Tram Detroit Airport
Photograph ©2018 by Brian Cohen.
Brian Cohen·
Safety and Security
··6 Comments·9 min read

Airports Open to Public Access

At least 29 airports currently allow anyone past the security checkpoint — if...

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 Wednesday, May 20, 2026 — 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 29 airports which are currently open to public access — with direct links provided for your convenience — include:

Rules and Policies Which the Programs Have in Common

Public access to an airport allows visitors to take advantage of what the airport has to offer without traveling — including but not limited to:

  • Spending more time at the gate or a restaurant with family or friends who are traveling
  • Surprising a family member or a friend at a gate upon arrival
  • Participation in events
  • Dining on an amazing meal at one of the restaurants at the airport
  • Shopping at the many boutiques and stores
  • Attending a live music performance
  • Simply watching different types of airplanes depart and land

Each airport has a program which has its own rules and restrictions; so before you arrive at the airport, ensure that you know exactly what are the rules and restrictions. Be sure to allow enough time to get your access pass and get through the lines at the airport security checkpoint. Also, know what is the daily quota — if one exists — with each program.

To maintain airport security, regulations of the Transportation Security Administration prohibit airport personnel from verifying visitor entrance greater than 24 hours in advance. A new request will need to be completed for every visit on a different date.

As a visitor, you will be subject to the same security regulations as passengers boarding an aircraft and must comply with the screening procedures of the Transportation Security Administration, do not bring items which are prohibited by the Transportation Security Administration; and review the 3-1-1 Liquids Rules. Participants will be directed to use the general boarding lanes of the airport security checkpoint.

All passes and access are approved for personal use only, as commercial use or professional use is expressly forbidden and will result in revocation of your program access. Participation in each program is contingent upon approval through approved security protocols. Passes cannot be used with expedited screening and trusted traveler programs — such as CLEAR or TSA Pre✓ as two of several examples.

Any of the aforementioned programs can be ended at any time as required by the Transportation Security Administration. Also, 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.

Each program typically 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.

Keep in mind that all visitors and participants must present a valid form of identification with a photograph which was officially issued by a government agency; and that identification must be approved by the Transportation Security Administration.

Concession operating times at airports may vary.

See also

All requests and applications for each of the programs must be first reviewed and approved by the Transportation Security Administration.

Programs Which Have Been Suspended Indefinitely

Only one airport which introduced a similar program that has since been suspended — with no timeframe or date set as to when it will officially resume, if ever — ironically includes:

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 aforementioned ones that are listed in this article 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 they will continue to be considered at additional airports across the United States.

Photograph ©2018 by Brian Cohen.

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