TSA Halts Gateside Expansion Days After Opening It to 300+ Airports

The Transportation Security Administration has withdrawn the nationwide deployment of Gateside by TSA PreCheck. TSA introduces the program on Sept. 26 that allows the eligible visitors to pass the airport security and move to the departure gate to meet & greet the family and friends without a ticket. It was started with only 13 airports, but later on October 2, TSA declared a list of 300 airports that lasted for less than two weeks and then put on hold. As of now, the Gateside program is operational only at the pilot airport, which was launched in September. 

What Happened and When

One of the airports affected was Norfolk. In the first four days, 31 passengers had applied for passes and used them, the airport's authority said, while officials only became aware of the change when the airport was no longer available on the menu. Although people visited Gateside the previous week, the TSA returned it to the pilot airports, Denver International confirmed to CNN.

Where Gateside Still Works

The Gateside program is still operating at the 13 airports, which were initially a part of the program. The TSA launch list published by the local news outlets is as follows: 

1. Mesa Gateway (AZA), Arizona

2. Columbus (CMH), Ohio

3. Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Texas

4. Detroit (DTW), Michigan

5. Wichita (ICT), Kansas

6. Indianapolis (IND), Indiana

7. Las Vegas (LAS), Nevada

8. Los Angeles (LAX), California

9. Little Rock (LIT), Arkansas

10. Oklahoma City (OKC), Oklahoma

11. San Diego (SAN), California

12. Salt Lake City (SLC), Utah

13. Denver (DEN), Colorado

How Gateside Works

• Available for TSA PreCheck members and individuals who have a known traveler number from other trusted traveler programs.

• It is free for the existing member, and there are no additional charges. 

• Travelers are required to apply at least 1 to 3 days before the day of the visit and then wait for the approval. 

• The approved visitors will have to carry a Real ID or government-approved ID card and show the approved status on the mobile dashboard to use the PreCheck lane. 

• The pass is valid for one day only; the visitor can access the airport but is restricted from boarding the flight. 

• The airport holds the right to cap the daily limit and refuse the access. 

Why the Reversal Is Striking

TSA leadership had hyped up the pace of the rollout. On the September launch, Administrator David Cummins told NPR that he hopes to have all 430 airports online by the end of the year and noted that the agency is still missing a way for non-travelers to gain access to the gates. 13 airports to over 300 in one step seemed like a step toward that goal.

There was a clear disparity between the application and TSA's own web page as well. Between the 300+ airports listed on the airport menu and TSA's nonpublic Gateside page, it's anyone's guess what the number of airports listed is. What is not known is how many airports are listed on the airport menu on the portal or on TSA's public Gateside page. Secondary reports indicate that additional airports will soon follow, as well.

What TSA Hasn't Explained

The TSA has not given an explanation behind the withdrawal of the program. Thus, any reason given is an informed speculation. However, there were some noticeable issues that might be a possible reason: 

• Checkpoint staff readiness. There were several approved visitors at Dallas/Fort International Airport, who were denied access by the officers. The officers said they have not received any training on the program and are unable to find the approval in their system. 

• Airport capacity concerns. Airports are concerned about the volume of passengers and staff shortages, especially during the peak hours. 
  

The TSA has not given any reason behind why the expansion was narrowed down, but they have still clarified that there will be more airports to add in the coming months. 

Local Visitor Passes Fill the Gap

There are several airports in the United States that run their own visitor program, and those are still functional. Seattle-Talcoma Airport has reported nearly 2,500 visitors a month, San Francisco has increased the daily limit from 200 to 300 visitors a day, and Tulsa welcomes 1,000 visitors every month. 

However, unlike the Gateside program, local passes will typically take visitors through the regular checkpoint rather than the PreCheck lane. 

We will keep an eye on when TSA publishes a reason or a timeline for restarting the expansion. So stay tuned with us for the latest updates. 

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