TSA Brought Back a “Privilege”, but It’s Already Been Pulled From Hundreds of Airport

Walking someone right to their airport gate used to be normal. Before the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, anyone could walk to the gate to greet or say goodbye to a loved one. In September, TSA said that perk was coming back for some people. Within weeks, it was reportedly pulled from hundreds of airports. Most travelers are now back where they started. So what was the program, and who can still use it?

The program is called Gateside by TSA PreCheck. It started in September at 13 airports. It lets approved TSA PreCheck members, and members of some other trusted traveler programs, walk through security without a plane ticket. A member can then go with a loved one to the gate or wait for an arriving flight. Members apply online ahead of time for a free, single-day pass. Approved people must bring ID and use the PreCheck lane.

The perk is only for PreCheck members, not everyone. PreCheck is a paid TSA program that speeds up security for approved travelers. If you do not have it, you could not use this before, and you cannot now. For members, the program looked like a big win. In October, it seemed to grow quickly. Then it shrank just as fast. Here is what happened, according to airports and news reports.

TSA Quietly Expanded the Program to About 300 Airports, Then Pulled It Back to 13 Within Days

In October, the airport menu on the Gateside website suddenly grew. News reports say it added hundreds of airports, with one report saying about 300. Some airports told travelers about their new gate-access perk. Norfolk International in Virginia says it was added Oct. 2 and people began using it. A local TV photojournalist used the program at Denver International on Oct. 7. It seemed like the program was spreading fast.

Then it was pulled back. Norfolk says people began contacting the airport on Oct. 13 after they could not select it when applying. Chris Jones, a spokesperson for Norfolk International, said, “I am unclear of when it actually ceased to be available.” He asked TSA, and an official said the program was on hold indefinitely, except at the original 13 airports. Denver said the program returned to those airports “at least for the time being.”

TSA has not said why. In a statement, the agency said Gateside is in an “operational assessment phase” at 13 airports, where it is checking how many people take part and how it affects operations. It did not answer questions about the quick expansion and rollback. As of Oct. 17, the program’s website lists only the original 13 airports. For travelers, the message is simple: check before you go.

Only 13 Airports Still Offer Gateside, From Los Angeles to Salt Lake City

Only 13 airports still offer Gateside, according to TSA’s website. In the West, they are Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, and Mesa Gateway in Arizona. In the Plains and South: Dallas Fort Worth, Oklahoma City, Wichita, Omaha, and Little Rock. In the Midwest: Detroit, Indianapolis, and Columbus, Ohio. If your trip is somewhere else, you cannot use it right now.

PreCheck members at those 13 airports can apply on the Gateside by TSA PreCheck website. Pick your airport and apply ahead of time. Bring a valid ID and use the PreCheck lane. If your airport is not on the list, you cannot apply. Check with your airport before you go, because rules can change fast. This program has already changed once in just a few weeks.

Some other airports have their own gate pass programs. They are separate from TSA’s program. The Points Guy notes that people using those passes cannot use PreCheck lanes and must go through the main checkpoint. Gate passes also differ by airport, so ask yours. Still, for most travelers, the old way remains the way: say goodbye at the curb. That makes TSA’s short experiment worth a closer look.

A Once-Normal Airport Goodbye Became a Perk, Then a Pilot, Then a Pause

Walking to the gate was once normal in the United States. After the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, TSA rules tightened. The agency added advanced screening and banned people without boarding passes from secure areas. For more than two decades, that meant goodbyes at the security line. That is why Gateside drew so much attention. It promised to bring back something many travelers missed.

TSA sold the idea with warm words. On its website, it said the program would make it easier to return to the gate for welcomes and send-offs, “bringing back the moments that once defined air travel.” It also said the program would “roll out to more airports across the country in the coming months.” That is why the quick rollback caught some airports off guard, and TSA has given no reason.

A small hello at the gate turned into a lesson about trade-offs. Security rules keep travelers safe, and they also decide how close you can get to the people you love. TSA is still testing where the line should be. For now, the answer depends on your airport and your PreCheck card. For most of us, the goodbye still happens at the curb.