Before and after airport security

A facility can be close to your gate on a map and still be out of reach. Start with its terminal and whether it is before or after security.

General planning guidance. Airport and airline procedures can differ. Use the official links below to confirm what applies to your journey.

What landside and airside mean

Landside means the public side of the terminal before passenger security. Check-in halls and public arrival halls are common examples. Airside means the controlled passenger area beyond security.

These labels describe access, not a promise that a facility is open to everyone. A landside service may have opening hours or a booking requirement. An airside service may be limited to a particular terminal, departure area or group of passengers.

Match the facility to your journey

Look at the official terminal map alongside your flight details. An arrivals facility and a departures facility can have very different access routes, even when they share a terminal name.

  • Confirm your departure or arrival terminal with the airline.
  • Find the facility’s floor, nearest landmark and security side.
  • Check whether you need a boarding pass, lounge booking or another form of access.
  • Allow for walking time and your airline’s boarding deadline.

Leaving the secure area

Ask airport staff before leaving airside to use a facility. Returning may involve security screening, and an international connection may also involve border formalities. Do not assume that a boarding pass guarantees an easy route back.

A service in another terminal is only a useful option if your journey allows access to it. Check the official transfer route before making a booking or leaving your departure area.

When the location is not confirmed

Use the airport’s own facility page or assistance desk to confirm the route. An unknown security side in our directory means the research is incomplete; it does not mean the facility is available on both sides.

Official information

Plan your airport visit

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