TSA is allowing people without airline tickets to pass through security and visit airport gates under a new program called Gateside, restoring access that has been unavailable since the September 11th attacks. Visitors must have TSA PreCheck or a known traveler number and apply for a Gateside Pass at least one day before their visit but no more than three days in advance. Approved visitors undergo security screening as ticketed passengers but cannot board an aircraft.

The program is operating at 13 airports, including Los Angeles International, Dallas Fort Worth International and Harry Reid International in Las Vegas. It expands gate access beyond passes airlines issue to adults accompanying minors or travelers who need assistance.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the program allows families and friends to meet arriving passengers at the gate or spend time with departing travelers without weakening security. The rule change will be a callback to flying during the pre-9/11 days. Officials also cautioned that adding non-passengers to checkpoints could lengthen security lines and require airports to adjust operations.

Airport security after 9/11 created a much more restrictive airline boarding process, all the way from the moment passengers entered the airport. The reversal of the rules could be especially notable for travelers who are elderly, anxious, disabled, or just unfamiliar with a particular airport. Airlines already make exceptions in some cases, but a national TSA process would give relatives a clearer route to stay nearby until departure or arrive before landing.

Requiring advance approval and known-traveler vetting does reduce some security concerns, but every person still adds to checkpoint volume. Gateside therefore becomes a test of whether TSA can improve the airport experience without sacrificing efficiency.

There will likely be growing pains at first, as many travelers may not have been born or were too young to remember the old ruleset. But if the rollout works at crowded hubs such as Los Angeles and Dallas Fort Worth, it’s likely to set a precedent for other major airports, restoring gate access while keeping post-9/11 screening intact.

If Gateside is available at your airport, you could walk a spouse to the gate before a trip, meet a child returning, or wait with a relative whose flight is delayed. If your airport is not included in the initial rollout, officials said other hubs are likely to adopt similar rulesets sooner rather than later.

TSA plans to expand Gateside beyond the first 13 airports in the coming months, although it has not named the next locations or provided a national rollout date. The agency is evaluating the program before bringing it to additional airports, and passes may be limited when terminals are especially busy.

Several airports already operate independent visitor-pass programs, but a national TSA system could give travelers one application process and consistent eligibility rules.