TSA brings back gate access for some people without plane tickets 25 years after 9/11
The TSA has launched a program called 'Gateside' that allows select PreCheck members without tickets to access airport gate areas. This marks a return to pre-9/11 practices, allowing non-travelers to meet or see off passengers at the gate.
Why it matters
This represents a significant shift in airport security policy 25 years after the 9/11 attacks, balancing security with passenger convenience.
LAS VEGAS — Airport security checkpoints have been the end of the line since soon after the 9/11 attacks for most friends and relatives who want to see off departing passengers. That is changing at some U.S. airports.
National It Was Shoes On, No Boarding Pass Or ID. But Airport Security Forever Changed On 9/11 The Transportation Security Administration is allowing eligible TSA PreCheck members without tickets to pass through security and enter gate areas, reviving a tradition that largely disappeared after the attacks 25 years ago this week.
"As an exclusive benefit for our most trusted travelers, this new program makes it easier to return to the gate for welcomes and send-offs, meet friends during a layover, and enjoy dining and shopping along the way, bringing back the moments that once defined air travel," TSA said on its website.
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