Key facts
- TSA PreCheck members without plane tickets can now apply for gate access at select U.S. airports.
- The 'Gateside by TSA PreCheck' program revives a practice discontinued after the 9/11 attacks.
- Applicants must submit requests online one to three days before their visit and use a TSA PreCheck lane.
- The initiative is initially available at 13 airports, with plans for expansion.
- The program is a free benefit for trusted travelers to welcome or see off friends and family.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has launched a new program, 'Gateside by TSA PreCheck,' allowing eligible TSA PreCheck members without plane tickets to pass through security checkpoints and access airport gates. This initiative aims to bring back the tradition of meeting and seeing off loved ones at the gate, a practice that largely ceased following the September 11, 2001, attacks.