Tag: Airport Tips

  • No Ticket? No Problem: TSA Is Bringing Back the Airport Gate Goodbye

    No Ticket? No Problem: TSA Is Bringing Back the Airport Gate Goodbye

    No Ticket? No Problem: TSA Is Bringing Back the Airport Gate Goodbye

    For nearly 25 years, one of the most human parts of air travel has been missing.

    You drive someone to the airport. You unload the bags. Maybe you get a quick hug at the curb. And depending on the airport, if you sit there for more than about 14 seconds, you start wondering whether airport police are going to make you circle the terminal again.

    Then your traveler walks through the doors.

    That’s it.

    You don’t sit with them before their flight. You don’t grab lunch together. You don’t walk them to the gate. You don’t watch their airplane pull away. And when someone you love comes home, you usually wait around baggage claim instead of being the first familiar face they see when they step off the jet bridge.

    For most of us, that has simply become part of flying.

    But TSA is beginning to change that.

    A new program called Gateside by TSA PreCheck is allowing eligible people who are not flying to pass through airport security and enter the secure side of participating airports.

    And I absolutely love this idea.

    What Is Gateside by TSA PreCheck?

    Gateside by TSA PreCheck allows eligible trusted travelers who do not have an airline ticket to apply for access beyond the security checkpoint at participating airports.

    In other words, you may be able to go through TSA without actually having a flight.

    Think about what that means.

    You could walk a family member to the gate.

    You could meet someone the moment they arrive.

    You could visit a friend who has a long layover.

    You could accompany someone who is nervous about traveling and stay with them until it is time to board.

    Or you could simply enjoy some of the restaurants, shops and other amenities located inside the secure portion of an airport.

    TSA launched the program in September 2026 at 13 airports, with the potential for additional airports to be added as the program develops.

    The initial airports include:

    Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona

    John Glenn Columbus International Airport

    Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

    Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

    Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport

    Indianapolis International Airport

    Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas

    Los Angeles International Airport

    Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock

    Will Rogers International Airport in Oklahoma City

    Eppley Airfield in Omaha

    San Diego International Airport

    Salt Lake City International Airport

    You Still Have to Go Through Security

    This does not mean TSA is simply opening the doors and allowing anyone into the terminal.

    Gateside is built around the trusted traveler system.

    Participants need qualifying TSA PreCheck benefits and a Known Traveler Number or another eligible trusted traveler credential. You apply before your visit, receive approval, bring proper identification to the airport and go through TSA screening.

    Airport security rules still apply.

    TSA can also limit the number of Gateside visitors based on security conditions and airport capacity.

    So no, this is not a return to the completely open airport terminals of decades ago.

    It is something smarter.

    It combines modern airport security with the ability to bring back something air travel lost a long time ago.

    This Gives TSA PreCheck an Entirely New Kind of Value

    I already think TSA PreCheck is one of the better investments a frequent traveler can make.

    But Gateside changes the value of PreCheck in an interesting way.

    Until now, TSA PreCheck was something you used when you were traveling.

    Now it could have value when somebody else is traveling.

    Maybe you only fly a couple of times a year and have wondered whether TSA PreCheck is worth paying for.

    Now imagine your son or daughter is taking their first trip alone.

    Maybe your parents are flying somewhere and you want to help them navigate the airport.

    Maybe your spouse is leaving on a long trip.

    Maybe your best friend has a four-hour connection through your local airport.

    Or maybe a family member you haven’t seen in a year is finally coming home.

    Suddenly, your trusted traveler membership can be useful even when you are not getting on an airplane.

    That is a completely different benefit.

    And I think it is a very smart one.

    Airports Can Become Places Again

    Something changed about airports after September 11, 2001, and understandably so.

    Security had to change.

    Before 9/11, family and friends could generally accompany travelers to their gates. After the attacks, the security checkpoint became a dividing line between passengers and everyone else.

    That change served an important purpose.

    But we also lost something.

    Airports used to be part of the experience.

    People dressed differently when they traveled. Flying felt like an occasion.

    Families went to the airport together.

    Kids stood at huge terminal windows watching airplanes taxi.

    People said goodbye at the gate.

    Someone returning home might step off an airplane and see an entire family waiting for them.

    Today, air travel often feels much more transactional.

    Get dropped off.

    Check your bag.

    Clear security.

    Find the gate.

    Board the plane.

    Repeat.

    Gateside brings a little humanity back into that process.

    Imagine the Arrivals

    This may be the part of the program that I like the most.

    Imagine a servicemember coming home and walking off the jet bridge to see family waiting at the gate.

    Imagine your grandson flying in to visit and seeing Grandpa standing there when he arrives.

    Imagine somebody coming home after being away for six months and seeing a ridiculous homemade welcome sign waiting for them.

    Those moments used to be part of flying.

    Now, at least at participating airports, they can be again.

    And I think that matters.

    There is something completely different about walking off an airplane and immediately seeing the person you came home to see.

    Not 20 minutes later at baggage claim.

    Not after navigating escalators, trams and crowds.

    Right there.

    At the gate.

    It Could Make Travel Easier for Nervous Travelers

    There is another side to Gateside that deserves attention.

    Not everyone loves flying.

    Some people are anxious travelers.

    Some people are flying for the first time.

    Some people have no problem with the airplane itself but find large airports confusing or intimidating.

    Until now, unless there was a qualifying circumstance that allowed an airline to issue an escort pass, friends and family usually had to say goodbye before security.

    Gateside creates another possibility.

    A trusted family member or friend may be able to go through security with you, help you find your gate, grab something to eat, sit with you and stay until boarding begins.

    It does not replace airline assistance programs or accessibility services for travelers who need them.

    It simply gives people another option.

    Sometimes having someone you know sitting beside you is the best travel assistance there is.

    And Don’t Overlook the Restaurants

    Frequent travelers know something that people who rarely fly may not realize.

    Airport food has gotten a lot better.

    Sure, there are still plenty of overpriced grab-and-go sandwiches that can make you reconsider every decision that brought you to that moment.

    But many airports now have great local restaurants, breweries, chef-driven concepts, shopping, lounges, art installations and other experiences beyond security.

    Gateside suddenly gives some non-travelers access to that world.

    Have a friend with a three-hour layover?

    You might be able to meet them for dinner.

    Want to take your grandchild to watch airplanes and grab lunch?

    Potentially.

    Want to spend another hour with someone before a long trip rather than dropping them at the curb?

    Now there may be another option.

    The airport does not have to be somewhere you only go because you are flying.

    It can become a place again.

    Philadelphia Travelers Already Have Something Similar

    There is an important distinction for travelers in the Philadelphia area.

    Philadelphia International Airport is not currently one of the airports participating in Gateside by TSA PreCheck.

    However, PHL already operates its own program called Wingmate Pass.

    Wingmate allows approved non-ticketed visitors to enter the secure side of Philadelphia International Airport to accompany someone to a gate, greet a domestic arrival or enjoy airport restaurants, shopping and other amenities.

    Unlike Gateside, Wingmate does not require TSA PreCheck membership.

    Programs like Wingmate are important because they show that airports have already been experimenting with bringing non-ticketed visitors back into secure terminals.

    What makes Gateside especially interesting is that TSA itself is now building a broader program around its trusted traveler system.

    That could make this concept much easier to expand.

    I Think the Golden Age of Air Travel May Be Coming Back

    I keep saying something that might sound a little crazy.

    I think we may be seeing the beginning of a new golden age of air travel.

    No, I don’t think everyone is going to start wearing suits and dresses to fly again.

    And based on what I see in airports every week, I think pajamas are probably here to stay.

    But I do think the travel industry is beginning to think differently about the customer experience.

    For years, so much of flying has been focused on efficiency.

    Move people through security faster.

    Board the airplane faster.

    Turn the aircraft faster.

    Move passengers from Point A to Point B.

    Those things matter.

    But somewhere along the way, the experience itself became secondary.

    Now we are starting to see technology and new programs being used to make travel enjoyable again.

    United Airlines, for example, is currently testing a program at Newark Liberty International Airport where eligible passengers can order food, drinks and certain travel essentials through the United app and have those items waiting for them at the gate.

    United has said Houston is also expected to receive the program later in 2026.

    Think about how useful that could be during a tight connection.

    Instead of getting off one airplane, sprinting through Newark, standing in a restaurant line and then running to your next gate, your food could already be there waiting for you.

    That may sound like a small change.

    It isn’t.

    Small improvements like that can completely change how stressful a travel day feels.

    I’ll be talking more about that program in another Pags on the Go article.

    Maybe the Airport Can Be Fun Again

    I don’t expect us to recreate air travel from the 1960s.

    And frankly, we probably shouldn’t.

    The so-called golden age of aviation gets romanticized. Flying was much more expensive relative to household income, far fewer people could afford it and there were plenty of things about the experience that were not nearly as glamorous as the old photographs make them look.

    But there was something about travel that I think we lost.

    It felt special.

    Going to the airport meant something.

    Leaving meant something.

    Coming home meant something.

    Maybe the next golden age of air travel does not need to look like the old one.

    Maybe we create a new version.

    One that keeps modern aviation security but uses trusted traveler programs intelligently.

    One where technology removes some of the frustrating parts of travel instead of creating new ones.

    One where airports become places worth spending time again.

    One where families can walk together to the gate.

    One where a nervous traveler does not necessarily have to say goodbye before security.

    One where a child can stand at the terminal window with Grandpa and watch airplanes taxi.

    And one where somebody can step off a plane after a long journey and see the person they love standing there holding a sign.

    That may seem like a small thing.

    I don’t think it is.

    Travel has always been about more than moving people from Point A to Point B.

    It is about leaving.

    It is about arriving.

    It is about who you are going to see.

    And sometimes, it is about who is standing there when you get there.

    Gateside by TSA PreCheck brings a little piece of that back.

    I hope it comes to a lot more airports.

    Travel smart,
    Tommy Pags

  • Chase Is Tightening Sapphire Lounge Access, and I Think It Is the Right Move

    Chase Is Tightening Sapphire Lounge Access, and I Think It Is the Right Move

    Chase Is Tightening Sapphire Lounge Access, and I Think It Is the Right Move

    Beginning August 15, 2026, Chase is changing who can enter its Sapphire Lounges and giving some of its own cardholders more time inside.

    The biggest change is that Chase Sapphire Lounges will no longer participate in the Priority Pass or LoungeKey networks. Until now, travelers who received Priority Pass through another credit card could visit a Sapphire Lounge once per calendar year at no charge. Additional visits, or certain guest visits, were available for $75.

    That option is going away.

    After August 15, complimentary access will be reserved for customers with an eligible Chase-issued card, including the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Sapphire Reserve for Business, J.P. Morgan Reserve and Ritz-Carlton Credit Card. Eligible cardholders will continue to receive unlimited Sapphire Lounge visits and may bring up to two complimentary guests. Additional guests will continue to cost $27 each.

    At the same time, Chase is adding a useful benefit for its customers. Cardholders traveling on a same-day connecting itinerary will be allowed to enter a Sapphire Lounge up to five hours before the departure of their connecting flight. That is an increase from the current three-hour window.

    The five-hour rule does not apply when you are starting your trip. Travelers originating at an airport, including those taking a nonstop flight, will still be limited to entering three hours before departure.

    Airport Lounges Are More Than a Travel Perk

    I understand why some travelers will be disappointed by the decision. Losing access to a good lounge is never going to feel like an improvement, particularly for someone who has been saving that one annual Priority Pass visit.

    But as someone who spends a lot of time in airports, I think Chase is making the right move.

    There is a real difference between the way a frequent business traveler uses an airport and the way an occasional vacation traveler may experience it. For the casual traveler, getting to the airport can be part of the excitement of the trip.

    For someone who travels regularly, the airport is usually not entertainment. It is another workplace, a place to answer emails, return phone calls, prepare for a meeting or simply decompress before getting on another airplane.

    That is why a good lounge matters.

    It provides a quieter environment, reliable Wi-Fi, room to work, something to eat and, depending on the day, perhaps a cocktail. During a delay or a long connection, the lounge can become the difference between getting meaningful work done and spending several hours searching for an outlet near a crowded gate.

    The complimentary food and drinks are certainly valuable, but the real benefit is having a functional place to spend your time.

    We Have Seen This Crowding Problem Before

    There was a period following the pandemic when Delta Sky Clubs became incredibly busy. At some airports, lines formed outside the clubs because so many people had access that the passengers who depended on them most frequently could not get inside.

    I remember seeing those lines and wondering what good lounge access was if you had to stand in the terminal waiting for permission to enter.

    Delta eventually tightened several of its access policies. Today, many eligible premium credit card customers have a limited number of Sky Club visits each year unless they meet a substantial annual spending requirement. Delta also generally limits entry to three hours before departure, although connecting customers may enter during their layovers.

    Those decisions were unpopular with some customers, but something had to change. A lounge cannot provide a calmer, more premium experience when it is just as crowded as the terminal outside.

    Chase now appears to be confronting the same issue.

    As the Sapphire Lounge network has expanded and more travelers have discovered how good the lounges are, demand has increased. Chase currently lists Sapphire Lounges in Boston, Las Vegas, New York-JFK, New York-LaGuardia, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego and Dallas-Fort Worth, with a Los Angeles location coming soon.

    These are not basic waiting rooms with a bowl of pretzels and a soft-drink machine. Chase has invested in locally inspired food, made-to-order selections, signature cocktails, comfortable workspaces and, at some locations, wellness services and other premium amenities.

    I have had the opportunity to visit a Sapphire Lounge, and it was impressive. The lounge looked great, the food was excellent and the experience felt noticeably more elevated than sitting in the terminal. In fact, it deserves a complete review of its own.

    Chase Is Prioritizing Chase Customers

    The old Priority Pass policy was an effective way to introduce travelers to the Sapphire Lounge experience. Someone with Priority Pass from American Express, Capital One or another provider could visit once a year, see what Chase was offering and potentially consider becoming a Chase Sapphire Reserve customer.

    But that introductory period appears to be ending.

    Chase has built a recognizable lounge network, and now it wants to make sure that the customers carrying its premium cards can use it. That does not strike me as unreasonable.

    These lounges are part of the value Chase is selling to Sapphire Reserve customers. If the lounges become so crowded that those customers face long waits or cannot find a place to sit, Chase is weakening one of its own most visible benefits.

    The company is not eliminating lounge access for Sapphire Reserve customers. Eligible Chase cardholders will retain their Sapphire Lounge access, guest privileges and Priority Pass Select membership for participating lounges elsewhere in the Priority Pass network. Chase is simply removing the ability to enter its branded Sapphire Lounges through a Priority Pass or LoungeKey membership issued outside the eligible Chase card portfolio.

    That distinction is important.

    The Five-Hour Connection Window Makes Sense

    The other side of the announcement is particularly valuable for frequent travelers.

    A three-hour entry limit may be reasonable when someone arrives extremely early for the first flight of the day. A connection is different. Travelers do not always choose the length of their layovers, and delays, schedule changes and limited flight availability can create connections lasting four or five hours.

    Allowing eligible Chase cardholders to enter during a connection up to five hours before the next flight shows that Chase understands how its customers actually travel.

    A long connection is exactly when a lounge is most useful. You can have a meal, charge your devices, work for a few hours or simply relax without sitting at the gate for half a day.

    It is also worth noting that Delta currently allows eligible connecting passengers to access a Sky Club during a layover without applying its normal three-hour predeparture restriction. Chase’s new five-hour policy is more clearly defined, but both companies recognize that connections need to be treated differently from the beginning of a trip.

    Lounges Are Returning to Their Original Purpose

    Airport lounges have become a major part of the competition between airlines and premium credit card companies. Delta is investing heavily in its Sky Clubs and Delta One Lounges. American Express has its Centurion Lounges. Capital One continues developing its own lounge network, and Chase has quickly created a Sapphire Lounge product capable of competing with all of them.

    Some companies will offer better food. Others will have larger spaces, better bars, showers, wellness rooms or more impressive designs. Individual locations will always vary.

    But underneath all those premium touches, the basic purpose remains the same.

    A lounge should be a comfortable place to eat, relax and get some work done while waiting for a flight. It should also provide somewhere dependable to go when a delay turns a short airport visit into a much longer one.

    For lounges to serve that purpose, access has to be managed.

    Chase’s decision will disappoint travelers who were using a non-Chase Priority Pass membership for their annual Sapphire Lounge visit. That reaction is understandable. But for Sapphire Reserve customers, the change should help preserve the experience they are paying to receive.

    In my view, that is not Chase taking something away from its customers. It is Chase taking better control of a product it created for them.

    The airport lounge may never be the most exciting part of a trip, but for frequent travelers, it can be one of the most useful.

    Travel smart,

    Tommy Pags.

  • TSA Is Finally Cracking Down on Oversized Carry-Ons. Good.

    TSA Is Finally Cracking Down on Oversized Carry-Ons. Good.

    TSA Is Finally Cracking Down on Oversized Carry-Ons. Good.

    If you’ve flown recently, you’ve probably seen it.

    Someone shows up at the TSA checkpoint with a carry-on that’s bulging at the seams, barely zips shut, and somehow is expected to fit through security, into the overhead bin, and not delay everyone else.

    That may be coming to an end.

    The TSA is rolling out advanced 3D CT scanners at airports across the country. Besides providing much better security screening, these machines have a smaller opening than many of the older X-ray scanners. If your carry-on won’t physically fit through the scanner, you may be sent back to the airline counter to check it before you can continue through security. In many cases, that means leaving the security line, checking the bag, and starting the process all over again. (New Jersey 101.5)

    The Rules Aren’t New

    This is an important distinction.

    The TSA isn’t changing carry-on size limits.

    The airlines already have those rules. For most major U.S. carriers, the standard maximum carry-on size is 22 x 14 x 9 inches, although every airline publishes its own baggage policy. (Yahoo Travel)

    What’s changing is enforcement.

    For years, many travelers pushed the limits. Overstuffed bags, oversized rollers, duffel bags that somehow became twice their normal size. Sometimes they made it through security only to be gate checked later. Sometimes they somehow squeezed into an overhead bin after holding up the boarding process.

    The new scanners don’t care how persuasive you are.

    If the bag doesn’t fit, it doesn’t fit.

    This Is One TSA Change I Completely Support

    I know this probably won’t be a popular opinion with everyone, but I’m all for it.

    If you’ve followed Pags on the Go, you know I’m constantly looking for ways to make air travel smoother.

    The biggest slowdowns at an airport usually happen when something falls outside the normal process.

    That could be:

    • An oversized carry-on
    • A bag stuffed beyond its intended size
    • Someone trying to bring unusual items through security
    • Travelers who aren’t prepared when they reach the checkpoint
    • People reorganizing their luggage in the middle of the line

    Every exception creates friction.

    One person takes an extra minute, then the next person waits, then the next, and before long the entire checkpoint slows to a crawl.

    Multiply that by hundreds of travelers every day, and the delays become significant.

    Frequent Travelers Already Understand This

    There are different types of travelers.

    Some people fly once or twice a year for vacation.

    Others live in airports.

    Business travelers and frequent flyers aren’t trying to rush because they’re impatient. They’re trying to eliminate unnecessary delays.

    That’s why they enroll in TSA PreCheck, CLEAR, or Digital ID.

    That’s why they board efficiently.

    That’s why they pack consistently.

    And that’s why they appreciate anything that keeps the line moving.

    When everyone follows the same process, the entire airport works better.

    Better Technology, Better Security

    The new CT scanners aren’t just about baggage size.

    They produce a three-dimensional image of your carry-on that allows TSA officers to rotate, zoom, and inspect its contents far more effectively than older X-ray systems. At many checkpoints, they also allow travelers to leave laptops and other electronics inside their bags, reducing the amount of unpacking at security. More than 250 U.S. airport checkpoints have already received these scanners, with additional installations planned. (New Jersey 101.5)

    So while stricter carry-on enforcement is getting the headlines, the real story is that airport security is becoming both smarter and, in many cases, faster.

    My Advice

    Before your next trip:

    • Measure your carry-on instead of guessing.
    • Don’t overstuff expandable luggage.
    • Check your airline’s published carry-on dimensions before you leave home.
    • If your bag is questionable, check it before getting in the TSA line.

    A few extra minutes at home can save you from being sent back to the ticket counter after you’ve already waited in security.

    For once, I think this is a change that benefits everyone.

    Less arguing.

    Less congestion.

    Fewer oversized bags competing for overhead space.

    And hopefully, a faster trip through the airport.

    That’s something I can get behind.

    Travel smart,
    Tommy Pags