New TSA program lets visitors get past security at select airports

Twenty-five years after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks sparked a radical change in airport security protocols, a new program is bringing back meeting loved ones at the gate.

The Transportation Security Administration has launched Gateside by TSA PreCheck, an initiative allowing some people without a plane ticket to pass through airport security.

The program is only available at some airports around the country for those with TSA PreCheck or other trusted traveler programs.

"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.

While Gateside by TSA PreCheck is organized through the federal agency, several individual airports have existing programs allowing visitors past security checkpoints. For instance, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has offered a visitor pass program since 2018, while Detroit Metro Airport first launched a similar program in 2019.

Here's what to know about Gateside by TSA PreCheck.

Those interested in Gateside by TSA PreCheck can apply on TSA's website.

On TSA's Visitor Pass portal, users can sign in or create a new account to submit an…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/travel/