21 hours ago
4
Never Miss Another Deal - Follow DansDeals on Facebook
Some of my favorite memories as a kid were going to the airport to watch planes take off and land. It made for the perfect Chol Hamoed outing, without any of the stress of shlepping bags and having to catch a flight.
That opportunity went away for most people after 9/11 when security tightened and an outbound flight was required. I have a lifetime Continental President’s Club membership that allowed me to get gate passes for my family and me, though that ended after the United merger when flight requirements were added. But it was fun to use to shock arriving passengers with my unexpected appearance at the gate.
In recent years, many airports added programs that allowed for airside access, though most require advance application, have limited dates and hours, have limited capacity, and don’t allow PreCheck members to use the PreCheck lanes. These include Akron-Canton (CAK), Albuquerque (ABQ), Cleveland (CLE), Detroit (DTW), Kansas City (MCI), Lansing (LAN), New Orleans (MSY), Nashville (BNA), Oakland (OAK), Ontario (ONT), Orange County (SNA), Orlando (MCO), Palm Springs (PSP), Philadelphia (PHL), San Antonio (SAT), San Diego (SAN), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), Shreveport (SHV), Tampa (TPA), Tri-Cities (PSC), and Tulsa (TUL). Know of more airports that offer this? Hit the comments!
TSA PreCheck members can now apply for airside access via TSA Gateside, and be able to use PreCheck lanes, though CLEAR and Touchless aren’t available, so adults will need a Real ID. You do need to apply in advance for this program as well.
Airports participating in Gateside include Columbus (CMH), Dallas (DFW), Detroit (DTW), Indianapolis (IND), Las Vegas (LAS), Little Rock (LIT), Los Angeles (LAX), Mesa (AZA), Oklahoma City (OKC), Omaha (OMA), San Diego (SAN), Salt Lake City (SLC), and Wichita (ICT).
TSA plans to expand the Gateside program over the upcoming months.
Of course, the other option is to just book a refundable paid or mileage ticket to gain airside access, and then you can even use CLEAR or Touchless. Ethical or not, you’ll also get lounge access if applicable, though using that repeatedly before canceling will get you into trouble. Non-refundable flights for most airlines bought on Expedia or Priceline can typically be canceled within 24 hours or until the night after ticketing, just look at the terms before purchasing. If you do book refundable travel, just be sure to cancel before the scheduled time of departure.
Do you ever visit the airport when not traveling?
