A return to pre-9/11 rules at airports around the country has been rolled back shortly after launching, according to airports and news reports.
The Transportation Security Administration announced in September that a new benefit would allow nonticketed members of PreCheck and other traveler programs to pass security checkpoints without travel plans. This would let family members accompany loved ones to their gates or wait for arriving passengers.
The program, called Gateside by TSA PreCheck, first included 13 participating airports, TSA said.
Some airports beyond the initial 13 were added to the program, but were recently removed, spokespeople for the Denver International Airport in Colorado and Norfolk International Airport in Virginia told USA Today on Oct. 17. CNN reported that Gateside had expanded to hundreds of airports before it was scaled back.
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As of Oct. 17, the program's website lists the original 13 airports as eligible for Gateside. TSA told USA Today in a statement that it is currently in an operational assessment phase at 13 airports, evaluating participation levels and the impact to operations. The agency didn't respond to questions about the program's recent expansion or rollback.
Norfolk International Airport in Virginia told USA Today in an email on Oct. 17 that it wasn't clear when the program was withdrawn from the airport, but it became aware the morning of Oct. 13 when people sent inquiries after being unable to apply for Gateside.
"ORF was added to the Gateside program on Oct. 2. We saw people using the program beginning that date. I am unclear of when it actually ceased to be available," said Chris Jones, a spokesperson for Norfolk International.
Jones said he verified that ORF and several other airports were no longer available to be selected in an application for Gateside, where people would submit a request to be approved for the program in advance. He said he checked with a TSA official, who replied that "the program was on hold indefinitely aside from the original 13 airports at which Gateside was piloted beginning last month."
Denver International Airport also told USA Today in a statement that the Gateside program was returned to the 13 airports, "at least for the time being."
Local outlet 9News reported on Oct. 7 that one of its photojournalists was able to use the Gateside program at the Denver airport.
Entering an airport all the way to the gate despite not having a ticket to fly that day was once the norm. Americans could greet loved ones right as they exited their planes. After the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, TSA rules tightened, adding advanced screening and prohibiting access to secure areas by people without boarding passes.
These are the 13 airports where TSA is currently offering Gateside, according to its website:
Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) in Arizona
John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) in Ohio
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in Texas
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) in Michigan
Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) in Kansas
Indianapolis International Airport (IND) in Indiana
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Nevada
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in California
Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT) in Arkansas
Will Rogers International Airport (OKC) in Oklahoma
Eppley Airfield (OMA) in Nebraska
San Diego International Airport (SAN) in California
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) in Utah
