Want to walk a loved one to their gate without having a boarding pass? A new TSA program is making that possible at select airports across the country.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has launched Gateside by TSA PreCheck, a new pilot program allowing eligible non-ticketed visitors to enter the secure side of participating airports.
The program is designed to let TSA PreCheck members spend more time with friends and family at the airport, including accompanying departing passengers to their gates, greeting arriving travelers, or enjoying dining and shopping beyond the security checkpoint.
Gateside by TSA PreCheck
Unlike traditional airport security access, Gateside allows approved visitors to enter the post-security area even when they aren’t traveling.
Visitors can use the program to walk a family member or friend to their gate, meet someone arriving at the airport, or spend time together at restaurants and shops inside the secure terminal area.
The program is currently being piloted at 13 airports:
- Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) in Arizona
- John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) in Ohio
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in Texas
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) in Michigan
- Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) in Kansas
- Indianapolis International Airport (IND) in Indiana
- Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Nevada
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in California
- Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT) in Arkansas
- Will Rogers World Airport (OKC) in Oklahoma
- Eppley Airfield (OMA) in Nebraska
- San Diego International Airport (SAN) in California
- Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) in Utah
TSA says the program will expand to additional airports as the rollout continues.
Who Can Use Gateside?
Gateside is intended for individuals who already have TSA PreCheck eligibility through a Known Traveler Number (KTN), including travelers enrolled in TSA PreCheck and other programs that provide a KTN.
Eligible visitors must apply for a Gateside pass one to three days before their planned visit. Approval is not automatic, as airports can limit the number of visitors based on capacity and anticipated crowds.
Once approved, visitors can enter through the participating airport’s TSA PreCheck screening lane. They must present their approved Gateside authorization along with acceptable identification and will still be subject to TSA security screening.
There is no additional fee for a Gateside pass, although visitors must already have access to a qualifying Known Traveler program such as TSA PreCheck.
What About Orlando International Airport?
For Central Florida travelers, there is one important catch: Orlando International Airport (MCO) is not currently among the 13 airports participating in Gateside by TSA PreCheck.
That doesn’t mean MCO visitors are completely out of luck when it comes to visiting the secure side of the airport without a flight, however.
Orlando International Airport has its own Experience MCO Visitor Pass program, which allows approved non-ticketed visitors to enter the secure side of the airport. The program has previously been limited to certain areas but has expanded to allow visitors to apply for access to the airport’s different terminals. Stuck at the Airport
The existing MCO visitor program is separate from TSA’s new Gateside initiative, so TSA PreCheck membership does not automatically provide access through the Orlando program.
For Disney travelers, this distinction could be particularly useful when planning airport pickups, drop-offs, or visits with family members traveling through Orlando International Airport.
A Return to the Gate
The idea of allowing non-travelers beyond airport security may feel familiar to longtime travelers. Before the heightened security restrictions introduced following September 11, 2001, friends and family members could generally accompany passengers farther into airport terminals.
Gateside by TSA PreCheck provides a limited, controlled version of that experience while still requiring visitors to apply in advance and complete TSA screening.
For families, the program could make airport goodbyes a little easier or make arrivals a little more special by allowing loved ones to actually meet at the gate instead of waiting outside security.
The pilot is currently limited to the 13 participating airports listed above, with TSA expected to add more locations during the rollout.
Would you use Gateside by TSA PreCheck if it came to Orlando International Airport? Let us know on social media!
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