Greeting a loved one right at the arrivals gate used to be a thing of the past at most US airports — post-9/11 rules meant only ticketed passengers could clear security. The TSA is now rolling that back for its trusted travellers. On September 10, 2026, the agency announced Gateside by TSA PreCheck, a program that lets PreCheck members request a special pass and go through security without a boarding pass — no flight required.
The idea is simple. If you're enrolled in TSA PreCheck, you can apply for a Gateside Pass for a specific airport and day. With that pass, you walk through the security checkpoint like any passenger, then head airside to meet arriving friends or family at the gate itself, grab a meal, or browse the shops. Standard security screening still applies — this isn't a shortcut past the checkpoint, just access beyond it.
The TSA frames the program as a convenience and family-friendly move, but there's something in it for airports too: restaurants and retailers beyond security get a new pool of spending customers who aren't flying. Anyone who's ever had to say a rushed goodbye at the departures curb, or waited an hour by baggage claim for a delayed relative, will see the appeal of meeting them steps off the plane instead.
Where can you actually use it? Thirteen US airports have the program live so far, and it's an eclectic list rather than just the biggest hubs: Little Rock (LIT), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Detroit (DTW), Las Vegas (LAS), Indianapolis (IND), Columbus (CMH), Los Angeles (LAX), Mesa (AZA), Omaha (OMA), Salt Lake City (SLC), San Diego (SAN), Wichita (ICT) and Oklahoma City (OKC).
A few things worth keeping in mind. First, this is strictly for TSA PreCheck members — if you're not enrolled, you'll still be waving from the arrivals hall. Second, a regular security checkpoint experience is part of the deal, so allow the usual time and follow the normal rules. And third, access is tied to the pass and participating airports, so don't assume your home airport is included; check the current list before promising Grandma a gate-side welcome.
If it proves popular, expect the airport list to grow — the program essentially extends the PreCheck model of vetted travellers getting more flexibility. For frequent PreCheck users, it turns a membership that already speeds up their own flights into something useful on days when they're not flying at all. And for anyone picking up family after a long-haul arrival, being at the gate with a coffee ready beats lurking by the carousel every time.
Original source: TravelAwaits