Overview
- The Gateside pilot launched in September at 13 airports and, after a quiet rollout that showed availability at about 300 sites, TSA reverted the program to the original 13 on Friday.
- Approved users still receive single-day passes that allow re-entry the same day, must present ID at TSA PreCheck screening lanes, and are barred from using Touchless ID lanes.
- Gateside differs from traditional airline gate passes because it is a TSA-run screening exemption for vetted PreCheck members rather than an airline-issued visitor pass that requires use of standard screening lanes.
- Several airports learned of the rollback from TSA or customer reports rather than a public announcement, and TSA has not given a public reason for pausing the wider expansion.
- For travelers and non-traveling guests this change limits where people can access gates to shop, dine, or meet flyers now and signals that broader availability will depend on future TSA decisions or further testing.