GateSide by TSA PreCheck lets eligible visitors go through airport security without a flight ticket. You can meet an arriving traveler, stay for a goodbye or share a meal during someone’s layover. The visit is free, but you need approval for a participating airport and date.
October 17, 2026 update: TSA currently lists 13 participating airports. The expanded rollout has been temporarily paused. An airport’s earlier launch announcement does not prove you can request a pass there now.
The most useful detail isn’t the promise of a gate reunion. It’s knowing whether your airport is available, everyone in your group is approved and you can display that approval at security. Screenshots and printed confirmations do not replace the live GateSide dashboard.
GateSide by TSA PreCheck at a glance
| Question | Current rule |
|---|---|
| Do I need a flight ticket? | No. This is specifically for eligible visitors who aren’t flying. |
| Who qualifies? | People eligible for TSA PreCheck screening, including members and certain other eligible travelers with KTNs. |
| What does the pass cost? | No GateSide application fee. Parking, food and any membership enrollment costs are separate. |
| When do I apply? | At least one day before the visit, no more than three days ahead. |
| Can children come? | Yes. Add them to a parent or guardian’s reservation. |
| How long does approval last? | One calendar day. Reentry is allowed on that approved date. |
| Which screening lane? | TSA PreCheck, following officer directions. Touchless ID lanes are excluded. |
Start with the official GateSide rules and Apply button. CarryOnSizes does not issue passes or collect your KTN. Enter identity information only through the official application process.
Which airports currently offer GateSide?
These are the 13 airports on TSA’s published list as of October 17, 2026. Airport codes help distinguish places with similar names. Check the actual application choices before arranging transport or promising someone a gate pickup.
| Airport | Code | State |
|---|---|---|
| Mesa Gateway | AZA | Arizona |
| John Glenn Columbus International | CMH | Ohio |
| Dallas Fort Worth International | DFW | Texas |
| Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County | DTW | Michigan |
| Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National | ICT | Kansas |
| Indianapolis International | IND | Indiana |
| Harry Reid International, Las Vegas | LAS | Nevada |
| Los Angeles International | LAX | California |
| Bill and Hillary Clinton National, Little Rock | LIT | Arkansas |
| Will Rogers International, Oklahoma City | OKC | Oklahoma |
| Eppley Airfield, Omaha | OMA | Nebraska |
| San Diego International | SAN | California |
| Salt Lake City International | SLC | Utah |
Being on this list doesn’t guarantee a place on your chosen day. Airports limit daily passes, and availability can narrow during busy periods. Approval status can also change before a visit.
Why do older reports list Richmond, Denver or hundreds of airports?
The original pilot and the expanded rollout are different stages. On October 15, Bismarck Airport published a notice that the expanded rollout was temporarily paused. It said North Dakota airports weren’t selectable in the application.
That notice followed Bismarck’s own announcement of participation. It is a clear example of why a launch story can become outdated almost immediately. The current TSA list and your application’s available airport choices matter more than an older headline.
Do not add Richmond or another announced airport to your plans solely because an older article mentions it. Confirm that you can select the airport for the intended date. If it is missing, arrange a meeting outside security instead.
Who can apply, and does every adult need PreCheck?
The program is for people eligible to use TSA PreCheck screening. That includes TSA PreCheck members, certain federal employees and eligible members of other trusted traveler programs. A Known Traveler Number is part of the application process.
A login.gov account alone doesn’t establish eligibility. Neither does an airline loyalty number or a paid airport lounge membership. Check the program’s eligibility language if you’re unsure which number you hold.
Treat each accompanying adult as an applicant whose own eligibility and approval must be established. One person’s PreCheck membership is not a general guest pass for friends. The expressly documented family option is adding children to a parent or guardian’s reservation.
GateSide itself is free. That doesn’t make a new TSA PreCheck enrollment free, nor does it remove airport parking charges. Avoid paying someone who claims they can guarantee your approval or bypass an unavailable airport.
How to apply without missing the window
- Confirm the airport and date. Match the airport code to the traveler you plan to meet. Check which terminal or concourse you need.
- Apply within the allowed window. Submit at least one day before visiting, and no more than three days ahead. GateSide isn’t a same day walkup pass.
- Use the official Apply link. Create or sign in to your login.gov account, then continue to the GateSide application portal.
- Match your eligibility record. Enter your name, date of birth and KTN exactly as recorded in your TSA PreCheck application.
- Add children before submitting. Use the add visitor option for each child accompanying the parent or guardian.
- Open the dashboard. Check the actual approval status. A submitted request or confirmation number alone is not permission to enter.
- Check again before leaving home. Make sure the airport, date, people and approval still match the planned visit.
For example, a Saturday visit requires advance planning during the one to three day window. Don’t save the application for Saturday morning. Use the dates offered by the official portal rather than treating a calendar reminder as approval.
The public guidance does not promise an instant decision or a guaranteed processing time. Build a backup plan around a public arrivals meeting point. This is especially useful when a traveler needs a dependable pickup.
Can children use a parent’s GateSide application?
Yes. Children must be entered on their parent or guardian’s reservation using the add visitor option. At security, the approved registration must cover every person in that group.
Do not leave a child off the application because children sometimes accompany adults through ordinary PreCheck screening. GateSide has its own registration requirement. The officer needs to verify the approved visitor list in the portal.
The public GateSide FAQ does not give a specific child age cutoff. It also doesn’t publish a universal rule for every family arrangement. Follow the application’s current fields and contact TSA if a teenager’s registration is unclear.
Check the names before you leave home. Keep the responsible adult’s phone charged and make sure that adult can access the dashboard. A screenshot of a reservation with an omitted child doesn’t fix the missing approval.
What to bring, and which security lane to use
Bring an acceptable ID and a mobile device that can open your live GateSide portal. A REAL ID compliant license or a passport is a practical ID choice. Use the accepted identification guidance linked from the official program page if you have another document.
Log in before presenting your ID. TSA may ask to see the approved status, and reservations with children require portal verification. Screenshots and printouts are not accepted as substitutes for that dashboard.
Use a TSA PreCheck screening lane. GateSide cannot use TSA PreCheck Touchless ID lanes. If the PreCheck lane is closed, an officer may direct you to a standard lane.
Allow time for parking, walking and screening. A free pass does not reserve a checkpoint appointment or guarantee you will reach the gate before someone boards. Follow any terminal access instructions associated with your approval.
Keep gifts and bags simple
Security restrictions still apply when you aren’t boarding a plane. Check our liquids screening guide before bringing drinks, perfume or large toiletries as gifts. A visitor pass doesn’t create an exception for them.
For a packed snack or welcome home treat, the distinction between solid food and a spread matters. Our food at airport security guide explains that difference. Leave prohibited items at home rather than assuming you can hand them to a traveler after screening.
A phone is particularly useful for a live dashboard and changing gate information. If you bring a spare battery, review our power bank safety guide. Rules for taking that battery on a flight become relevant if you hand it to the traveler.
Plan the reunion around the actual arrival
Get the operating airline, flight number and arrival airport from the traveler. Follow the airline’s current gate information, then check again after landing. Gates can change while a flight is taxiing.
Agree on a backup meeting point outside security. The visitor might be denied entry, a terminal connection might be inconvenient or the traveler might reach baggage claim first. A simple fallback avoids two people crossing paths in opposite directions.
An arriving international flight needs extra care. GateSide does not grant access to the customs inspection area or immigration processing corridors. For an arrival requiring US border clearance, plan to meet after those formalities in the public arrivals area.
Flights cleared before departure at a US preclearance location can arrive differently. CBP explains how preclearance changes the arrival process. Confirm the flight’s terminal arrangement instead of assuming every international arrival can be met at its gate.
If you’re meeting during a connection, leave the traveler enough time for their next boarding call. The pass doesn’t include lounge admission, boarding permission or access through staff doors. Stay within areas open to approved visitors.
If the airport is missing, approval is denied or staff cannot find it
| Problem | Useful next step |
|---|---|
| Your airport isn’t selectable | Check current participation. Do not substitute a nearby airport or rely on an old rollout notice. |
| Your request is denied | Compare name, birth date and KTN with your eligibility record. Daily airport limits can also cause denial. |
| You have a confirmation but no approved dashboard status | Do not treat the confirmation as permission. Contact TSA for registration help. |
| Your phone cannot open the portal | Restore live access before approaching the checkpoint. A saved screenshot is not an accepted substitute. |
| An officer cannot verify the registration | Explain that you have a GateSide approval and show the live dashboard. Follow the officer’s directions. |
For unresolved registration problems, use TSA Customer Service. CarryOnSizes cannot see your application, correct a KTN or reverse an access decision. Do not send us identity documents or screenshots containing personal details.
TSA can limit access during peak periods, and visitors must follow airport conduct and security rules. A pass can be revoked. Recheck your status before paying for transport to the airport.
GateSide versus airport visitor passes and airline escort passes
These routes to gate access solve different problems. Their application windows, eligibility and checkpoint instructions are not interchangeable.
| Option | Who handles it? | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| GateSide by TSA PreCheck | TSA’s official application portal | Eligible PreCheck users; apply one to three days ahead; live portal approval; designated screening lanes. |
| Airport visitor program | The individual airport | Local rules may allow people without PreCheck. Timing, permitted bags and accepted pass formats vary. |
| Airline escort or gate pass | The airline | Limited assistance situations, such as accompanying a minor or a traveler with a disability. Airline approval applies. |
For a concrete example, Tulsa’s separate Visitor Pass accepts applications on the visit day or up to seven days ahead. It uses general screening and permits printed passes. Those are Tulsa rules, not GateSide rules.
If an unaccompanied child or someone needing assistance is traveling, speak to the airline directly about an escort pass. Don’t depend on GateSide availability for an essential assistance arrangement. Our airline guide directory can help with the traveler’s separate baggage planning.
GateSide questions people ask before applying
Is GateSide by TSA PreCheck still available?
As of October 17, 2026, TSA lists 13 participating airports. The expanded rollout is temporarily paused. Check the official application for your airport and date before making a trip.
Can I apply for a GateSide pass on the same day?
No. Apply at least one day before your visit and no more than three days ahead. Separate airport visitor programs may have different windows.
Can kids go through security on a parent’s GateSide pass?
Yes, when the children are added to their parent or guardian’s approved reservation. Use the add visitor option. Show the live portal at security so everyone can be verified.
Can I show a screenshot or print my GateSide approval?
No. TSA requires access to the live portal when approval verification is needed. Screenshots and printouts are not accepted substitutes.
Does GateSide let me meet an international arrival before customs?
No. It does not grant access to customs or immigration processing areas. Arrange a public arrivals meeting point unless the flight’s arrival arrangement allows a gate meeting after preclearance.
Can I leave the airport and come back with the same pass?
Yes. The pass is valid for one calendar day, with reentry permitted on that date. You must pass through screening again and retain valid approval.
Why was my GateSide application denied?
Your name, birth date and KTN must match your eligibility record. The airport may also have reached its daily pass limit. Contact TSA Customer Service if you need help with the registration.