And more of today’s top travel news stories.
Today in travel, we have several stories that may have flown under your radar. Among them: the TSA will finally allow non-passengers access to airport gates; water will be restored to the Grand Canyon much sooner than initially thought; clashes have erupted in Albania over a Kushner-backed development; and Thailand wants Israel to help rein in tourist behavior.
Dive into these and more as we examine the latest in travel news.
Some or all of this article was crafted with help from AI. An editor reviewed and vetted this article before publishing.
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TSA PreCheck Members Can Apply for Airport Gate Access Without a Plane Ticket
Some TSA PreCheck members can now visit airport gate areas without holding a plane ticket under a new federal program rolling out at 13 U.S. airports.
Gateside by TSA PreCheck allows eligible members—as well as participants in other trusted-traveler programs who have a Known Traveler Number—to apply for access to the secure side of participating terminals. The program is free, but visitors must submit an online request one to three days before their planned airport visit and receive approval from the TSA.
Approved visitors go through a designated TSA PreCheck lane using an accepted form of identification. The pass lasts for one calendar day and permits visitors to leave and re-enter the secure area during that period.
The initial group of participating airports includes Los Angeles International Airport, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, and Salt Lake City International Airport. TSA says additional airports will be added in the coming months.
The initiative partially revives a feature of American air travel that largely disappeared after the September 11 attacks, when access beyond airport security checkpoints became generally restricted to ticketed passengers. TSA says the program is intended to make it possible for approved visitors to accompany friends or family to the gate, meet travelers during layovers, or use terminal restaurants and shops.
Read more at the Associated Press.
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Grand Canyon Water Supply Could Be Restored Within Weeks After Deadly Flash Flood
Grand Canyon National Park officials say a reliable water supply could be restored to the South Rim within weeks following the destructive August 29 flash flood that severely damaged the park’s aging water system.
The flood killed two people, left one person missing, and prompted roughly 80 rescues. It also damaged the legacy Transcanyon Waterline and destroyed a water intake used to supply the South Rim. Despite that destruction, much of the park’s nearly completed replacement infrastructure escaped damage.
Crews are now building a temporary intake at Bright Angel Creek that is designed to restore approximately the same pumping capacity available before the flood. The work comes as the National Park Service pushes to complete a more than $200 million overhaul of the 12.5-mile Transcanyon Waterline, which provides water to Grand Canyon Village and the millions of people who visit the South Rim each year.
The flooding prompted the third suspension of overnight stays related to waterline failures since August 2024. South Rim hotels remain affected by water restrictions, although the park itself is open.
Officials continue to ask residents, employees, businesses, and visitors to conserve water while repairs move forward, saying reduced consumption is extending the amount of time crews have to bring the temporary system online.
Read more at the Associated Press.
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Thailand and Israel Discuss New Guidelines for Israeli Tourists Following Complaints
Thai officials are pressing for stronger efforts to ensure foreign visitors follow local laws and customs following a high-level meeting with Israel’s ambassador over concerns involving the behavior of some Israeli tourists.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow met Israeli Ambassador Alona Fisher-Kamm in Bangkok on Tuesday, September 8. The talks addressed tourism as well as concerns that incidents involving some foreign visitors have caused friction with local communities, particularly in heavily visited parts of the country.
Thai officials stressed that visitors of all nationalities are expected to respect the country’s laws, customs, and way of life. Fisher-Kamm acknowledged concerns involving some Israeli travelers and proposed a list of dos and don’ts that could be distributed through the Israeli Embassy, airlines, and tourism companies.
The Thai government, however, has indicated that it wants additional action to prevent further incidents and protect relations between the two countries.
The meeting also comes amid wider scrutiny of foreign business activity in Thailand. A protest scheduled outside the Israeli Embassy in Bangkok on September 10 is expected to focus partly on allegations that some foreign-owned businesses use Thai nominees to circumvent ownership restrictions. Campaign organizers have raised concerns involving Israeli, Chinese, Russian, and other foreign nationals.
Read more at the Jerusalem Post.
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Clashes Erupt in Albania During Protests Over Kushner-Linked Coastal Resort
Months of demonstrations against a proposed luxury resort linked to Jared Kushner erupted into clashes with police in Albania on Tuesday as protesters gathered in the capital, Tirana.
The confrontation came a day after the demonstrations reached their 100th day and as Albania’s parliament returned from its summer recess. Protesters threw eggs and tomatoes at police in riot gear, while vehicles carrying lawmakers were hit with plastic water bottles. Several demonstrators were detained, although authorities had not immediately said whether anyone was formally arrested.
The movement has become known as the “flamingo revolution,” a reference to the pink birds that protesters say could be threatened by development in the protected coastal area. Opponents contend that the proposed resort could damage the environment and reduce public access to the coastline.
What began as a campaign focused largely on the development has broadened into wider opposition to Prime Minister Edi Rama and his Socialist government. Rama strongly supports the investment, arguing that projects of this scale can help modernize Albania.
The precise extent of Kushner’s involvement has not been detailed by Albanian officials. Ivanka Trump has publicly discussed her family’s participation in the venture and praised the project.
Read more at the Associated Press.
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Burning Man Ends With Three Attendee Deaths Under Investigation
Three people died in connection with the 2026 Burning Man festival in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, an unusually high toll for an event where local authorities say they typically record about one death per year.
Sampson Tshombe, described by organizers as being in his mid-50s, died on September 3 after being found on a street inside Black Rock City. Emergency personnel performed CPR before he was pronounced dead at the festival’s temporary medical facility.
Two days later, 60-year-old Craigh Mann was found dead inside a trailer he shared with his partner. Pershing County authorities said investigators found no outward signs of foul play in either Tshombe’s or Mann’s deaths. Autopsy and toxicology testing is underway.
A third attendee, 51-year-old Armando Ramirez of Truckee, California, died while being transported from Burning Man for medical care on September 4. His cause and manner of death remain under investigation.
The weeklong festival began August 30 and ended September 7. Burning Man, which transforms the desert into the temporary Black Rock City, can draw tens of thousands of participants each year.
Read more at Fox News.