PITTSBURGH — Remember the good old days when you could say farewell to a loved one right at the gate? It was a true human gem at the airport.
That all changed on September 11, 2001. And with security tighter than ever, you had to kiss your family at the curb.
A few years ago, Pittsburgh International Airport decided it was time to move forward, and get back to the way things used to be.
"So, MyPitPass was something we launched in September 2017. We were the first airport in the entire country to be able to launch non-ticketed passengers to have access to our airside terminal," Bob Kerlick, Vice President of Media Relations at Pittsburgh International Airport said.
That means, in Pittsburgh, you don't need a ticket anymore to get to the gate. Anyone can get a MyPitPass, but it's important to note, the airport says, security measures are just as tight.
"We work with the TSA. This was a multi-year project with them," said Kerlick. "(Travelers) go through security checkpoint line, just like every other passenger. The belt comes off, the shoes come off, and you go through. So, again, no reduction in security."
Once you have that printed pass in hand, you can go wherever you want. The people we talked to at Pittsburgh International Airport on a recent trip had different reasons for using MyPitPass. Some of them may surprise you.
Chuck Hughey takes his granddaughter, Cleo, weekly, just to run around and play.
"Every Wednesday, I have my granddaughter and I babysit, and one of the favorite places she likes to come is the airport. She loves to ride on the tram, back and forth," Hughey said.
But for Char Reidy, of Toronto, Ohio, it's a little more personal. She's the legal guardian of her 18-year-old grandson, Ryan. Ryan, who has Autism, is comforted by the sights and sounds of the airport.
"It just helps him to get out because he's very shy. That's why he wears the headphones, and he has kind of a hard time in school," Reidy said."I just love bringing him here."
And, Ryan, likes going, too. Especially, to see the planes.
"The thing I like about planes is, whenever they take off, I think it's pretty cool when they take off and land," Ryan said.
Then, we caught up with Lori Sweigard, of Lisbon, Ohio. And, she reminded us of why so many crave every moment with relatives who live far way when we witnessed her saying goodbye to her daughter and granddaughter who were headed back to Seattle.
It was tough for Sweigard to say goodbye.
"I'm a little anxious. (My granddaughter) wasn't feeling that good this morning so I hope the flight goes well, you know?" Sweigard said after sending them off.
But, she does appreciate having that extra time with Pittsburgh's all-access approach.
"Coming back here is the best. Seeing them get off the plane, and they're happy to see us, you know, with a smile. She sees Gram and Pap and her Aunt Bella. So, yes, love it. Love it all," Sweigard told us.
We wanted to know if our airport would be on-board with a free-range terminal again. In a statement, the City of Cleveland said:
"Cleveland Hopkins International Airport would consider a similar service. However, we want to complete our current Master Plan process before undertaking this endeavor and part of that process would also include approval from the Transportation Security Administration."
Meantime, Pittsburgh Airport's Kerlick says it's simple: Travelers want normalcy -- and the freedom to connect with their loved ones, one more time, before they fly.
"The airport is, it's really a sense of community here. So, people want to get to the gate, they want to see their loved ones, they want to be able to go out and have access to this very public facility."