More than two decades after the September 11 attacks led to sweeping restrictions on who could pass beyond airport security checkpoints, US travellers will once again be able to walk loved ones to the gate without holding a ticket of their own, under a new pilot programme launched by the Transportation Security Administration, according to Newsweek.
The scheme, called Gateside by TSA PreCheck, allows approved non-ticketed visitors to clear security screening and accompany passengers into gate areas at 13 airports across the United States.
Which airports are testing the programme?
The pilot is currently running at airports including Dallas Fort Worth International, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County, Los Angeles International, Salt Lake City International, Harry Reid International in Las Vegas, and San Diego International, alongside smaller hubs such as Mesa Gateway in Arizona, John Glenn Columbus International in Ohio, and Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City.
What changed at airports after 9/11?
Before the 2001 attacks, non-travellers could generally pass through US airport checkpoints and wait with passengers at the gate. In the aftermath, access beyond security was tightened significantly and largely restricted to ticketed passengers and authorised individuals, with limited exceptions for people assisting unaccompanied children, passengers with disabilities or others with specific needs.
The new Gateside programme loosens that access restriction without removing the underlying security screening process itself, meaning approved visitors must still pass through the same checks as ticketed travellers.
Who is eligible to use the Gateside programme?
Prospective visitors must apply through TSA and receive a Gateside pass before arriving at the airport, and applicants must already hold TSA PreCheck benefits or a Known Traveller Number. Applications can be submitted between one and three days ahead of the planned visit, and successful applicants are issued a pass allowing them to enter through the PreCheck screening lane using acceptable identification. The pass does not function as a boarding document and does not permit visitors to board an aircraft.
What can approved visitors do once inside the airport?
Once through security, visitors can accompany travellers to their departure gates, greet arriving passengers, and spend time in restaurants and shops located within the secure area. TSA has suggested the programme could be particularly useful for families wanting more time together before a flight, or for those helping elderly relatives or young children navigate the airport.
Ryan Smith, communications director at Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona, told ABC15 that many passengers travelling with elderly parents or younger children want their loved ones to be part of that experience through to the very end of the process.
Why is TSA testing the programme now?
According to the agency, Gateside is designed to make airport visits easier for families and other non-ticketed visitors while preserving existing security screening standards. TSA has deliberately limited the pilot to a small group of airports so it can assess how the additional foot traffic affects checkpoint operations, with officials at Mesa Gateway noting that the airport’s comparatively short wait times made it a suitable testing site, though availability may be restricted during especially busy periods.
How have participating US airports responded?
Reaction from participating US airports has so far been largely positive. Daren Griffin, president and chief executive of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, welcomed the initiative, telling broadcaster Newsweek that it helps restore moments travellers have missed, such as greeting loved ones at the gate or sharing a meal before a flight. TSA has separately described the scheme as an exclusive benefit for its most trusted travellers, aimed at making it easier to return to the gate for welcomes and farewells, meet friends during a layover, and enjoy dining and shopping beyond the checkpoint.
