Gateside by TSA PreCheck®
Airport greetings are back—at some airports, anyway. The new Gateside by TSA PreCheck® program has rolled out at a handful of airports around the country. It's intended to allow families to meet their loved ones at their gate or friends to meet up for a meal during a layover. It can be used to access airport dining, shopping or plane-spotting, too. The program is free for eligible travelers, and it's another benefit for award travelers who already have TSA PreCheck®, thanks to the credits available across many credit cards. Here's how to access the program.
How to Use Gateside by TSA PreCheck®
Eligible non-travelers can apply for one-day passes to access parts of the airport past the security checkpoint. Gateside by TSA PreCheck® is available to eligible TSA PreCheck® members and eligible participants in other trusted traveler programs, as well as certain federal employees. Approvals will be subject to capacity limits set by the participating airport, so it may be harder to get approved on busier travel days.
- Plan to apply 1-3 days before your airport visit. To do so, log in to your account on the Gateside by TSA PreCheck® application page.
- Fill out the form, including your identification info and your requested airport and date.
- Note that your personal information must be an exact match for your TSA PreCheck® profile.
- If you will have children with you during your visit, click on the “+ Add visitor” button to add their info.
- Return to your dashboard, where you'll be able to check the status of your request.
- If approved, you can head to the airport on the date you requested. You can enter the dedicated TSA PreCheck® lanes, but not the TSA PreCheck® Touchless ID lanes.
- Passes are valid for one calendar day. Re-entry is allowed on that date. Approved visitors will undergo the same type of security screening as ticketed passengers.
- Be sure to:
- Bring an acceptable form of ID.
- Have the portal loaded on your phone, just in case you need to show the TSA officer your approval status. (Screenshots and printouts of your status won't be accepted.) If your reservation includes children, you will also have to show the TSA officer your approval on the portal.
Participating Airports
As of Sept. 7, 2026, the Gateside by TSA PreCheck® program is available at the below airports. More airports will be added in phases as the program continues to expand.
| Airport | State |
| Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) | Arizona |
| Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT) | Arkansas |
| Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) | California |
| San Diego International Airport (SAN) | California |
| Indianapolis International Airport (IND) | Indiana |
| Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) | Kansas |
| Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) | Michigan |
| Eppley Airfield (OMA) | Nebraska |
| Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) | Nevada |
| John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) | Ohio |
| Will Rogers International Airport (OKC) | Oklahoma |
| Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) | Texas |
| Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) | Utah |
Gateside by TSA PreCheck®: ToP Thoughts
Some of my earliest memories are of walking my grandmother through the airport. It seems we are slowly moving back toward that era. In fact, a growing number of airports around the country have launched their own guest pass programs in recent years. (My family has tested the guest pass program at MSY, and we've found it helpful.) Gateside by TSA PreCheck® is still in its launch phase at a mix of large and small airports. Caps on the number of daily visitors will hopefully curb crowds. Participants in this program won't have access to Touchless ID lanes. So if you are concerned about increasing wait times, consider opting in to Touchless ID. We've found those lines move quickly—and are a great way to use that TSA PreCheck® perk on your credit cards. Would you try the Gateside by TSA PreCheck® program? Tell us in the ToP Facebook Group.
