The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) rolled out a new program for eligible TSA PreCheck members without an airplane ticket.
After 9/11, only ticketed, screened passengers could pass through security. Airlines already issue gate passes for a few situations, like an unaccompanied minor or handicapped passengers with disabilities.
From the TSA website:
The Golden Age of Travel is taking off. Gateside by TSA PreCheck provides members with access to the terminal beyond airport security, even when they aren’t flying. Just use your KTN [Known Travler Number] to apply and use the same dedicated TSA PreCheck lanes for a smoother entry. As an exclusive benefit for our most trusted travelers, 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.
However, it is not a guarantee. You have to apply using your KTN number, enter personal information, and submit the request at least a day before.
The TSA listed a few reasons why it denied your request:
The personal information you enter into the portal must exactly match the information in your TSA PreCheck application. This includes name, date of birth, and KTN. Make sure you enter your information correctly. Additionally, each participating airport sets limits on the number of passes issued for each day. If your information is correct but you’ve been denied a pass, your airport may have reached its limit for your selected day.
Yeah, there is a limit to how many people can get the Gateside pass. I expect the days around the holiday will fill up fast.
The luxury is at 13 airports, including my airport:
- Arizona — Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA)
- Arkansas — Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT)
- California — Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- California — San Diego International Airport (SAN)
- Indiana — Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
- Kansas — Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT)
- Michigan — Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
- Nebraska — Eppley Airfield (OMA)
- Nevada — Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
- Ohio — John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
- Oklahoma — Will Rogers International Airport (OKC)
- Texas — Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
- Utah — Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
Some airports have their own program:
Pittsburgh International Airport launched the myPITpass in 2017, although the program was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic and remained on hold during construction at the airport.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport began a similar program a year later, allowing gate access for up to 300 people without tickets a day. Other airports that have their own versions of the program include Philadelphia International Airport and Kansas City International Airport.
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Comments
Why is this a surprise?
The TSA is a JOKE, but not a funny one. They’ve been a joke for DECADES. They regularly fail 80-90% of the tests done on them by federal inspectors.
My personal story of their stupidity was when they had first started their ‘NO LIQUIDS MORE THAN 3 OUNCES’ absolute nonsense (any liquid dangerous enough to pose a threat to the plane doesn’t need a large amount, and they could just have 20 containers of 3 oz anyway), I was drinking a bottle of water going through security and they made me throw it away, acting like it was stupid of me to even think I could bring it through. Then I got on the plane and realized in my carryon bag was my multitool that had a 4 inch knife blade in it. Thank god they got that bottle of water though!
and they could just have 20 containers of 3 oz anyway
Not true. All of your liquids have to fit in a quart baggie.
And, liquids that will pose a threat to the structural integrity of the plane or to the pilots DO need more than 3 ounces to be effective. Particularly binary weapons. Hence the quart rule. (The handful of items that might actually do some damage in that small of a package are detected by the scanners.)
Downvote? Any feedback on why?
Feels
Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the passengers that are safe, the courage to stop and search the ones that are not and the wisdom to know the difference.
Simple rule- If you be white, get right on that flight.
Im white
Hasn’t helped
They don’t want to be politically incorrect so they manhandle old ladies like me, twice I might add, and literally let an Arabic screaming man with a long trench coat, slicked back hair and long ass beard, on the plane without any extra screening
My 18 y/O daughter was flipping out
I spoke to the representatives with no good outcome
Not the first time either.
I was in Chicago and my daughter had to go to the restroom and I had 3 carry on bags, oh the good times, my back was to the counter, at least 3 additional rows to the counter behind me.
A young airline representative came over by me and asked me to come to the counter for further inspection. I refused
I told her my daughter was gone amd I had all this luggage. She kept staring at me.
Finally I said,” what makes me look like I’m so desperate for love , that I would strap on 20 pounds of explosives on me, that you all have to ask me continuously for extra inspections?”
I thought she would faint
I never went with her and got on the plane without any extra inspection with my daughter.
I hate flying
With the kabuki theater at airports nowadays, I will only take a flight unless I absolutely have to. I’d rather drive to the location.
Haven’t been on a plane since 2009, and that was for my BIL’s wedding.
Dear God
Fox just had Paxton on for a few minutes, not speaking to him, but some small clip where he sounded and looked drunk
And they had a short clip of Talarico commie sounding almost human
Fox let Marie go for a reason
Hate them they hate you
Fox is not, and never was, fair and balanced. In the past they were not as blatant as the other networks, but today they are no different.
We don’t hate them enough
“The Golden Age of Travel is taking off.”
yay, the boot on my neck let up half a dyne, yay
Whaaat? Is this because too few people are actually using TSA PreCheck? Or too few people are slurping drinks and chomping burgers at the restaurants inside security?
I only very recently started enjoying the very many joys of the traveling via the friendly skies and quite frankly I was dreading the whole airport experience. I was especially apprehensive about TSA.
However my experience was quite unremarkable; I even was helped in getting my suitcase on the conveyor and not in the “hurry up you old slag!” way but in a “Don’t worry we’ve got that.” way. So that was a relief.
As best I can figure this kindness and pleasant attitude is due to may suitcase which does not have wheel, is not soft sided, and requires me to heft it while keeping it from knocking my shins. I had a few people remark on it. It’s not every day you see a pair of relics like the two of us. Such a sight I think lead these good folk to believe I was a traveler from the past. If I did not give a good report to those who sent me. Who knows what sort of time traveling furies would be called upon to descend on the TSA workers? They decided to play it safe.
How old am I? I am old enough that the Hispanic workers refer to me as “Mama”. Which means I’ve moved past Ma’am.
“Such a sight I think lead these good folk to believe I was a traveler from the past. If I did not give a good report to those who sent me. Who knows what sort of time traveling furies would be called upon to descend on the TSA workers?”
This is not even wrong… and in so many ways. 😵💫
I remember when you could escort family or friends to the gate and just walk out the airport without anyone bothering you.
Wait for your wife or girlfriend while they landed.
I miss those days.
Pittsburgh airport was built in the 1990s as a shopping mall with flights. It promoted itself in the city as a destination people should visit for the shopping and dining, even if they had no travel plans. That way they figured they’d get all these commercial clients and all this revenue, and not depend just on travelers who have to be there. Then 2001 came along and suddenly you couldn’t get in without a ticket.
It also used to be a common practice to have business meetings in airport lounges. Those flying in for the meeting could just go straight to the lounge, and not bother driving in to the city and back, while the locals would do the drive.
There was a workaround for a while — you could buy a fully refundable ticket to somewhere, use it to go through security, and one airside you’d cancel it and get your refund. I’m not sure how they cracked down on that. Maybe it just never got popular because it required putting the money down up front.
I even remember in my youth the airport was a common date destination. You’d just drive to the airport and wander around the terminal for a bit, sit down and have a drink if you felt like it, maybe look at the planes taking off and landing, and talk.
And when I was a little one we had field trips to the airport, complete with going out on the observation deck and watching the planes take off and land, and using the coin operated binoculars to get a better look. Also after you’d seen someone off at their gate you would go out on the observation deck to watch their plane take off, and wave to it. I don’t think airports have observation decks any more, even for those who are actually ticketed passengers.
Some airports are putting observation decks back at the terminals. I love those things – until the wind and sun and jet fuel up your nose forces you back inside!
“I even remember in my youth the airport was a common date destination. You’d just drive to the airport and wander around the terminal for a bit, sit down and have a drink if you felt like it, maybe look at the planes taking off and landing, and talk.”
When I was a newlywed, it was common to have cheap-date picnics at Gravelly Point, an “unimproved park” directly under the landing approach to Washington National. Bring your beach recliners and snacks, and watch the big birds at what seemed like haircut height. Of course, you can’t get within a mile of that park now.
This should be free!
The people most likely to hijack a plane in the US are all working for TSA.
IMO this is gonna be a cluster. Gonna have daily episodes of somebody flipping out b/c they can’t get through for whatever reason and making a scene. Airport security gonna be pulled to deal with it and escort or drag them out instead of whatever else they are supposed to be doing. My suggestion is no daily limits on the # of non flyers to come through to the gate areas or get rid of TSA entirely.
My guess: this is to raise money. TSA Precheck costs $78, of which TSA keeps about half.
Encouraging people who don’t travel that much and normally wouldn’t bother to pay up.
Just a guess.