Several U.S. airports are now reintroducing programs that allow non-traveling visitors to access areas beyond security checkpoints, rekindling a long-lost tradition that many Americans remember from pre-2001 travel. According to the New York Post, Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK) in California announced this week the introduction of guest passes for “non-passengers.” The airport will once again allow friends and family to accompany travelers to their gates or simply experience the post-security amenities airports offer.
The program maintains strict security while recognizing what air travel lost after the September 11 attacks. When the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created, federal rules limited access to secured areas and ended gate-side goodbyes for most travelers. Now, visitor programs appearing at airports nationwide point to a quiet shift. Terminals are no longer seen only as transit spaces, but as places where people can once again share farewells and reunions beyond the curb.
The Return Of Airport Access Programs Nationwide
Oakland’s new initiative isn’t happening in isolation. Several other airports across the United States have implemented similar programs with their own unique branding. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport offers a “hangout pass,” while San Antonio International Airport (SAT) provides visitors with a “SAT Pass.” Kansas City International Airport has introduced a “guest pass” program, and Philadelphia International Airport now offers a “wingmate pass” for non-traveling visitors.
Detroit Metropolitan Airport has also joined this trend with its “destination pass” program. Each of these initiatives allows non-ticketed individuals to proceed through security checkpoints and access the terminals, shops, restaurants, and gate areas that were strictly off-limits to anyone without a boarding pass for over two decades.
Kristi McKenney, executive director of the Port of Oakland, said in a press release, “We want OAK to become a meaningful experience for all of our visitors, not just a curbside drive-by experience. The OAK Guest Pass allows families to spend more precious time with their loved ones as they see them off on their next adventure or welcome them home from one.”
Strict Security Protocols Remain In Place for Visitors
Despite this return to pre-9/11 access, airports maintain rigorous security procedures for non-traveling visitors. At Oakland Airport, potential visitors must apply online for security clearance up to seven days before their planned visit. After completing an application form, the TSA reviews and approves each request individually before sending approved guests an OAK guest pass.
Upon arrival at the airport, non-passengers must present both this pass and a TSA-approved photo identification document, such as a passport or Real ID. These measures ensure that while access has expanded, security standards remain high. Oakland Airport has also noted that the program is not permanent and reserves the right to “cancel the program, cancel approved OAK Guest Passes or modify program rules at any time without prior notice” in response to security concerns or operational needs.
