Yes. At 13 participating United States airports, approved TSA PreCheck members can use Gateside by TSA PreCheck to pass through security without a boarding pass. The free program requires an advance online request, an active Known Traveler Number and TSA approval. You must bring acceptable identification and complete screening; Gateside does not allow you to board an aircraft.
Gateside can be used to accompany someone to a departure gate, greet an arriving passenger, meet a friend during a layover, or visit shops and restaurants beyond security. It is not available at every airport, and an active TSA PreCheck membership does not guarantee that a request will be approved.
Who can use a Gateside pass
Gateside is for eligible TSA PreCheck members who have an active Known Traveler Number. The program is not a way to obtain TSA PreCheck membership, and a passenger’s TSA PreCheck status does not make a companion eligible.
Some members of other Department of Homeland Security trusted-traveler programs can receive TSA PreCheck benefits through their membership. If you use a program such as Global Entry, confirm that you have current TSA PreCheck eligibility and use the appropriate Known Traveler Number when applying. A trusted-traveler card by itself is not a Gateside pass.
Each adult visitor needs their own approval. An approved adult should not expect to bring another adult through the checkpoint under the same authorization.
Children may accompany an approved adult, but they must be added to the adult’s Gateside request through the visitor option in the portal. Do not assume that a child can be added at the checkpoint. Gateside is free, including for children added to an eligible adult’s request.
How to request Gateside access
Gateside is not a walk-up service. Requests can be made from three days to one day before the planned airport visit. For example, a visit on Friday can be requested from Tuesday through Thursday, subject to availability.
- Confirm that the airport participates. Check TSA’s current Gateside information and the airport’s own instructions before making the trip.
- Open the official Gateside application. You will use Login.gov, so sign in or create an account when prompted.
- Enter your details. Provide the requested personal information and your Known Traveler Number. Your details should match your TSA PreCheck or trusted-traveler record.
- Choose the airport and date. Approval is tied to a participating airport and a specific calendar day.
- Add children who will accompany you. Add them through the portal before submitting the request.
- Wait for approval. A submitted request is not a pass. Check the Gateside dashboard and do not go to the airport unless the visit has been approved.
Keep access to your Login.gov account on your phone. TSA may ask you to show your live Gateside approval, especially when children are included. Screenshots and printed copies may not be accepted, so make sure your phone is charged and that you can complete any account sign-in steps.
Participating airports have limited daily capacity, and availability may be reduced during busy travel periods. Apply early in the available window, but do not make plans that depend on approval.
Participating Gateside airports as of September 19, 2026
Gateside launched at 13 airports. TSA may add airports or change local operating procedures, so check the live program information before travelling to an airport.
- Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA), Arizona
- John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH), Ohio
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Texas
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), Michigan
- Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT), Kansas
- Indianapolis International Airport (IND), Indiana
- Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), Nevada
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), California
- Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT), Arkansas
- Will Rogers World Airport (OKC), Oklahoma
- Eppley Airfield (OMA), Nebraska
- San Diego International Airport (SAN), California
- Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), Utah
Check the airport’s security page and terminal map before you leave. TSA PreCheck screening may be offered only at certain checkpoints or during certain hours, and large airports may have terminals that are not connected after security.
What to expect at the checkpoint
Bring a physical, TSA-accepted identification document. A REAL ID-compliant driver’s licence or state identification card is acceptable, as are documents such as a passport, passport card or Department of Homeland Security trusted-traveler card. Since May 7, 2025, a non-compliant state-issued driver’s licence or identification card is not accepted as standard identification at TSA checkpoints.
Approved Gateside visitors use a TSA PreCheck screening lane. They cannot use TSA PreCheck Touchless ID lanes, so they should not rely only on a phone-based credential. For more detail about mobile identification limits, see whether you can use Apple Wallet Digital ID at TSA in 2026.
You will still be screened and must follow the same restrictions on carry-on items as ticketed passengers. Prohibited items, including firearms and most knives, cannot go through the checkpoint. Liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes in carry-on bags are generally limited to containers of 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres) or less, subject to TSA exceptions and additional screening.
An approved Gateside pass is valid for the specified calendar day. You may leave the secure area and return that day, but you must pass through security again. The approval does not carry over to a different day.
Gateside does not provide boarding rights, baggage services, parking benefits or automatic lounge access. Airport lounges commonly require a same-day boarding pass, even when the visitor can enter the post-security area.
How Gateside differs from other gate passes
| Access method | Who issues it | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Gateside by TSA PreCheck | TSA | Approved TSA PreCheck members visit the post-security area at participating airports without flying. |
| Airline escort or gate pass | The passenger’s airline | Usually for a specific airline need, such as taking an unaccompanied minor to the gate or meeting one on arrival. |
| Airport visitor pass | An individual airport | A separate local program, often with its own application timing, capacity limits and screening rules. |
An airline gate pass remains the appropriate option when you are using an airline’s unaccompanied-minor service. For example, American Airlines instructs the adult taking an unaccompanied minor to the airport to obtain a security pass at the ticket counter, and requires the adult collecting the child to obtain a gate pass. Airline procedures and availability vary, so contact the carrier before travelling to the airport.
Local visitor programs are separate from Gateside. San Diego International Airport’s SAN Pass, for example, is available to non-ticketed visitors without TSA PreCheck. It may be requested on the same day or up to seven days in advance, but pass holders use general screening rather than TSA PreCheck or other expedited lanes.
Before leaving home, confirm that the airport still participates, check that your Gateside request is approved, add every child who will accompany you, bring physical identification and review current checkpoint hours. If Gateside is unavailable, ask the airline whether your situation qualifies for an airline-issued gate pass or check whether the airport runs a separate visitor-pass program.
Sources
- Transportation Security Administration Gateside by TSA PreCheck
- Transportation Security Administration acceptable identification at the checkpoint
- Mesa Gateway Airport Gateside by TSA PreCheck announcement
- San Diego International Airport SAN Pass program
- American Airlines unaccompanied minor gate-pass guidance
