Overview
- The Gateside by TSA PreCheck pilot began around the Labor Day weekend and is active at 13 U.S. airports with Mesa Gateway serving as a prominent test site.
- Only travelers with a Known Traveler Number from TSA PreCheck or similar vetting can apply for a free, one-day Gateside pass that allows use of TSA PreCheck lanes to enter secured terminal areas.
- Applicants must sign in with a login.gov account and apply one to three days before their visit, and approved visitors must present acceptable ID and may be asked to show their live approval dashboard at the checkpoint.
- Airports set daily caps on passes and children can be added to a visitor reservation, which officials say is meant to limit crowding though some travelers have praised the family and assistance benefits while others worry about safety and congestion.
- The pilot relaxes long-standing post-9/11 non‑passenger restrictions and the Transportation Security Administration and Department of Transportation will use operational data from the 30-day test to decide on wider rollout.