SAN JOSE, Calif., October 2, 2026 — San José Mineta International Airport (SJC) today starts letting people without a boarding pass through security, as long as they hold TSA PreCheck and an approved Gateside pass. It is the first time in 25 years that non-flyers can reach the gates at SJC.
How Gateside works
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Start date | Friday, October 2, 2026 |
| End date | TBA (none announced) |
| Who can apply | Active TSA PreCheck members only |
| When to apply | One to three days before the visit, at tsa.gov/gateside; approval arrives through a login.gov account |
| Daily limit | 75 passes per checkpoint |
| Where | TSA PreCheck lanes in Terminal A or Terminal B; Touchless ID lanes cannot be used |
| ID | REAL ID or another acceptable government photo ID |
| Validity | One calendar day, re-entry allowed |
| Children | Under 17 can be added to an adult’s application |
| Cost | No fee; parking is not validated |
Pass holders go through the same screening as passengers, and the usual prohibited-items rules apply. A Gateside pass is not a boarding pass and cannot be used to fly.
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What it means for non-revs
- Family can wait at the gate with you. A spouse, parent or friend with PreCheck can now sit with you while you wait to clear standby, and you can leave together if you do not get on.
- It takes planning. The pass must be requested one to three days ahead, so it does not help with a same-day decision to fly.
- It is not a way onto a flight. You still need a standby or space-available boarding pass to go through as a traveller.
- PreCheck lines may be slightly longer. Up to 75 extra people per checkpoint per day will share those lanes. Allow a few extra minutes at peak times.
- Meeting an arriving non-rev? A pass holder can greet them at the gate, but remember the pass is tied to one calendar day if the traveller rolls to a next-day flight.
Sources
- San José Mineta International Airport — “Gateside by TSA PreCheck”: flysanjose.com
- Airport Improvement — “San José Mineta International Airport Launches Gateside by TSA PreCheck”: airportimprovement.com
- Hoodline — “San Jose Airport Gateside Program Launches Oct. 2”: hoodline.com
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