Oakland San Francisco Bay Area Airport (OAK) launched the “Guest Pass” program on December 15th, allowing visitors without a plane ticket to reunite with family and friends inside the passenger terminals after passing security checks.
The airport stated in its announcement that it is one of the first airports in California to restore the “former glory of airports,” bringing back the atmosphere of “warm greetings, sincere farewells, and dining and shopping.”
According to the airport, the new program allows non-passengers to accompany their friends to the boarding gate and bid them farewell, a practice that has not been allowed since the tightening of airport security regulations following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Under OAK’s new regulations, visitors can apply for a Guest Pass online on the same day or up to 7 days in advance. Visitors must present a valid passport, a REAL ID or other identification approved by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
Minors without photo identification can also apply for a Guest Pass but must be accompanied by an adult who also holds a Guest Pass.
Kristi McKenney, Executive Director of the Port of Oakland, stated in the announcement, “We hope OAK can be a meaningful experience for all visitors, not just a hurried stop along the way. The OAK Guest Pass allows families to share more precious time when seeing off loved ones on a new journey or welcoming them home.”
The airport website indicated that all Guest Pass applications will be reviewed by the TSA. Applicants who apply in advance will receive an email confirming their status after midnight on the day of their visit, while same-day applicants can expect a notification within about 15 minutes.
The airport stated that Guest Passes are issued on a first-come, first-served basis with limited availability; however, the daily quota for Guest Passes was not disclosed. The website explained, “If you are unable to select a date or time on the online form, it means that the visitor quota for that day or time slot has been reached.”
The website also noted that the OAK Guest Pass program is not permanent, and the airport reserves the right to cancel approved Guest Passes or terminate the program without prior notice.
Several airports in California have implemented similar visitor pass systems, including San Diego, Ontario, and John Wayne Airport in Orange County.
The program is expected to attract more people to Oakland Airport for dining and shopping. The announcement mentioned that the airport will open three new stores with local themes and plans to expand to 16 retail locations at OAK by the end of 2025.
OAK has seen a decline in passenger numbers in recent times. Statistics on the airport website show that the number of passengers from October 2024 to September 2025 decreased by 14.5% compared to the same period last year.