More airports now allow non-travelers to go to the gate without a boarding pass.
Air travel changed after September 11, 2001. The attacks on America using airplanes ushered in a whole new era of restrictions, including barring non-ticketed passengers past security. This meant no more tearful last embraces or joyous greetings at airport gates.
Now, 20-plus years later, some of those measures are easing at several airports. At least a half-dozen airports across the country now allow non-ticketed passengers to go to the gate.
These are the six airports that currently allow visitors to accompany a ticketed traveler to his or her gate, even though they will not be flying:
-Flint-Bishop International Airport (Michigan)
-Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
-John Wayne Airport (Orange County, California)
-Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
-Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
-Ontario International Airport (California)
People who are not flying must produce a government-issued identification and pass a background check, so if you’d like to accompany someone to or pick up someone at the gate, be sure to plan ahead.
Twist’s Take: More airports now allow you to go to the gate without a boarding pass.