A new TSA program is bringing back an airport tradition that largely disappeared after the 9/11 terrorist attacks – greetings and send-offs at the gate.
“Gateside” allows TSA PreCheck members and those with Known Traveler Numbers to clear security at select airports without a ticket for a departing flight. This enables members of the public to greet or say goodbye to family and friends at the gate, visit a traveler during a layover, or access airport shops and restaurants, TSA said.
These kinds of visits were normal and expected before September 11, 2001, and were frequently recreated in movies and television shows. After the attacks, however, non-flyers were generally barred from entering secure areas of airports, moving goodbyes to front lobbies and reunions to baggage claim or designated pickup zones.
PreCheck members must apply for Gateside through the PreCheck website one to three days before their visit. There is no cost to submit a request.
Children are eligible for the program but must be entered on their parent or guardian’s reservation.
At the security checkpoint, visitors will have to show their ID, and may be required to pull up their PreCheck portal showing their approved Gateside status.
Gateside is now available at 13 U.S. airports – Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Las Vegas, Mesa Gateway in Arizona, Los Angeles, San Diego, Salt Lake City, Oklahoma City, Little Rock, Arkansas, Indianapolis, Omaha, Nebraska, Wichita, Kansas, and Columbus, Ohio. TSA said more airports are expected to join the program in the coming months.
Seattle-Tacoma, Philadelphia, and several other airports have introduced their own trusted visitor programs in recent years, with admissions generally limited to a few hundred people per day.
