TTPRADARWhat changed
TSA appears to have rolled back an expansion of Gateside that had grown to about 300 airports. Only the 13 pilot airports are now listed on TSA's application portal, according to The Points Guy.
A representative of the Norfolk Airport Authority told TPG that TSA said the program is on hold indefinitely except at the pilot airports. That account is secondhand. TSA did not respond to TPG's request for comment, and no official reason for the pause has been given.
Where Gateside still runs
TPG lists these 13 airports as currently running the program, and ABC7 gives the same list:
- Mesa Gateway
- Columbus John Glenn
- Dallas Fort Worth
- Detroit Metro
- Wichita Eisenhower
- Indianapolis
- Las Vegas Harry Reid
- Los Angeles
- Little Rock Clinton
- Oklahoma City Will Rogers
- Omaha Eppley
- San Diego
- Salt Lake City
If your airport is not on that list, do not count on Gateside for a visit. Airports beyond the pilot group appear to be on hold.
How members use it
Gateside lets a non-traveling visitor get past security to meet or see off a traveler at the gate. ABC7 reports that it is for eligible TSA PreCheck members and requires TSA PreCheck benefits plus a Known Traveler Number (KTN).
As ABC7 describes it, the process is short:
- The visitor applies online 1 to 3 days before the visit.
- The pass is free and valid only for the approved visit.
- The visitor brings acceptable ID and the approval, then uses a TSA PreCheck lane.
A visitor without acceptable ID can use TSA ConfirmID, which costs $45. Children can be included on a parent's or guardian's application.
What this means for Global Entry members
Neither source mentions Global Entry. They describe the program in terms of TSA PreCheck membership and a KTN, so whether a Global Entry membership qualifies is not settled by the reporting.
Check the eligibility wording on TSA's PreCheck pages before you plan a visit around it.
Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham
We found nothing on the status of either airport. Neither is among the 13, and neither TPG nor ABC7 mentions a planned rollout there. ABC7 mentions Charlotte only in connection with a self-service ID test, which is a separate matter.
Treat any Charlotte or Raleigh-Durham start date as unconfirmed until TSA says otherwise.
What TSA has said
Very little. TSA's Gateside website says the program "will roll out to more airports across the country in the coming months," according to TPG. TSA also said it is assessing the program as it looks to expand to more airports, per ABC7.
Neither statement explains the pause or gives a timeline. Expansion remains the stated intention, but nothing in the sources commits TSA to a date.
What to do now
If you are traveling through one of the 13 pilot airports, Gateside should still work as described. Apply 1 to 3 days ahead and bring ID.
If you are not, plan as you would have before Gateside existed. Our guide library covers how the Trusted Traveler Programs work. We will update this story if TSA publishes a statement.