WASHINGTON, USA – The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has launched a pilot program allowing approved visitors without airline tickets to pass through airport security and enter passenger areas, marking a major shift from restrictions introduced after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The new “Gateside by TSA PreCheck” program is being tested at 13 airports across the United States. It allows eligible family members, friends and other visitors to accompany departing passengers to their gates or meet arriving passengers beyond the security checkpoint.
For nearly 25 years, access to secure airport areas has generally been limited to ticketed passengers and authorized personnel. The new initiative is intended to examine whether controlled access for non-ticketed visitors can improve the passenger experience without creating additional security or congestion problems.
The participating airports are Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona; John Glenn Columbus International Airport in Ohio; Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Texas; Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Michigan; Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport in Kansas; Indianapolis International Airport in Indiana; Harry Reid International Airport in Nevada; Los Angeles International Airport in California; Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Arkansas; Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma; Eppley Airfield in Nebraska; San Diego International Airport in California; and Salt Lake City International Airport in Utah.
Under the pilot, visitors must be members of TSA PreCheck or have a valid Known Traveler Number (KTN) and apply for a Gateside pass one to three days before the intended airport visit. Approval does not allow visitors to bypass security. Everyone receiving a pass must undergo TSA security screening through the PreCheck process before entering the secure area.
The Gateside pass is strictly for airport access and cannot be used to board an aircraft. Once inside, approved visitors can accompany passengers to their departure gates, meet arriving travelers and spend time in restaurants and retail areas located beyond security. The program could be particularly useful for families traveling with young children or elderly passengers who may need assistance getting to the gate. It also provides an opportunity for relatives to remain with loved ones until boarding rather than saying goodbye at the public side of the terminal.
Ryan Smith, director of communications at Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona, said many passengers traveling with elderly parents or young children want the option of accompanying their loved ones all the way to the gate. Beyond the social benefits, airports are also looking at the potential commercial impact of bringing additional visitors into secure terminal areas.
Non-ticketed visitors could generate additional spending at restaurants, bars and retail outlets that previously depended almost entirely on ticketed passengers. The initiative could therefore provide airports with another source of non-aeronautical revenue, while giving businesses inside terminals access to a larger customer base.
The arrangement could also benefit business travelers by allowing approved visitors to meet colleagues or business partners inside secure airport areas, including during layovers, without requiring them to leave the airport and go through the process of returning through security.
However, the pilot is also designed to test the operational impact of allowing additional people through airport checkpoints.
TSA will monitor factors including security screening capacity, passenger congestion and waiting times. Authorities will assess whether the program can operate without slowing the screening process for regular passengers. If the pilot demonstrates that non-ticketed visitor access can be managed securely without significantly increasing congestion or disrupting airport operations, TSA could consider expanding the program to additional airports across the United States.
The initiative represents one of the most visible changes to airport access since the sweeping security restrictions introduced following 9/11, bringing family members and other approved visitors closer to the traditional airport experience while maintaining TSA screening requirements.
