TSA Just Launched a Program Letting PreCheck Members Get Past Security Without a Flight

The TSA rolled out Gateside by TSA PreCheck, allowing eligible members to enter airport terminals without a boarding pass. It's free for PreCheck holders and currently at 13 airports. Here's how it works.

For the first time since September 2001, non-travelers can get past airport security at select US airports. The TSA announced Gateside by TSA PreCheck, a new program that allows eligible non-travelers to access parts of the airport beyond the security checkpoint and it's free for anyone with a Known Traveler Number.

Why? Meeting arriving passengers at the gate, walking children or parents to their boarding area, or catching up with a friend on a long layover were normal experiences before 9/11. Now they're back, at least at 13 specific airports (and growing).

Here's the full picture.

What Gateside Actually Is

Gateside by TSA PreCheck is available exclusively to TSA PreCheck members. Applicants must provide their Known Traveler Number (KTN), while children without TSA PreCheck can also accompany an approved adult if they are registered as part of the same application.

You apply through the TSA portal between one and three days before your planned airport visit. Once approved, the pass is valid for one calendar day and allows multiple entries.

At the airport, you use the same PreCheck lane you'd use for a normal flight. When you arrive at the airport, you'll present an acceptable form of ID at the TSA PreCheck checkpoint.

One important detail: Touchless ID lanes are off-limits for Gateside visitors. You'll need to use the standard PreCheck lane. If PreCheck happens to be closed, TSA may send you through regular screening instead.

The 13 Participating Airports

Gateside is currently live at:

• Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA)
• John Glenn Columbus International (CMH)
• Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)
• Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)
• Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National (ICT)
• Indianapolis International (IND)
• Harry Reid International — Las Vegas (LAS)
• Los Angeles International (LAX)
• Bill and Hillary Clinton National — Little Rock (LIT)
• Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY)
• Piedmont Triad International (PTI)
• San Diego International (SAN)
• Tampa International (TPA)

It will expand to other major airports in the coming months in 2026.

Some Practical Notes

Approval isn't automatic. Approval is not automatic, as airports can limit the number of visitors based on capacity and anticipated crowds. If a specific date and airport are running near capacity, your application may be denied.

Digital only. Don't bother taking a screenshot, either. TSA says screenshots and printed copies aren't accepted. You need to be logged into the Gateside portal on your phone to verify status.

Adding kids. Children can accompany their parent or guardian, but you'll need to add them to your Gateside reservation using the "add visitor" option.

One day validity. Passes are good for one calendar day but allow multiple entries during that day.

The Bigger Picture

This program is a genuinely interesting return of a piece of airport culture that most assumed was gone forever. Gateside doesn't fully restore that but it opens the door back up.

For anyone with TSA PreCheck, it's an interesting option. It's free, the application takes a few minutes, and the experience of walking into an airport without a boarding pass and heading past security is genuinely novel. I'm looking forward to giving this a try!

Apply for Gateside access at TSA.gov

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