Meeting People at the Airport Gate Feels Like a Throwback. At These 32 U.S. Airports, It’s Still Possible.

This article was originally published in 2018 and was most recently updated on October 26, 2026, with current information.

It may seem impossible to believe, but up until 9/11, people without plane tickets could walk right up to gates at the airport to see their friends and family off or welcome them right off the plane. After the pandemic, a handful of U.S. airports brought back independent programs that allow unticketed passengers to pass through security.

In September 2026, 25 years after the 9/11 attacks that led to the creation of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the agency introduced its own Gateside by TSA PreCheck program at 13 airports. (The planned expansion of that program has since been put on hold but it remains in place at the original 13 airports.)

Together with the airports that have created their own airside access programs, there are the 32 airports where you can go through security without a ticket.

U.S. airports where you can go through security without a ticket

Gateside by TSA PreCheck and individual airport visitor pass programs are free, but you must apply in advance. For Gateside by TSA PreCheck, you should apply one to three days in advance. How far you need to apply for individual airports’ visitor passes varies, so check online. Note that the above passes and Gateside by TSA PreCheck are not for walking an unaccompanied minor to the gate; for that, you can get a pass from the airline directly.

How does Gateside by TSA PreCheck work?

Photo by Elliott Cowand Jr/Shutterstock

Anyone enrolled in TSA PreCheck is eligible for Gateside by TSA PreCheck. All you have to do is fill out the online application one to three days in advance, then go to the airport with a TSA-approved Real ID. Anyone using Gateside should get in a TSA PreCheck lane, but note that you cannot use TSA PreCheck Touchless ID without a boarding pass.

You may need to show the TSA officer your Gateside portal dashboard showing your approved status on your mobile device, according to TSA. Don’t take a screenshot or print out proof of approval—you’ll simply need to go to the portal using your phone.

Ronny Maye, a writer in eastern North Carolina, has already used Gateside three times since the program was launched in September 2026. “It was a straightforward process. The application takes less than two minutes,” she told Afar. Maye used Gateside at Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Charlotte airports. (The program is no longer available at the latter as of mid-October 2026.) She used it “to meet and escort loved ones who were new fliers and had a lot of anxiety about navigating larger airports alone. I was also able to assist a friend who was flying solo with her toddler for the first time.”

How do I get a visitor pass at other airports?

While Gateside by TSA PreCheck is limited to those enrolled in TSA PreCheck, 19 airports on the above list have their own visitor passes. They’re all free; see each airport’s webpage for when and how to apply. Once approved, go to the airport as you normally would and be prepared to pass through airport security.

FAQs: Going through airport security without a ticket

Can you go through airport security without a ticket?

There are 32 U.S. airports where you can go through airport security without a ticket, provided you’ve applied either for Gateside by TSA PreCheck or an airport’s visitor pass program.

Can I access an airport lounge Gateside by TSA PreCheck?

Most airport lounges require a boarding pass, so you may not be able to access one with Gateside by TSA PreCheck or an airport visitor pass.

Do you need TSA PreCheck to get a visitor pass?

You need TSA PreCheck if you want to use Gateside by TSA PreCheck, available at 13 airports in the USA. Otherwise, there are 19 U.S. airports where you can apply for a visitor pass without TSA PreCheck.

Is Gateside by TSA PreCheck free?

Yes, Gateside by TSA PreCheck is free for TSA PreCheck members.

How far in advance do you need to apply?

Apply for Gateside by TSA PreCheck one to three days in advance. The lead time for individual airports’ visitor passes varies, so check their websites.

Can children come with me?

Yes, children under 18 can accompany an adult registered with Gateside by TSA PreCheck; make sure they’re included on your application. Most airport visitor passes are also open to children under 18.

Do I have to be meeting someone who’s flying?

No, you don’t need to be meeting someone who’s flying to use Gateside by TSA PreCheck or an airport’s visitor pass.

What ID do I need?

To use both Gatecheck by TSA PreCheck and an individual airport’s visitor pass, you’ll need a TSA-approved ID, meaning a RealID or a passport. If you don’t have either of these, you can use TSA’s ConfirmID ($45 fee).

Can I bring anything through security?

People using airport visitor passes must follow the same TSA checkpoint rules as flying passengers and cannot carry in any items that are prohibited or liquids over 3.4oz/100ml.

Can I meet someone at the gate without a pass?

You can meet someone at the gate without an airport visitor pass only by getting an escort pass from your airline. This can be used to walk a minor or anyone needing disability-assistance to and from the gate. Be sure to organize this well in advance.

Will more airports get Gateside by TSA PreCheck?

Gateside by TSA PreCheck TSA launched at 13 airports in September 2026. In mid-October 2026, the program then expanded to hundreds of airports, but days later was scaled back to the original 13, reports CNN. As of publication, there has been no news about whether Gateside will be available at more U.S. airports.