Some passengers will be able to pass through airport security and reach the gates without a plane ticket under a new initiative.
The move, called Gateside by TSA PreCheck, marks a massive shift in airport access nearly 25 years after the September 11 attacks transformed security procedures across the country.
Under this new program, eligible members can apply to pass through security even when they aren’t flying.
That means they can accompany a loved one to the gate, meet someone during a layover or even visit the restaurants and shops.
‘As an exclusive benefit for our most trusted travelers, this new program 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, bringing back the moments that once defined air travel,’ the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said on its website.
This new program is free, but visitors are required to apply online between one and three days before their visit and get approval.
Those who are approved won’t receive a traditional boarding pass. Instead, they can use their TSA PreCheck credentials and an accepted ID to easily pass through a PreCheck security lane.
The airport access is valid for only one day – but approved visitors can potentially re-enter the secure area during that day, if they choose.
The Gateside by TSA PreCheck program will allow people without a flight to go past security to the gates, restaurants, bars and shops
The program will only be available at 13 airports, initially including Los Angeles International Airport and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Above, TSA at Denver Airport
The program will be rolled out in phases, with the Gateside perk only available at 13 airports initially. That includes Los Angeles International Airport, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas and Salt Lake City International Airport.
Airports can also limit the number of Gateside visitors allowed at particular times, especially during busy periods, meaning approval isn’t guaranteed for every requested visit.
Additionally, ABC News reported that TSA is considering a liquid rule change for TSA PreCheck members, potentially allowing them to bring bottles of water through security. The details surrounding that change, however, are still under wraps.
Some frequent flyers took to social media, sharing their skepticism – and excitement – at the updated policy.
‘I wonder how many people are really wanting this. I know everyone is nostalgic for the days when you could pick people up at the gate, but that’s not really functionally different from meeting them outside of security,’ one Reddit user wrote.
‘Because the gate area isn’t already jam-packed enough,’ a second Reddit user said, while another added that they ‘miss the days’ when their family greeted them at the gate after a business trip.
‘I did not miss the huge groups of people holding welcome parties right at the exit from the jet bridge,’ another wrote.
One social media user chimed in, saying they knew the owner of a popular airport bar. The original setup was ‘pretty cool’ and some would stop by for some food and to watch the planes take off.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is scrapping one of its best-known policies
‘Unfortunately, the bar was just past the security gate,’ they added. ‘Post 9/11 his business completely collapsed. He’d only get one or two people a day in the place.’
This new offering is especially timely in the wake of the 25th anniversary of September 11.
After the terrorist attacks, airport gate areas became dramatically more restricted, including the creation of the TSA and much tighter controls over who could enter secure airport areas.
Before 9/11, it was common for friends and relatives to walk passengers to their gates or wait there to greet them after a flight.
But TSA has slowly been pulling back on some regulations, the most notable being its unpopular ‘shoes off’ requirement while in security lanes.
According to an internal memo from July 2025, the policy shift appears to be tied to recent improvements in screening technology and an updated assessment of current security threats.
