Airport gate pass Archives - Stuck at the Airport

Get past security at these airports without a ticket

You don’t have to have superpowers to get past the security checkpoint at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) without an airline ticket.

That’s because, starting August 11, 2025, CLE is launching a guest pass program called The Hopkins Hangout Pass.

The program allows non-ticketed guests to apply for a pass that will give them access to the secure side of the airport to greet an arriving traveler, spend more time with a friend or family member before a flight or just hang out at the airport to shop, dine or watch planes take off and land.

Guests must submit their request at least 24 hours in advance, but not more than a week in advance and can begin applying for passes on August 6th. Here’s the Hopkins Hangout Pass portal.

Passes will be limited to 100 per day, and guests will only be allowed past security from 7 am until 10 pm.

What other airports offer gate passes to non-ticketed guests?

CLE joins a growing list of airports that offer gate passes to non-ticketed guests. The list includes:

The Wingmate Pass at Philadelphia International Airport. Limited to 100 visitors a day.

Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA): SEA Visitor Pass Program. Limited to 300 guests per day.

The MSY Guest Pass Program at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY).

DTW Destinaton Pass at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW).

BNA Passport at Nashville International Airport (BNA). Limit of 75 visitors per day.

Capital Region International Airport (LAN) in Lansing, MI: the LAN Visitor Pass. Limited to 25 visitors per day.

OC AirPass at John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County, CA,

ONT+ Visitor Pass Program at California’s Ontario International Airport (ONT)

Kansas City International Airport (MCI) recently rolled out its MCI Guest Pass Program

Palm Springs International Airport has a Stay and Play Visitor Pass

At Orlando International Airport (MCO), the MCO Visitor Pass Program for Terminal C is on hold as of July, 2025.

And we hope that Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT), the first airport to offer a gate pass program for non-ticketed passengers, will revive its MyPITPass program when the new landside terminal opens, sometime this fall.

Have we missed any airport gate programs? Let us know!

Another airport adds a gate pass program

A growing number of airports make it easy for the non-traveling public to get visitor passes to the secure side of the passenger terminal.

That makes it possible to meet arriving friends and family at the gate or to spend more time with someone before they board a flight.

It also means that you don’t need to be flying somewhere to check out a new terminal, tap your toes to the live music at the airport, see some great art, do a little shopping, or spend time watching planes take off and land.

Each airport has its own name for the service and its own rules regarding how many non-ticketed visitors are allowed to be issued a pass each day they are offered. And at each airport that offers the service, passengers must still go through the security checkpoint.

The list of airports offering this great airport amenity includes:

Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA): SEA Visitor Pass Program

The MSY Guest Pass Program at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY),

Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW),

Capital Region International Airport (LAN) in Lansing, MI: the LAN Visitor Pass,

the OC Air Pass at John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County, CA,

and the ONT+ Visitor Pass Program at California’s Ontario International Airport (ONT).

New to the list: Washington’s Tri-Cities Airport

Now more – and smaller – airports are joining the list.

The latest is the Tri-Cities Airport (PSC) in Pasco, WA.

For now, only 10 visitors are able to get a PSC Pass each day. And each visitor may request just one visit per month. But, as with the other airport gate pass programs, it allows non-travelers to surprise an arriving passenger at the gate or send someone off at the gate with a last-minute hug.

Did we miss an airport with a gate pass program? Let us know and we’ll add it to the list.