TSA PreCheck Enhancements

The flying public will not be the only ones beyond the security checkpoint under the Gateside plan.

TSA PreCheck is a US Government trusted traveler program that provides expedited security screening at more than 200 airports across the United States. It’s traditionally been associated with travelers who already have a boarding pass in hand, but that's changing with the launch of Gateside by TSA PreCheck. The new program allows eligible TSA PreCheck members to pass through airport security and enter the airside terminal even when they’re not traveling, as it was before the September 11 attacks. Gateside is initially available at 13 US airports, and the Transportation Security Administration TSA) is expected to expand the program to additional locations.

Concourses like this one at DFW Airport may see increased foot traffic from non-ticketed visitors.

The concept gives PreCheck members a new reason to visit an airport without flying, whether to accompany a family member to the gate, welcome an arriving passenger, access restaurants and shops beyond security, or do some up close plane spotting. However, Gateside is not simply an open invitation to enter any US airport terminal. Travelers must apply in advance, receive approval, and use the program only at participating airports. Gateside by TSA PreCheck is available exclusively to TSA PreCheck members, who must apply through the program between one and three days before their planned airport visit. Applicants must provide their Known Traveler Number (KTN) while children without TSA PreCheck can also accompany an approved adult if they are registered as part of the same application. Once approved, the Gateside pass is valid for one calendar day and can be used for multiple entries.

Some medium-hub airports like Omaha's are also taking part in the TSA PreCheck Gateside Program.

The program is currently available at the following 13 airports: Mesa Gateway (AZA), John Glenn Columbus International (CMH), Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW), Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW), Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National  (ICT), Indianapolis International (IND), Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International (LAS), Los Angeles International  (LAX),  Little Rock’s Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT), Oklahoma City’s Will Rogers International (OKC), Omaha’s Eppley Airfield (OMA), San Diego International (SAN), and Salt Lake City International (SLC). The new initiative is scheduled to debut at my home airport of Raleigh Durham International (RDU) this fall. At the checkpoint, be advised that users must show identification and may need to display their approved Gateside status through the program's mobile portal as screenshots and printed copies are not acceptable.

Pittsburgh Airport (PIT) was first to allow access beyond security for non-ticketed visitors in 2017.

TSA PreCheck members using Gateside can also use the dedicated PreCheck screening lanes, distinguishing the initiative from some previous airport programs that allowed non-ticketed visitors to access terminals, but did not necessarily provide access to PreCheck screening. Allowing non-travelers beyond airport security is not entirely new in the United States. TSA experimented with a similar program at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) in 2017 called myPITpass . This popular program was paused at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. It’s currently inactive and remains on hold. While a handful of other airports subsequently introduced their own programs allowing visitors to obtain gate passes under certain circumstances, Gateside stands out because it creates a more centralized, TSA-backed framework that might eventually cover more airports.

Airline Gate Passes are routinely issued to assist in escorting unaccompanied minors to their gates.

The launch also highlights how the role of airport security checkpoints has evolved since the restrictions introduced following the September 11 attacks. For many years, the standard assumption at US airports was that only ticketed passengers could pass through security, although exceptions such as airline-issued gate passes have existed. Gateside represents a controlled move toward giving some non-travelers airside access while still keeping them within TSA's established screening framework. The TSA PreCheck Program itself has also grown substantially, giving Gateside a potentially large pool of eligible users. More than 20 million people are directly enrolled in TSA PreCheck, while more than 40 million travelers can access PreCheck lanes when other Trusted Traveler programs such as Global Entry are included.

CT scanners provide enhanced detection by generating high-resolution, 360-degree 3D images.

In another TSA development, travelers may soon be allowed to bring full water bottles through some airport security checkpoints, which is a major shift from longstanding airport security restrictions. The Transportation Security Administration is weighing whether to allow TSA PreCheck passengers to bring water bottles through security checkpoints at a select number of airports across the United States. Senior administration officials report the proposal would be limited to airports using advanced CT scanners capable of distinguishing between water and other liquids. The TSA has deployed over 1,000 of these computer tomography (CT) scanners across nearly 300 US airports to enhance carry-on baggage screening. Unlike traditional 2-D X-ray systems, CT technology creates a detailed 3-D image that TSA officers can digitally rotate 360 degrees and inspect. Sophisticated software automatically flags potential explosive devices and other threatening items. Passengers generally do not need to remove laptops, electronics, or approved liquids from their carry-on bags. 

All liquids carried on the aircraft are limited to 3.4 ounce containers, all fitting in one quart-sized bag.

The advanced 3D CT scanners can identify and distinguish water from other liquid threats. The TSA has explored conducting pilot programs at select airports with advanced advanced CT screening technology to potentially allow trusted TSA PreCheck travelers to bring full-size water bottles through security. At present, the TSA has not named specific airports for its initial pilot study. A nationwide rollout is not yet ready because the agency lacks the funding and scale of CT scanners needed. A broader rollout for next-generation PreCheck lanes which combine CT scanners, facial comparison and automated systems is expected to take roughly one year. So, for the time being, the standard 3-1-1 rule limiting carry-on liquids to 3.4 ounces or less remains fully in effect nationwide.

Until next time…safe travels.