Kansas City Joins Oakland, Seattle-Tacoma, New Orleans and More US Airports Reviving Guest Pass Programs, Bringing Back the Long-Lost Pre-9/11 Tradition That Makes Travel Hugely Personal for Americans

Published on December 22, 2025

For more than two decades, the experience of saying goodbye or welcoming a loved one at an airport gate has been largely out of reach for many Americans. Following the tragic events of September 11, 2001, security measures were dramatically tightened, restricting access beyond the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint to ticketed passengers only. For countless travelers, this meant that the emotional moments of seeing friends and family off or greeting them upon arrival became distant memories.

However, in 2025, a significant shift is underway. Across the United States, airports are introducing structured guest or visitor pass programs, designed to allow non-ticketed visitors into post-security areas. These programs permit access to gates, concourses, restaurants, shops, and other terminal amenities, under strict security guidelines. This movement signals a new era for airports, one that blends security, convenience, and human connection. At the forefront of this trend is Kansas City International Airport (MCI), whose visitor program has become a model for airports nationwide.

Kansas City International Airport (MCI): A Pioneer in Visitor Access

Kansas City International Airport, known simply as MCI, has emerged as a leader in the reintroduction of guest pass programs. In 2025, MCI officially launched a Guest Pass program, allowing non-travelers to accompany friends and family, enjoy terminal amenities, and experience the airport from within its secure zones.

This program represents a significant milestone in the airport’s history. While many airports previously allowed limited gate access on a case-by-case basis, MCI’s initiative is a fully standardized system designed to maximize accessibility while maintaining security.

How the MCI Guest Pass Program Works

MCI’s Guest Pass program is structured to ensure both safety and convenience for visitors and travelers alike:

1. Application Process: Interested guests must apply online through the airport’s official portal, typically up to seven days in advance. Same-day applications may also be accepted, depending on availability.
2. Security Vetting: Applicants are screened through TSA’s security system, ensuring compliance with federal regulations. Each visitor must provide government-issued identification, such as a REAL ID or passport.
3. Digital Pass Delivery: Upon approval, guests receive a digital pass via email. This pass is required for entry at the security checkpoint, where visitors undergo the same screening as travelers.
4. Terminal Access: Approved guests gain access to the concourses, gate areas, restaurants, shops, and observation points. Visitors may accompany travelers to the gate, greet arriving passengers, or explore terminal amenities.
5. Rules and Restrictions: The pass does not grant access to aircraft, restricted airline areas, or airport lounges. Minors must be accompanied by an adult with an approved pass, and each individual requires a separate application.

By combining ease of access with strict security protocols, MCI has created a program that restores the human connection many missed for decades.

Why MCI’s Program Matters

The Guest Pass program at Kansas City International Airport is more than a convenience; it represents a cultural shift in how airports interact with their communities:

• Human Connection: Families separated by distance can now experience personal goodbyes and greetings in a secure and safe environment. This emotional aspect of travel, largely absent since 2001, is being revived.
• Economic Growth: Airports today are more than transit hubs; they are retail and dining centers. By allowing visitor access, airports like MCI can increase foot traffic in restaurants, shops, and concession areas, boosting revenue and supporting local businesses.
• Community Engagement: The program positions MCI as a community-centric space. The airport is no longer just a point of departure or arrival—it is a public venue for art, dining, and social interaction.
• Model for Other Airports: MCI’s success provides a template for other airports seeking to implement similar programs, showcasing how to balance access, convenience, and security effectively.

Other U.S. Airports Bringing Back Guest Access

Kansas City International is part of a larger trend in which airports of varying sizes are introducing or reintroducing visitor pass programs. Many of these programs differ slightly in terms of rules, access, and application procedures, but all share a commitment to giving non-travelers controlled entry to secure areas.

Orlando International Airport (MCO)

Orlando International has reinstated its Experience MCO Visitor Pass, covering all terminals. Visitors can accompany travelers, dine, shop, and explore the airport’s amenities. The program was paused temporarily during the pandemic but was reinstated due to its popularity and operational feasibility.

Oakland International Airport (OAK)

Oakland’s guest pass program permits non-travelers to access post-security areas across all terminals. Visitors can explore more than two dozen restaurants and shops, and the program is structured with online applications and TSA screening requirements.

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)

Cleveland’s Hopkins Hangout Pass allows visitors to enter secure areas to meet travelers, dine, or shop. The program includes daily limits on passes and requires advance applications to manage terminal capacity efficiently.

Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)

ABQ has implemented the FlySide Pass, a visitor program that grants access to terminal amenities, local art exhibits, and gates for approved guests. Applications are processed online, and security screening is mandatory.

John Wayne Airport (SNA)

Orange County’s airport offers the OC AirPASS, providing secure terminal access to approved non-travelers. The program emphasizes convenience while ensuring compliance with TSA guidelines.

Ontario International Airport (ONT)

Ontario’s ONT+ Visitor Pass allows approved visitors access to post-security areas. The airport has streamlined the digital application process to enhance convenience and safety.

Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)

The Stay & Play Pass at Palm Springs allows guests to access terminal spaces for dining, shopping, and observing flights. The airport has leveraged modern terminal design to enhance the visitor experience.

San Diego International Airport (SAN)

San Diego offers a pilot Gate Pass program in Terminal 2. Visitors can accompany passengers or explore airport amenities, with applications required in advance to manage capacity.

Tri-Cities Airport (TRI)

This regional airport in Tennessee offers limited visitor access via the PSC Pass, with daily caps and advance registration to ensure smooth operations.

Additional Small and Regional Airports

Several other airports have embraced visitor access, including Akron-Canton Airport, Capital Region International Airport, Eastern Iowa Airport, and Bishop International Airport. These initiatives demonstrate that guest pass programs are viable across both large and smaller airport operations.

Why Visitor Pass Programs Are Expanding Now

The resurgence of airport visitor access reflects multiple trends and priorities in the aviation industry:

• Economic Considerations: Modern airports function as lifestyle centers, combining travel with shopping and dining. Guest pass programs expand the potential customer base for airport concessions and support local economic growth.
• Passenger Experience: Travelers increasingly seek a welcoming environment. The ability to have family and friends accompany them to gates or greet them upon arrival restores an element of human connection that had been largely absent.
• Terminal Design Evolution: Airports are being designed with community spaces, art installations, and panoramic views. Visitor access programs allow the public to experience these spaces, promoting community engagement.
• Security Technology Advancements: Improved TSA screening, digital applications, and background checks make it safer and more efficient to allow vetted non-travelers past security checkpoints.
• Community and Cultural Integration: Airports are positioning themselves as community hubs, blending functionality with culture, retail, and dining. Visitor programs reinforce this role.

Challenges and Operational Considerations

While the benefits of guest pass programs are clear, they also present operational challenges:

• Capacity Management: Airports must balance visitor access with passenger throughput, particularly during peak travel times.
• Security: Even with vetting, an increase in the number of individuals passing through TSA checkpoints requires careful oversight to maintain safety and efficiency.
• Resource Allocation: Airports need sufficient staff and resources to manage visitor programs without disrupting passenger operations.
• Consistency Across Airports: Different airports have varying levels of resources and security infrastructure, meaning programs must be tailored to the specific needs of each facility.

Despite these challenges, airports are successfully integrating visitor programs, providing models for others to follow.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Airport Visitor Access

The revival of visitor pass programs marks a broader transformation in airport philosophy. Terminals are no longer just points of departure and arrival—they are cultural, economic, and social hubs. By balancing security with accessibility, airports like Kansas City International are redefining what it means to be a part of the aviation experience.

The MCI Guest Pass program, in particular, stands as a model for airports nationwide. With clear application procedures, robust security vetting, and access to a vibrant terminal environment, it demonstrates how airports can foster human connection, support local economies, and create engaging public spaces.

As more airports adopt visitor programs and refine their operations, this approach is likely to become the standard. Families and friends can once again experience the emotional moments of travel together, while airports benefit from increased engagement, revenue, and community presence.

Ultimately, the resurgence of airport visitor passes is a win-win scenario. Passengers experience renewed human connection, guests enjoy terminal amenities and the thrill of airport observation, and airports establish themselves as dynamic public spaces. In the years to come, programs like MCI’s may inspire every airport across the United States to open its doors, not just to travelers, but to the communities they serve.

Conclusion

The return of airport guest and visitor programs is one of the most heartening developments in U.S. aviation in recent years. Kansas City International Airport leads this movement with its thoughtful and well-structured Guest Pass program, emphasizing security, convenience, and human connection. Across the country, airports of all sizes are following suit, implementing programs that allow visitors to accompany travelers, enjoy dining and shopping, and immerse themselves in terminal experiences.

This evolution is not merely about access—it is about restoring the human dimension to air travel, fostering community engagement, and enhancing the airport experience for all. For passengers and visitors alike, the airport once again becomes a place of excitement, connection, and shared experience—a space where farewells and reunions are once again possible beyond the security checkpoint.

Kansas City International Airport has shown that it is possible to marry safety with accessibility, setting a precedent that other airports can emulate. As this trend continues, Americans can look forward to a future in which airports serve as welcoming community hubs, reflecting both the efficiency of modern travel and the enduring value of human connection.