TSA Airport Security Changes Bring Back Gate Access at 13 Airports

Quick Facts: TSA's Gateside Program

• Free application process opens one to three days before your planned visit, and approval is required before you head to the airport

• 13 airports currently participate, including LAX, DFW, Detroit Metro, and Salt Lake City International

• TSA PreCheck members qualify automatically if they have a valid Known Traveler Number on file

• Passes last one calendar day with unlimited re-entry through that day

• No boarding pass needed once you're approved and cleared through a PreCheck lane

• This reverses a 9/11-era restriction that has kept non-ticketed visitors out of secure areas since 2001

• Expansion is already planned to additional airports in the coming months

TSA says eligible PreCheck members can now visit participating airport gates without a boarding pass. Screenshot: TSA / Gateside by TSA PreCheck

What Is TSA's Gateside Program?

For anyone old enough to remember flying before 9/11, this may feel strangely familiar. Back then, family and friends could often walk travelers to the gate or wait there for them to arrive. Gateside by TSA PreCheck brings back a limited version of that experience for people who have already completed the trusted-traveler vetting process.

Eligible TSA PreCheck members who aren't flying can apply for a day pass to enter the secure area of a participating airport. If approved, they go through a PreCheck lane and can access the terminal beyond security without holding a boarding pass.

TSA describes the program as a way to "bring back the moments that once defined air travel," but it isn't just about emotional goodbyes and reunions. Approved visitors can also meet someone during a layover, greet arriving passengers, or visit restaurants and shops beyond security. That can be especially useful at airports where some of the better dining, lounges and viewing areas are located airside.

Gateside visitors still have to pass through airport security, but an approved application replaces the need for a boarding pass.

How to Apply for a Gateside Pass

Getting approved is a short process, but it does need to happen before you leave the house:

• Have TSA PreCheck and a Known Traveler Number on file, or another qualifying trusted-traveler credential

• Apply through the online portal one to three days before your planned visit

• Wait for approval before heading to the airport; same-day requests aren't accepted

• Check your status on the portal before you leave home

• Bring acceptable photo ID, since you'll still clear a PreCheck lane the same way a flying passenger would

The pass covers one calendar day, and you can come and go as many times as you want within that window. It's currently free, though that could change as the program scales up.

The First 13 Airports Are Spread Across the Countr

The initial Gateside rollout includes:

• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

• Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)

• Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)

• Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas

• Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)

• San Diego International Airport (SAN)

• Indianapolis International Airport (IND)

• John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)

• Eppley Airfield (OMA) in Omaha

• Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT)

• Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT) in Little Rock

• Will Rogers World Airport (OKC) in Oklahoma City

• Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA)

TSA says more airports are expected to join as the program expands.

Some airports already had their own visitor-pass systems, so entering a terminal without flying isn't entirely new. What makes Gateside different is that it's a TSA-run program tied to PreCheck eligibility. Approved visitors can also use a PreCheck lane instead of going through a standard visitor screening line.

Gateside by TSA PreCheck is launching at 13 airports across the United States, with more expected to join.

What This Means for Travelers Beyond Send-offs

This isn't just about sentimental airport reunions. Business travelers with tight layovers can now meet a colleague past security for a working lunch. Parents can walk an anxious first-time flyer all the way to the gate instead of saying goodbye at the checkpoint.

It also signals a broader shift at TSA toward trusted-traveler programs doing more of the security lifting, alongside other 2026 changes like relaxed shoe-removal rules under review. The agency is leaning on pre-vetted identities rather than blanket restrictions for everyone.

For travelers who remember when airport goodbyes happened at the gate, Gateside brings back a small piece of that experience without undoing the security changes that came after 9/11. For everyone else, it opens up a surprisingly useful new option for meeting, helping, or spending more time with someone inside the terminal.

If you're heading to one of the participating airports, check the Gateside portal a few days in advance to see whether you're eligible and apply before you go. With more airports expected to join, this could quickly become one of the more practical TSA PreCheck perks to know about.

Frequently Asked Questions: TSA Airport Security Changes

Can you go through TSA without a plane ticket now?

Yes, at 13 participating airports if you're approved through Gateside by TSA PreCheck. You must meet the program's eligibility requirements and apply before your visit.

Do you need TSA PreCheck to use Gateside?

The new TSA program is aimed at PreCheck members and eligible trusted travelers with qualifying Known Traveler Numbers. Some airports separately offer their own visitor-pass programs that do not require PreCheck.

How much does a TSA Gateside pass cost?

Gateside passes are free. Eligible visitors apply online one to three days before the day they want to enter the terminal.

Which airports have Gateside by TSA PreCheck?

The initial rollout includes 13 airports, among them LAX, DFW, DTW, LAS, SAN and SLC. TSA says additional airports are expected to be added.

Will Gateside make TSA lines longer?

It could add some non-flying visitors to checkpoints, but access may be restricted during busy periods. TSA has not said that Gateside users will receive priority over ticketed travelers.

Can I use Gateside more than once in a day?

Yes, the pass is valid for one full calendar day and allows multiple re-entries during that window.

What if my airport isn't part of Gateside yet?

Check whether your airport runs its own version, such as Pittsburgh's myPITpass or Seattle-Tacoma's gate-access program, which predate the national rollout.

Does Gateside replace standard TSA screening?

No. Everyone using Gateside still passes through TSA screening at a PreCheck lane; the program only removes the boarding-pass requirement, not the security check itself.