Note: This article pertaining to Airports Open to Public Access was originally published on Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 8:03 in the evening and has been updated.
Airports open to public access as of Friday, September 5, 2025 — in cooperation with the Transportation Security Administration — have been implemented to allow people to access shops and restaurants that are located in terminals beyond the security checkpoint of the airport without requiring the purchase of an airline ticket and at no cost.
Airports Open to Public Access
The 14 airports which are currently open to public access — with direct links provided for your convenience — include:
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport — The SEA Visitor Pass program was introduced in November of 2018, which means that the airport became the second airport in the United States to allow the public to access shops and restaurants beyond the security checkpoint without requiring an airline ticket.
- Detroit Metropolitan Airport — The DTW Destination Pass program was introduced on Tuesday, October 22, 2019, which means that the airport became the fourth airport in the United States to allow the public to access shops and restaurants beyond the security checkpoint without requiring an airline ticket.
- New Orleans International Airport — The MSY Guest Pass program was introduced in December of 2019 in conjunction with the opening of the new terminal which cost approximately one billion dollars — meaning that the airport became the fifth airport in the United States to allow the public to access shops and restaurants beyond the security checkpoint without requiring an airline ticket.
- Orange County Airport — The OC AirPass program was introduced in 2021 — meaning that the airport became the seventh airport in the United States to allow the public to access shops and restaurants beyond the security checkpoint without requiring an airline ticket.
- Ontario International Airport — The ONT+ Visitor Pass Program was introduced in October of 2022 — meaning that the airport became the eighth airport in the United States to allow the public to access shops and restaurants beyond the security checkpoint without requiring an airline ticket.
- Tulsa International Airport — The TUL Visitor Pass Program is currently available for people who want access past the security checkpoint effective as of May of 2023 — meaning that the airport became the ninth airport in the United States to allow the public to access shops and restaurants beyond the security checkpoint without requiring an airline ticket.
- Capital Region International Airport — The LAN Visitor Pass Program is currently available for people who want access past the security checkpoint at this airport, which serves the greater Lansing area of Michigan.
- Tri-Cities Airport — The PSC Pass program was introduced at this airport in Tennessee on Monday, June 5, 2023 and only has ten passes available each day at the time this article was written — but that is better than nothing at all.
- Philadelphia International Airport — The Wingmate Pass opened to the public on Wednesday, November 1, 2023.
- Palm Springs International Airport — The Stay and Play Visitor Pass was launched on Monday, February 12, 2024.
- Nashville International Airport — The BNA PASSport commenced on Monday, July 1, 2024.
- San Antonio International Airport — The SAT Pass Program became effective as of Tuesday, February 11, 2025.
- Kansas City International Airport — The MCI Guest Pass Program started on Monday, June 30, 2025.
- Cleveland Hopkins International Airport — The Hopkins Hangout Pass is the latest guest pass program to be launched, as it became effective as of Monday, August 11, 2025.
Rules For All Programs
Each program has a daily limit of how many passes are given out per day. Applications for passes typically need to be submitted in advance of the visit.
Note that all participants:
- Must present a valid form of identification with a photograph which was officially issued by the government; and that identification must be approved by the Transportation Security Administration.
- Are subject to the same security screening regulations as passengers boarding an airplane. All items prohibited in carry-on baggage — including liquids, aerosols and gels — apply to everyone who participates in the aforementioned programs for access.
- Are responsible for all parking fees and expenses. Concession operating times vary.
Any of the aforementioned programs can be ended or suspended at any time by the Transportation Security Administration; and all requests and applications for each of the programs must be first reviewed and approved by the Transportation Security Administration.
Employees of the Transportation Security Administration or of the respective airport authorities reserve the right to suspend the program or revoke access beyond the security checkpoint from any individual who may pose a security risk; a risk to any passengers or customers; or violates any of the rules and regulations of any of the airports.
Programs Which Have Been Suspended Indefinitely
At least four airports which introduced similar programs that have since been suspended — with no timeframe or date set as to when any of the programs will officially resume — include:
- Pittsburgh International Airport — The myPITpass program is currently suspended at Pittsburgh International Airport, which became the first airport in the United States to allow the public to access shops and restaurants beyond the security checkpoint without requiring an airline ticket back on Tuesday, September 5, 2017 — exactly eighteen years ago today.
- Tampa International Airport — The TPA All Access program is currently suspended as the passenger volumes at the security checkpoints at Tampa International Airport are being evaluated. Tampa International Airport was the third airport in the United States to allow the public to access shops and restaurants beyond the security checkpoint without requiring an airline ticket back on Saturday, May 4, 2019.
- Orlando International Airport — The ExperienceMCO Visitor Pass Program is currently suspended at Orlando International Airport. This program was launched in September of 2023 for people who wanted to access Terminal C.
- Bishop International Airport — The FNT Visitor Pass program is currently suspended at Bishop International Airport, which seres the greater metropolitan area of Flint in Michigan. This program was launched on Friday, January 17, 2020 — meaning that the airport became the sixth airport in the United States to allow the public to access shops and restaurants beyond the security checkpoint without requiring an airline ticket.
Final Boarding Call
I have long stated that I believe that a number of security measures which were implemented at airports across the country after the events of Tuesday, September 11, 2001 occurred are superfluous at best and give the arguably false impression that airports are much safer than before that infamous day.
Programs such as the ones that were implemented in Orlando, Santa Ana, New Orleans, Detroit, Tampa, Seattle, and Pittsburgh allow airports to be more accessible. Although I am all for programs of this type — which would allow merchants at businesses within the airport to potentially increase profits while people can spend more time with loved ones at the gate or elsewhere in the secure areas of the airport — problems can possibly occur: on certain days such as holidays, where do people who are not traveling on that day park their vehicles when parking facilities are already full with no empty parking spaces; and will the airports themselves become significantly more crowded?
Regardless, I am glad to learn about more of these programs being introduced for access beyond the security checkpoint without requiring the purchase of an airline ticket — and I hope that it will be considered at additional airports across the United States.
Photograph ©2018 by Brian Cohen.
