TSA pulls Gateside PreCheck passes back to original 13 airports
TSA has pulled its Gateside program, which lets PreCheck members go through security without a flight, back to its first 13 airports, CNN and 9News reported. The program had grown to hundreds of airports this month. Denver's airport said TSA made the change "at least for the time being."
The Transportation Security Administration has scaled back Gateside by TSA PreCheck, a program that lets PreCheck members who are not flying go through security to meet or see off travelers at the gate, CNN and 9News reported.
Gateside launched in September at 13 airports, CNN reported. Members could apply one to three days ahead for a pass. This month, the program expanded to hundreds more airports, according to press releases, CNN said.
Now only the 13 original airports are listed for booking, CNN reported. View from the Wing listed them as Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit, Omaha, Las Vegas, Indianapolis, Columbus, Los Angeles, Little Rock, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Wichita and Oklahoma City.
Denver International Airport was one of the airports added and then dropped. "TSA recently returned Gateside by TSA PreCheck operations to the original 13 participating airports, at least for the time being," the airport said in statements to CNN and 9News. 9News reported that TSA had not immediately returned its emails.
Norfolk International Airport in Virginia learned the program had stopped there when people complained, CNN reported. "We received a few comments on social media and emails from people who said they recently tried to apply via the TSA's online portal but found ORF was not among the available airports," Chris Jones, the airport's chief marketing and communications officer, told CNN.
View from the Wing, a travel site, reported that TSA told airports "the Gateside by TSA PreCheck program is on hold indefinitely aside from the 13 airports in the pilot program." It said TSA gave no reason or timetable. It also cited earlier reports of approved visitors being turned away at Dallas-Fort Worth by checkpoint staff who said they had not been trained on the program.
TSA has not explained the change and did not respond to CNN's request for more information, CNN reported. TSA's own Gateside page says the program is available at 13 airports and "will roll out to more airports across the country in the coming months."
What we know: Gateside passes can now be booked only at the 13 original airports, and Denver and Norfolk were dropped.
What we don't: Why TSA pulled back the expansion, and whether it will return.
Where outlets agree CNN and 9News both report a Denver airport statement saying TSA returned Gateside operations to the original 13 participating airports "at least for the time being."
Where they differ The outlets cited here report the same key facts so far.