Every time another airport announces that people without a flight that day can now go to the airside to meet/accompany their family, it makes me smile.
Y’see, way back when my then-boyfriend (now husband, Joe) and I were in the early stages of dating, we both lived up in the NYC tri-state area. But we were visiting Walt Disney World together and although I don’t remember the details (I’m sure he does), he had to go back home before I did. This was around mid-late 1998 and we had been dating a few months.
So anyway, I drove him to MCO to go home, and then walked with him to the gate, because you could do that back then. And just before he walked onto the plane, I said to him, for the first time ever, “I love you.” And he said, “I know, I love you, too.”
And that’s why people being able to go to the gate is so freakin’ cool in my book.
Of course, in a post-9/11 world, accompanying anyone to the gate, or picking them up from it, is pretty much impossible, unless it’s a special circumstance like accompanying someone who needs special assistance before they get onto a plane. And even then, you have to have all of your paperwork in order, but it’s a smart way to make sure that kids or people with mobility problems or other disabilities arrive at the departure gate safely.
Anyway, in the couple of years before 2020, a small handful of airports were experimenting with programs that allowed non-passengers to pass the TSA checkpoint, even if they weren’t with someone who had special needs. They’d be vetted by Homeland Security ahead of time, and if everything looked OK, they could go to the gates.
Unfortunately, COVID stopped those programs in their tracks.
Fast forward a few years, and COVID was not the ominous threat it had been, and more and more airports across the country have been setting up their own programs to allow people to go airside. By early July of this year, 17 U.S. airports had such programs.
And now there are 18
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport has announced that effective today, their new Hopkins Hangout Pass program is live.
From CLE:
Accompany a friend to their gate, greet a family member upon their return home, or simply discover all that CLE has to offer, from shops and restaurants to unique exhibits and amenities! With the Hopkins Hangout Pass, non-ticketed guests can access the airside of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport with ease.
How to get a Hopkins Hangout Pass:
Here’s how CLE says you can get a Guest Pass:
- Apply Online
Hopkins Hangout Passes may be used starting on August 11, 2025. Beginning August 6, 2025, you may submit a digital application as early as seven (7) days but no later than one (1) day before your planned visit. Please review the Hopkins Hangout Pass Terms of Use and Frequently Asked Questions before you apply.
- Receive Your Digital Pass
Once approved, you will receive your digital Hopkins Hangout Pass via email. On the day of your visit, use your Hangout Pass, along with your ID or passport, for entry at either the North or South security checkpoints using the general boarding lanes. Please note that you may only enter through the Central TSA checkpoint if both the North and South checkpoints are closed. - Security Screening
On the day of your visit, arrive at either the North or South TSA checkpoints with your digital Hopkins Hangout Pass and either your ID or U.S. passport for entry. Those with a Hangout Pass are not permitted to enter through Pre-Check or CLEAR lanes, and may only enter through the Central TSA checkpoint if both the North and South checkpoints are closed. - Explore CLE
Enjoy your journey inside Cleveland Hopkins Airport, home to dozens of casual and quick-service dining options, retail shops, and passenger lounges, including The Club CLE and the Bob Hope USO Lounge for active-duty service members and their families. (Ummm…good luck trying to get into those lounges without a boarding pass. Whomp whomp)
Interested?
For more information, go to this page of CLE’s website. And make sure to read their FAQ!
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