Bay Area airport approves guest passes for non-ticketed visits

"We are thrilled to launch this program now to [complement] the many new concessions available to guests that have recently launched under our refreshed Food and Beverage Program and Retail Program,"

"Many members of our community have expressed the desire to experience our new additions, and now they will be able to enjoy them even if they do not have a flight."

"The program allows people to procure a guest pass up to seven days in advance by applying online and using personal information from a Real ID document approved by the Transportation Security Administration. Minors may apply for the program but must be accompanied by an adult. Approved guests will receive an email after midnight on the day of their scheduled visit."

"OAK has overhauled concessions and invested in terminal expansions over the past few years, including new callbacks to iconic Bay Area eats like the Bonjour Bakehouse vending machine, the Oaklandish Coffee Collective and Vietnamese eatery Tay Ho Oakland. By opening the airport to non-travelers, the restaurants and shops in the concourse are now available to a larger customer base, a welcomed asset as the airport continues to recover passenger numbers prior to the pandemic."

Oakland International Airport launched a guest pass program allowing non-travelers beyond security for the first time since Sept. 11, 2001. The program permits applicants to request a guest pass up to seven days in advance by applying online and providing personal information from a TSA-approved Real ID; minors may apply but must be accompanied by an adult. Approved guests receive an email after midnight on the day of their scheduled visit. OAK invested in terminal expansions and refreshed food and retail offerings, adding Bay Area eateries like Bonjour Bakehouse vending, Oaklandish Coffee Collective, and Tay Ho Oakland. Passenger volumes through January–September 2025 totaled 7 million, down 16% year-over-year and 31% from early 2019 levels.

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