Tulsa International Airport Launches Visitor Pass Program

Tulsa International Airport is now offering a way for people to go through security and get to the gates when they're not flying. 

The airport says this program will be great for people who want to be with loved ones all the way up until they board their plane or to greet them on arrival.

The entrance to the TSA security line is often a place for goodbyes, Nichole Hadley's family is sending off two foreign exchange students they had for nine months.

"We loved having them too much, but unfortunately they have to return home to their families," says Hadley.

She says it's emotional to watch them walk away through security.

"She's sad, just all the memories that we made over the last nine months and how we're gonna miss them and we wish we didn't have to say goodbye," Hadley says.

But thanks to a new visitor program, people can now go with their loved ones all the way through security and to the gate.  

"They're sending friends and family off and they want to spend some extra time with them so they'll be able to get this visitor pass, apply online and they'll get the pass instantly to their phone if they're approved for it," says Andrew Pierini with Tulsa International.

He says for many visitors, it will resemble a different time.

"This is just a way that with today's security measures that you're still able to kind of have that pre-September 11 experience, so to speak," says Pierini.

Nichole Hadley thinks it's a great idea.

"That would've been great just a little more time with them would've been nice just so they weren't sitting there by themselves too," says Hadley.

She says those few extra moments with someone special would make a sad goodbye a little sweeter.

To apply for a pass, CLICK HERE.