Security changes following the attacks moved those reunions and farewells to baggage claim, curbside pickup and the public side of the terminal.
Gateside does not restore that experience exactly as it once existed. Instead, it introduces a more controlled version built around advance screening and trusted-traveler membership.
The emotional impact, however, could be significant. Airport gates are where journeys truly begin and end. Allowing loved ones to share those moments again may make air travel feel more personal, particularly during milestone trips, international moves, military deployments or long separations.
Travelers and their guests should check that the correct airport is participating before arranging a gate-side meeting. Large airports may have multiple terminals that are not connected beyond security, so visitors should also confirm the traveler’s airline and departure or arrival terminal.
International arrivals may present additional limitations because passengers generally enter a controlled customs and immigration area before reaching the public terminal. Gateside access is more likely to be useful for departures, domestic arrivals and eligible precleared international flights.
Plans should never depend entirely on an approval. Pass quantities are limited, and an application does not guarantee entry.
For travelers accustomed to premium service, the best journeys are defined by more than the seat onboard. The experience begins before departure and continues after landing.
Gateside creates new opportunities for more personal airport welcomes, thoughtful send-offs and face-to-face meetings during long connections. It may be especially valuable when coordinating complex itineraries involving family members, executives or travelers who would benefit from familiar support inside the terminal.
The Flight King assists clients with international Business and First Class airfare, complex multi-city itineraries, private jet charter and personalized travel arrangements. As Gateside expands, the program could become another useful tool for making the airport experience feel more seamless, connected and memorable.