TSA Launches “Gateside” Program: You Can Now Enter Airport Gates Without a Boarding Pass
The TSA is bringing back a piece of the old airport experience.
A new program called Gateside by TSA PreCheck allows eligible people to pass through airport security and enter the terminal even if they aren’t flying and don’t have a boarding pass.
The program is launching at 13 U.S. airports, with additional airports expected to be added in the coming months.
What Is Gateside by TSA PreCheck?
Gateside is a new benefit for eligible TSA PreCheck members that allows approved non-ticketed visitors to access the secure side of participating airports.
That means you could potentially:
- Walk a family member or friend all the way to their departure gate
- Meet someone at their gate when they arrive
- Spend time with a friend or relative who has a long layover
- Visit airport restaurants and shops located beyond security
- Plane spot or simply spend some time inside the terminal
For many travelers, this brings back memories of the days when friends and family could accompany passengers all the way to the gate.
Gateside Is Free
There is no additional fee to use Gateside.
You do, however, need to be eligible for TSA PreCheck screening and have a Known Traveler Number (KTN).
That can include travelers who receive TSA PreCheck benefits through programs such as Global Entry.
How to Apply for TSA Gateside
You can’t simply show up at the airport and enter.
Visitors need to request Gateside access through TSA before their planned visit.
Applications must generally be submitted between one and three days before the date you want to visit the airport.
You’ll need to:
- Visit the TSA Gateside application page.
- Sign in or create a Login.gov account.
- Enter your Known Traveler Number and requested visit information.
- Wait for TSA approval.
- If approved, bring an acceptable ID to the airport and use the designated TSA PreCheck screening lane.
Approval isn’t guaranteed. Airports can limit the number of Gateside visitors, particularly during busy travel periods.
Which Airports Have TSA Gateside?
At launch, Gateside by TSA PreCheck is available at 13 airports:
- AZA – Mesa Gateway Airport
- CMH – John Glenn Columbus International Airport
- DFW – Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
- DTW – Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
- ICT – Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport
- IND – Indianapolis International Airport
- LAS – Harry Reid International Airport
- LAX – Los Angeles International Airport
- LIT – Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport
- OKC – Will Rogers International Airport
- OMA – Eppley Airfield
- SAN – San Diego International Airport
- SLC – Salt Lake City International Airport
TSA says the program is expected to expand to additional airports in phases.
Unfortunately for New York-area travelers, JFK, LaGuardia and Newark are not included in the initial rollout.
You Still Have to Go Through Security
A Gateside pass isn’t a way around airport security.
Visitors still have to undergo TSA screening before entering the secure portion of the airport. The big difference is that an approved Gateside authorization takes the place of the boarding-pass requirement for accessing the checkpoint.
Gateside visitors who qualify can use the TSA PreCheck lane, making the experience considerably easier for existing PreCheck members.
The pass also does not allow you to board an aircraft. It is strictly for accessing the secure terminal.
This Could Be a Surprisingly Valuable TSA PreCheck Benefit
TSA PreCheck has traditionally been valuable because it saves travelers time when they’re actually flying.
Gateside gives the membership another use even when you’re not traveling.
The most obvious benefit is for families. Imagine being able to accompany an elderly parent all the way to the gate, spend extra time with family before a long international flight, or greet someone immediately after they step off the plane.
It’s also an interesting benefit for aviation enthusiasts who might simply want to visit an airport’s post-security restaurants, lounges of public areas, shops or plane-spotting locations without purchasing a plane ticket.
Bottom Line
Gateside by TSA PreCheck is one of the more interesting TSA PreCheck additions we’ve seen in years.
Eligible members at participating airports can now request free access beyond airport security without having a flight, allowing them to meet arriving passengers, say goodbye at the gate, visit friends during a layover, or simply enjoy the terminal.
For now, the biggest limitation is availability: only 13 airports are participating.
But TSA plans to add more airports, and if Gateside eventually reaches major hubs such as Newark, JFK, LaGuardia, Chicago O’Hare, Atlanta and Miami, it could become a genuinely useful additional perk of TSA PreCheck.
