TSA Is Letting People Go to Airport Gates Without a Plane Ticket Again — Here’s How It Works

For the first time in decades, some people in the U.S. can once again walk through airport security and go all the way to the gate — without actually having a flight.

The Transportation Security Administration has launched Gateside by TSA PreCheck, a new program that allows eligible travelers to enter the secure side of participating airports even when they aren’t flying.

That means you could potentially walk a family member to their departure gate, be waiting at the gate when someone arrives, meet a friend during a long layover, or even access airport restaurants and shops without buying a plane ticket.

But there are a few important catches.

What Is Gateside by TSA PreCheck?

Gateside is a new benefit available to eligible members of TSA’s trusted-traveler system.

Instead of needing a boarding pass to get through airport security, an approved Gateside visitor receives permission to enter the secure terminal for the day.

You still have to go through TSA screening. The difference is that you don’t need to be flying.

The program brings back something that was once completely normal at American airports.

Before the September 11, 2001 attacks, friends and relatives could generally accompany passengers through security and wait with them at the gate. Airport security rules changed dramatically afterward, and gate areas have largely been restricted to ticketed passengers for the past 25 years.

Gateside doesn’t completely return airports to the pre-9/11 system, because access is limited to vetted travelers and requires advance approval. But it’s a significant change.

What Can You Use a Gateside Pass For?

There are actually several situations where this could be useful.

You could:

• Walk a parent, friend or family member all the way to their departure gate.

• Meet someone immediately after they arrive instead of waiting at baggage claim.

• Spend extra time with someone before their flight.

• Meet a friend or family member who has a long airport layover.

• Access restaurants and shops located beyond security.

• Explore the terminal or watch planes without having a flight yourself.

For families in particular, I can see this becoming a really useful TSA PreCheck benefit.

Imagine an older parent traveling alone. Instead of dropping them at the airport entrance and hoping they find the correct terminal and gate, you could potentially stay with them through security and all the way until boarding.

Who Is Eligible?

The program is tied to TSA PreCheck and the government’s trusted-traveler system.

You generally need an eligible Known Traveler Number (KTN).

That includes TSA PreCheck members and can also include eligible members of programs such as Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI who have a qualifying Known Traveler Number.

Having TSA PreCheck does not mean you can simply show up at the airport and walk through security, though.

You have to request Gateside access first.

How to Apply for a Gateside Pass

The process is fairly straightforward.

1. Apply before your airport visit

TSA says Gateside requests should be submitted one to three days before the day you want to visit the airport.

So this isn’t currently designed as a spontaneous, same-day airport pass.

2. Enter your traveler information

You’ll provide information including your Known Traveler Number and select the participating airport you plan to visit.

Your information needs to match the information associated with your trusted-traveler account.

3. Wait for approval

Submitting a request does not automatically guarantee entry.

You need to receive approval from TSA before heading to the airport expecting Gateside access.

4. Bring acceptable identification

Once approved, you’ll still need an acceptable form of identification at the TSA checkpoint, such as a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another TSA-approved form of ID.

5. Go through security

Yes — all the normal security rules still apply.

You’re entering the same secure airport area as passengers, so you’ll still be screened by TSA.

Once cleared, you can enter the terminal even though you don’t have a boarding pass.

Does Gateside Cost Anything?

No.

TSA currently offers the Gateside pass at no additional charge to eligible participants.

You do still need to already qualify through the applicable trusted-traveler program.

Can You Use TSA PreCheck Security?

Approved participants can generally use TSA PreCheck screening as part of the Gateside program.

However, travelers should remember that PreCheck lanes aren’t guaranteed to be operating at every checkpoint or at every hour of the day.

And Gateside doesn’t mean airport security rules disappear.

Prohibited items are still prohibited.

If you’re visiting someone at the airport, it’s probably easiest to treat the experience exactly like you’re catching a flight yourself when deciding what to bring through security.

How Long Is the Pass Valid?

A Gateside approval is valid for the approved calendar day.

TSA also allows reentry during that day, meaning an approved visitor isn’t necessarily limited to entering the secure area only once.

That’s particularly useful if you’re meeting someone with an unusual schedule or spending several hours around the airport.

The 13 Airports Offering Gateside

As of September 2026, Gateside by TSA PreCheck is available at these 13 airports:

Arizona

• Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA)

Arkansas

• Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT)

California

• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

• San Diego International Airport (SAN)

Indiana

• Indianapolis International Airport (IND)

Kansas

• Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT)

Michigan

• Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)

Nebraska

• Eppley Airfield (OMA)

Nevada

• Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)

Ohio

• John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)

Oklahoma

• Will Rogers International Airport (OKC)

Texas

• Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)

Utah

• Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)

TSA has said additional airports are expected to be added as the program expands, so this list could change relatively quickly.

Is Gateside Available at Newark, JFK or LaGuardia?

Not yet.

As of September 23, 2026, Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA) are not part of the initial 13-airport Gateside rollout.

For travelers in the New York and New Jersey area, that’s obviously one of the biggest missing regions from the current list.

Because TSA says the program will expand in phases, it’s worth checking the official Gateside airport list before a future trip rather than assuming your airport isn’t participating.

Gateside Isn’t the Same as an Airline Gate Pass

This part can get confusing.

Airlines have long been able to issue special gate or escort passes in certain situations — for example, when someone is accompanying an unaccompanied minor or assisting a passenger who needs help.

Some individual U.S. airports have also introduced their own visitor-pass programs.

Gateside by TSA PreCheck is different.

It’s a TSA program connected to trusted-traveler eligibility, and you don’t have to be escorting someone who falls into one of those traditional assistance categories.

You could simply be meeting a friend at the gate.

Why This Is Actually a Pretty Big Change

If you’ve only flown during the post-9/11 era, waiting for someone at baggage claim probably feels completely normal.

But airport arrivals used to feel different.

Families could wait near the gate. Parents could stay with their children until boarding. Couples could have an actual airport goodbye instead of separating at the TSA line.

Gateside doesn’t completely recreate that system. It’s much more controlled, and access is currently limited.

But allowing vetted non-passengers through TSA security again represents a noticeable change in how U.S. airports are approaching access to secure terminals.

And there are some genuinely practical uses beyond the nostalgia.

Helping an elderly relative navigate a huge airport, spending another hour with someone before a long international trip, or meeting a friend during a six-hour layover all make a lot more sense than going through security just to visit an airport restaurant.

Could This Make TSA PreCheck Lines Longer?

That’s one question worth watching as Gateside expands.

The program introduces people into airport security lines who aren’t actually flying.

Because the initial rollout is limited to participating airports and approved trusted travelers, the impact may be relatively small at first.

TSA can also control approvals as the program develops.

Still, if Gateside becomes available at major airports nationwide and becomes popular, travelers will probably be paying attention to whether it has any noticeable effect on checkpoint congestion.

For now, the program is still in its early rollout.

What Travelers Should Know Before Trying It

The biggest thing to remember is that Gateside is not unrestricted airport access.

You still need to qualify, request access in advance, receive approval, bring acceptable identification and complete TSA screening.

And participating airports can change as TSA expands the program.

Before making plans around Gateside, check TSA’s official website for the latest airport list and current requirements.

Final Thoughts

I actually think Gateside is one of the more interesting airport changes we’ve seen recently.

It’s not something most travelers will use every week, but when you need it, it could be incredibly useful.

Being able to walk an older family member directly to their gate, meet someone during a layover or be standing at the gate when someone arrives changes the airport experience in a way we haven’t really seen in the U.S. for decades.

For now, availability is limited to 13 airports.

But if TSA’s planned expansion reaches the country’s biggest airports, meeting someone at the gate could slowly become normal again.

And after 25 years of saying goodbye at the security checkpoint, that’s a pretty major change.