TSA to allow some gate access to non-ticketed people

Interesting assortment of airports that are part of the 1st phase

Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) in Arizona
John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) in Ohio
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in Texas
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) in Michigan
Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) in Kansas
Indianapolis International Airport (IND) in Indiana
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Nevada
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in California
Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT) in Arkansas
Will Rogers International Airport (OKC) in Oklahoma
Eppley Airfield (OMA) in Nebraska
San Diego International Airport (SAN) in California
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) in Utah

I have mixed feelings about this change. Airports are crowded and I wonder how much worse gate areas and restaurants will be? It might be nice to have that friend or relative waiting at the gate when having a long layover.

I'm really glad to hear this. I remember those days fondly; waiting at a gate for someone to arrive or having family members there to meet you when you got off the plane.

It was a lot of fun and much nicer than having to trudge all the way through the airport by yourself and then go outside and wait for them to pull up from the cell phone lot. 😊

For quite a while (maybe always) a person could ask for a gate pass from the airline to meet a passenger at the gate. Usually the person had a reason like meeting a special needs passenger but I never heard of any limits on it.

I don't see Atlanta on the list yet.

My son lives in Denver so I don't get to see him very often. A few times he's had a short layover in Atlanta on the way to somewhere else, and we've talked about meeting up at the airport for a visit, but it just doesn't work out. The airport is so big, and the TSA lines can sometimes be very long, so he can't take the chance of coming out of the secure area to meet me and then going back through the line.

I'd love to be able to meet him at the gate and visit for an hour or two, so I'd take advantage of this for sure. I have TSA PreCheck which I think is a prerequisite of the non-ticketed gate access.

On the other hand, the drawback might be that non-ticketed people in the security lines is going to just add to an overburdened system and make the lines even longer for the passengers. However, since these folks won't have luggage to be screened, maybe it won't make that much difference. We'll see....

In the past, you could always request a gate pass from the airline or the airport itself. But you had to have a good reason.

I believe this new system allows you to request a pass directly from TSA. Since anyone requesting a pass will have to have TSA Precheck, I'm guessing that line will be affected the most.

People will still have to get things screened. Remember, pockets must be emptied, purses and coats must go through the machine

In the past, you could always request a gate pass from the airline or
the airport itself. But you had to have a good reason.

Yes, we've done that with my granddaughter when we meet her mom at the gate to pick her up or drop her off. But I'm not sure that wanting to visit with someone during a layover would qualify under the current rules.

Here's a gifted link to the New York Times article that gives a bit more information about it: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/08/travel/tsa-precheck-airports-security-non-flyers.html?unlocked_article_code=1._1A._zDK.eFxhqz3WdXxa&smid=url-share

I remember my dad being allowed to accompany me onto the airplane to help get the kids situated. This was in the mid 90’s. Things have certainly changed!

Embracing my inner cynic, just think of how much more airport companies will be able to make from parking fees with people spending time meeting people in the airport rather than just driving by and picking up at the door. :-)

Gate passes are still a thing. I requested and used one recently, to assist my elderly parents (one was also using a wheelchair service) to the gate. I did have to be polite and persuasive to be able to get it (from the ticket agent when I checked them in).