OAKLAND, Calif.—Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK) on Dec. 15 launched its “Guest Pass” program allowing non-ticketed visitors to spend time with their friends and family on the post-security side of the passenger terminal.

The airport said it’s among the first airports in California to return “to an era when airports were spaces for excited ‘hellos’ and heart-felt ‘goodbyes’ or a place to dine and shop,” according to an announcement.

The new program will allow non-passengers to go with their loved ones to the gates and see them off, the airport said. This has not been allowed since security rules in airports were tightened following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Under the new program at OAK, visitors are able to apply for a Guest Pass online the same day or up to seven days prior. Guests must have a valid passport, REAL ID, or other identification approved by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Minors without a photo ID can get a Guest Pass but must be accompanied by an adult who also has a pass.

“We want OAK to become a meaningful experience for all of our visitors, not just a curbside drive-by experience,” Kristi McKenney, executive director of the Port of Oakland, said in the announcement. “The OAK Guest Pass allows families to spend more precious time with their loved ones as they see them off on their next adventure or welcome them home from one.”

Guest Pass requests will be reviewed by the TSA, according to the airport’s website. Those who apply in advance will receive an email with their approval status after midnight on the day of their visit, and same-day applicants will receive the email within approximately 15 minutes.

Guest Passes are granted on a first-come, first-served basis, as availability may be limited, according to the airport. The airport didn’t reveal the number of passes available per day.

“If you cannot select a date or start time on the online form, that means the visitor slots have reached capacity for that day or time,” the website states.

Only electronic Guest Passes, not printed ones, are accepted at the security checkpoint. Along with a pass, each guest must present a TSA-approved photo ID, which must match the specific guest’s name. Visitors are subject to the same security regulations as passengers.

The website states that the OAK Guest Pass is not a permanent program, as the airport reserves the right to cancel approved passes or the program itself without prior notice.

Several other airports in California have similar guest passes, including San Diego, Ontario, and John Wayne Airport in Orange County.

The program will welcome more people to dine and shop at the airport in Oakland. Three new locally-themed stores are opening at the location, and a total of 16 new retail outlets will operate at OAK by the end of 2025, according to the announcement.

OAK has recently experienced passenger decline. Statistics from its website show a 14.5 percent plunge in the number of passengers, comparing the period from October 2024 through September 2025 with the same period a year back.