More than two decades after the September 11 attacks brought sweeping restrictions on who could enter secure airport areas, some travelers will once again be able to walk loved ones to the gate without having a plane ticket of their own.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has launched Gateside by TSA PreCheck, a pilot program allowing approved, non-ticketed visitors to pass through security at thirteen U.S. airports.
The program marks a limited reversal of one of the most visible post-9/11 changes to airport security: restricting access beyond security checkpoints to ticketed passengers and authorized people.
Newsweek contacted the TSA via email for comment on Sunday.
Which Airports Are Testing The Program?
The pilot is currently available at 13 airports across the U.S.:
- Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) — Mesa, Arizona
- John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) — Columbus, Ohio
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) — Texas
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) — Michigan
- Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) — Kansas
- Indianapolis International Airport (IND) — Indiana
- Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) — Las Vegas, Nevada
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) — California
- Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT) — Little Rock, Arkansas
- Will Rogers World Airport (OKC) — Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Eppley Airfield (OMA) — Omaha, Nebraska
- San Diego International Airport (SAN) — California
- Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) — Utah
What changed after 9/11?
Before the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, people who were not flying could generally pass through airport checkpoints and enter gate areas.
After the attacks, airport security rules were tightened significantly. Access beyond security checkpoints became largely restricted to ticketed passengers and authorized individuals, with exceptions for people assisting unaccompanied children, passengers with disabilities and others with specific needs.
The new Gateside program loosens that access restriction, rather than removing airport security screening.
Non-ticketed visitors who are approved for the program must still go through TSA screening before entering the secure area.
Who Can Use the Gateside Program?
People who want to participate must apply through TSA and receive a Gateside pass before arriving at the airport.
Applicants must have TSA PreCheck benefits or a Known Traveler Number. They can apply between one and three days before their planned visit.
If approved, visitors receive a pass that allows them to enter through the TSA PreCheck screening lane with acceptable identification.
The pass does not function as a boarding pass and does not allow visitors to board an aircraft.
What Can Visitors Do Inside the Airport?
Once through security, approved visitors can accompany passengers to their departure gates, meet arriving passengers and spend time in restaurants and shops located beyond the security checkpoint.
The program could be particularly useful for families who want to spend more time together before a flight or for people helping elderly passengers or children reach their gates.
At Arizona’s Mesa Gateway Airport, communications director Ryan Smith said the program could be particularly useful for passengers traveling with elderly parents or young children.
“We have a lot of people, especially our passengers, that may have elderly parents or younger kids who are traveling,” Smith told ABC15. “They want them to have that experience. They want to take them and be with them right to the end of the process, and be there at the gate to see them off.”
Why Is TSA Testing It?
TSA says the program is designed to make airport visits easier for families and other non-ticketed visitors while still maintaining security screening.
The agency is initially limiting the program to a small group of airports so it can evaluate how the additional visitors affect security checkpoints and airport operations.
At Mesa Gateway, officials said the airport’s relatively short security wait times make it suitable for testing the program.
However, availability can be restricted during particularly busy periods.
Officials Welcome the New Program
The response from participating airports has so far been largely positive, with officials emphasizing the benefits for families and passengers.
At John Glenn Columbus International Airport, Daren Griffin, president and CEO of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, welcomed the program.
“”This innovative program helps bring back special moments that many travelers have missed – welcoming loved ones at the gate, enjoying a meal together before a flight, or simply sharing time in the terminal,” Griffin said, as reported by The Columbus Dispatch. “Our participation reflects CRAA’s commitment to elevating the passenger experience and providing the highest level of service to our community.”
TSA has also promoted the program as a way to restore some of the social aspects of air travel. In a statement cited by FOX 10 Phoenix, the agency called Gateside “an exclusive benefit for our most trusted travelers” that makes it easier to “return to the gate for welcomes and send-offs, meet friends during a layover, and enjoy dining and shopping along the way.”
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Matthew Cannon and Cristina Diciu.