TSA now allowing non-ticketed visitors into terminals at several US airports

The Transportation Security Administration has begun allowing non-ticketed visitors to enter terminals at a number of U.S. airports. The change marks a shift from the post-9/11 era when access beyond security checkpoints was largely limited to ticketed passengers and authorized personnel.

Prior to the 2001 attacks, it was common for friends and family to accompany travelers through security and wait at the gate to greet or say farewell. After 9/11, rules were tightened and public access to sterile areas of terminals was broadly curtailed as part of expanded security measures.

The current allowance restores that older practice in part by permitting some non-travelers back into terminal areas at certain airports. The source does not list which airports are participating or provide details on how the policy will be implemented at each location.

For now, the change renews an opportunity for in-person goodbyes and welcomes at gates for travelers and their acquaintances, reversing a long-standing restriction introduced in the years following the 2001 attacks.