Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport officials have kicked off their new visitor program that will allow for non-ticketed passengers to enter secure parts of the airport to shop or to join their loved ones before they take off to far-flung destinations.

The OAK Guest Pass Program will allow members of the public to go past security at the airport after filing an application online and receiving approval from the Transportation Security Administration.

Airport spokesperson Kaley Skantz said staff decided to implement the program because they wanted to extend the time loved ones spend with one another before they travel and wanted to encourage people to visit the amenities located at the airport.

“Passengers that fly OAK know of its convenience and ease of use,” said Skantz. “The addition of OAK Guest Pass further enhances customer experience by making our terminals and amenities more accessible for the wider public as well as travelers and their loved ones.”

Skantz added the security lines are not expected to become longer and safety remains a top priority. She said the airport has the ability to limit the number of guests by time of day and individuals are fully vetted by the TSA.

Travelers move through Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport in Oakland on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. The airport has introduced a new guest pass program to let visitors who aren’t flying take advantage of the amenities beyond the security screening lines. (Andres Jimenez Larios/ Bay City News)

However, within the FAQ for the program, there is a provision that states that the information collected during the application is required, by law, to be shared with the federal government.

According to the website, the TSA may share information with law enforcement, intelligence agencies, or other federal agencies. Since the TSA is under the Department of Homeland Security, that information may be shared with other entities such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. More information can be found at tsa.gov.

Parking lots that charge by the hour are available for people interested in driving to the airport, or they can use the public transit connections such as the BART Oakland Airport Connector or Alameda Contra-Costa Transit.

To apply for the program, people are encouraged to submit their request the day of their visit or up to seven days in advance.