TSA Reverses Expansion of Gateside by TSA PreCheck Program

The Transportation Security Administration launched “Gateside by TSA PreCheck” in September, initially offering the service at 13 airports. The program let members of the expedited security lane apply one to three days in advance for a pass that allowed non-traveling passengers to move through security, enabling quick gate visits for greetings, farewells, layovers, dining and shopping. Press releases later announced that the offering had been extended to “hundreds” of additional airports nationwide. Within days of that expansion, the TSA rolled the service back, limiting it again to the original 13 locations.

CNN

Under the original design, travelers could request a Gateside pass through the TSA online portal; the airport had to appear in a drop-down menu for the application to be possible. Denver International Airport reported that the benefit was usable there only a week before the reversal. Norfolk International Airport in Virginia discovered the program’s removal after receiving social-media complaints and emails from passengers who could no longer find the airport in the portal’s list. The airport’s chief marketing and communications officer, Chris Jones, confirmed that Norfolk no longer appeared as an option for Gateside applications.

CNN

Norfolk International Airport’s spokesperson relayed passenger complaints and verified that the airport was absent from the online application menu. The TSA has not provided a comment explaining the abrupt reduction in coverage.

CNN

With the rollback, only the initial 13 airports continue to support Gateside passes, leaving travelers at the newly added locations unable to use the service. The lack of a public rationale creates uncertainty for airlines and airport retailers that had anticipated increased foot traffic and ancillary revenue from the expanded program. Passengers who relied on the convenience of gate-side security must now plan alternative arrangements for meet-ups and layover activities.

CNN

No future timetable or explanation has been offered by the TSA regarding a possible re-expansion of Gateside. Airports and passengers will have to await further communication from the agency to understand whether the program’s limited scope is temporary or permanent.

CNN