Travelers arrive at the Transportation Security Administration TSA Precheck security line at Denver International Airport (DEN) on March 23, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Al Drago/
It’s a scene that is as old as air travel. Yet it is also one that has been missing for a long time. A weary traveler steps off an airplane after a long journey and is immediately greeted by loved ones. Maybe there is a welcome sign or some flowers, but there are definitely a lot of smiles and hugs.
Nowadays, those moments, while they do happen, tend to require a little more waiting. Because if those who were waiting for someone to arrive did not have a flight, those loved ones had to stay on the other side of the airport security line. That not only delays the eagerly awaited reunion, but it can make finding the other person more of a hassle and could prevent someone who knows the airport well from helping the inbound traveler know where to go.
Going Gateside
The Transportation Security Administration is looking to rekindle those moments, at least for some eligible individuals. The federal agency is rolling out the Gateside by TSA PreCheckprogram that allows people who are TSA PreCheck members and who have Known Traveler Numbers to go past airport security, even when they do not have a flight.
“As an exclusive benefit for our most trusted travelers, this new program makes it easier to return to the gate for welcomes and send-offs, meet friends during a layover, and enjoy dining and shopping along the way, bringing back the moments that once defined air travel,” the TSA website states about the program.
Which airports have Gateside?
Only thirteen airports are currently offering the Gateside program. However, the TSA’s website indicates that the agency is adding more as part of a phased rollout plan. Here is the list of airports that are part of the initial set:
- Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) in Arizona
- John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) in Ohio
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in Texas
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) in Michigan
- Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) in Kansas
- Indianapolis International Airport (IND) in Indiana
- Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Nevada
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in California
- Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT) in Arkansas
- Will Rogers International Airport (OKC) in Oklahoma
- Eppley Airfield (OMA) in Nebraska
- San Diego International Airport (SAN) in California
- Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) in Utah
How Gateside works
The program is free for those who already use TSA PreCheck, which does have a fee, or those who have Known Traveler Numbers, the TSA explains. However, meeting that criterion does not mean a person can go past security whenever they want.
To use Gateside, that person would have to apply on the TSA website between one and three days before they needed to be at the airport. After the application is approved, the person will need to bring valid identification to the TSA PreCheck lane to gain access. Children are allowed to come through too if they are on their parent or guardian’s reservation.
TSA’s website did not give a timeline for when new airports would be added or how many airports it would be coming to, but did indicate that more would be added in the coming months.
The Security Administration explanation. This story was reported from Orlando
