The expansion of the Gateside by TSA PreCheck program has been rolled back to its original 13 pilot airports, according to a report published October 15. The program, which allows non-travelers to pass through airport security to reach gates, had recently appeared to expand to 300 U.S. airports before the retraction occurred.
The Gateside by TSA PreCheck program launched in September 2026 at 13 airports as a pilot program. Although the TSA did not publicize a change or update its website to include a broader list of airports, its application page for gate passes had recently offered users a choice from a selection of approximately 300 airports. However, the expansion appears to have been retracted, leaving only the original 13 airports available through the TSA's application portal.
A representative from the Norfolk Airport Authority in Virginia told local TV news station WAVY that the TSA had informed him the program is on hold indefinitely, except for the original pilot airports. It remains unclear why the expansion was pulled, as the TSA did not immediately return a request for comment or additional details. The 13 airports currently participating in the pilot include Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).
The pilot program allows TSA PreCheck members to accompany friends or family to airport gates even when they are not flying themselves. While several other U.S. airports offer their own versions of gate passes for non-travelers, those passengers cannot use TSA PreCheck lanes and must use the main security checkpoint instead. These include locations such as San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).
Despite the recent rollback, the TSA's Gateside website states that the program will roll out to more airports across the country in the coming months.
