By admin 
MESA, AZ (AZFamily) — Saying goodbye at the gate is making a comeback for some travelers passing through Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.
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The airport has been chosen by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) as one of just 13 airports nationwide to launch a new program called Gateside by TSA PreCheck, the airport announced Wednesday.
The program lets approved, non-ticketed visitors pass through security and into the terminal — something that hasn’t been allowed since long before most current air travel rules were put in place.
With an approved Gateside pass, visitors can:
- Walk a friend or family member all the way to their gate
- Meet loved ones right as they get off their flight
- Grab a meal or browse the shops in the terminal, even without a ticket
Approved visitors go through the same TSA PreCheck screening lanes as ticketed passengers and just need an acceptable form of ID.
Airport officials say the change reflects a broader effort to make the travel experience feel more personal again.
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“Whether it’s having lunch with a friend or loved one and walking them to their gate, or meeting them when they return home, this new program enhances the travel experience,” Brian O’Neill, executive director/CEO of the Mesa Gateway Airport Authority, said in a written statement.
Those interested in the new program can find more information and apply on TSA’s website.
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