The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the United States is launching a new program that will bring convenience to people: even if they are not boarding a plane themselves, they can accompany friends and family through airport security checkpoints all the way to the boarding gate.
This new addition to the TSA PreCheck program, called Gateside, is currently being tested at 13 airports nationwide. The program allows approved visitors without a ticket to enter areas of certain airports that previously required passing through security.
Before the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, this was a common practice at U.S. airports, where anyone could pass through security checkpoints and greet or bid farewell to loved ones directly at the boarding gate. However, over the past 25 years, due to stricter security policies implemented by the TSA, people have been limited to hugging and saying goodbye to their family at TSA checkpoints or curbsides at airports.
Now, TSA has begun rolling out the Gateside program in multiple states across the country involving 13 airports, positioning it as an exclusive benefit for trusted travelers. The agency states that Gateside allows non-passengers to “return to the boarding gate for greetings or farewells, meet friends during layovers, and enjoy dining and shopping.”
To utilize the Gateside program, visitors must have TSA PreCheck eligibility and a Known Traveler Number (KTN).
Visitors can apply for a Gateside pass online 1 to 3 days before their planned airport visit. The pass is free but valid only for the approved visitation period.
Once approved, visitors must bring acceptable identification recognized by TSA and the Gateside approval certificate to the airport and pass through the TSA PreCheck security lane.
According to TSA regulations, visitors without acceptable identification can use the TSA ConfirmID system to verify their identity for a fee of $45.
Children can also participate in the Gateside program, but their names must be included in the application submitted by their parents or guardians.
Here are the 13 airports across the United States where the Gateside program is currently operating:
1. Mesa Gateway Airport in Mesa, Arizona (AZA)
2. John Glenn Columbus International Airport in Columbus, Ohio (CMH)
3. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Texas (DFW)
4. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Michigan (DTW)
5. Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport in Wichita, Kansas (ICT)
6. Indianapolis International Airport in Indiana (IND)
7. Los Angeles International Airport in California (LAX)
8. Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock, Arkansas (LIT)
9. Will Rogers International Airport in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (OKC)
10. Eppley Airfield in Omaha, Nebraska (OMA)
11. San Diego International Airport in California (SAN)
12. Salt Lake City International Airport in Utah (SLC)