SEA Affords Journey Suggestions for Closing Weekend of Record Setting Summer time

A record-setting summer time is coming all the way down to its closing weekend because the Labor Day vacation approaches at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Since June, a number of information have been set for total and worldwide passenger ranges whereas vacationers who haven’t been by shortly ought to word the brand new Checkpoint 1, extra check-in area in north finish ticketing, some new deal with distributors and pay attention to the development alongside the airport expressway. As all the time, plan forward with journey tricks to make your journey simpler.

Record setting summer time at SEA

The report for busiest day ever at SEA has already been set thrice this summer time. Overall, eight of the highest 10 largest passenger quantity days in historical past at SEA have been recorded this summer time. In addition, every of the highest 10 busiest days for arriving worldwide passengers has occurred since June.

After report setting numbers in 2024, SEA broke its total each day report for passengers in 2025 on June 22, July 27, and most not too long ago on August 10. That new high day noticed 78,763 passengers outbound by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints, with a projected 207,000 total vacationers by the airport (departing, arriving, and connecting). Meanwhile, the International Arrivals Facility’s busiest day was July 26 with 11,281 passengers going by U.S. Customs.

New Checkpoint 1 proving successful

After opening in June, the brand new Checkpoint 1 on the south finish of bag declare has now added TSA PreCheck and CLEAR + to associate with common screening. Be positive to test the most recent structure of traveler companies on this checkpoint map to search out your best entry to common screening, PreCheck, CLEAR +, Premium, SEA Spot Saver, or SEA Visitor Pass.

Year so far, 99% of passengers have made it by TSA Security Checkpoints in underneath half-hour, with 93% underneath 20 minutes. This compares to 94% underneath half-hour in 2024 and 80% in 2023. SEA’s efforts to extend checkpoint efficiencies have included two extra lanes in each Checkpoint 3 and 4 final yr, plus the redesigned Checkpoint 6, on the north finish of the terminal, will re-open with six new lanes earlier than Thanksgiving.

Expressway building

Roadway Improvement Construction continues and appears like a problem, nonetheless, the identical variety of lanes are nonetheless out there on each drives. New lanes have opened for the higher Departures drive, whereas building is now targeted on the middle portion of the challenge, offering a particular break up between higher and decrease entry. The subsequent step shall be to boost the decrease Arrivals Drive elevation. Construction is anticipated to be full by spring 2026.

Travelers can keep away from the congestion on the airport drives through the use of alternate options to driving, together with Link Light Rail, public transit, app-based rideshares, taxi/limos, scheduled airporters, door-to-door van service, and shuttle service. If you do drive, think about using Reserved Parking on Floor 4 of the storage the place you’re assured a spot. We advocate reserving early for finest availability. Customers ought to enable additional time (30–45 minutes) to search out drive-up areas in General Parking.  

More area at North Ticketing and Bridge Level check-in!

Another part of straightforward check-in and bag drop simply opened on the north finish of the Alaska Airlines Ticketing Level. The new applied sciences are a part of the SEA Gateway Project, which additionally contains not too long ago added Bridge Level check-in areas alongside the skybridges from the airport storage. You can use this check-in space even should you’re not coming from the storage. Be conscious, Checkpoint 6 is closed for upgrades till later this yr.

Looking for one thing new to attempt?

Stop by new not too long ago opened eating and retail places:  

• Pre-security at south finish bag declare in Arrivals Hall — Kawaii Treats
• Pre-security close to Checkpoint 5 — Neighborhood Cafe
• Near Gate A1 — Lowrider Cookie, Wunderground Coffee, and Theo Chocolate
• Near Gate C10 — Skillet
• Near Gate A10 — Seattle Beer Union

Passenger numbers to know

From Thursday, August 28 to Tuesday, September 2, simply over an estimated a million vacationers will undergo SEA, up about 7% from final yr. The busiest days of the vacation interval with the best projections to be:

• Friday, August 29 — 197,000 estimated total vacationers (arriving, departing, and connecting)
• Monday, September 1 — 191,000 passengers
• Thursday, August 28 — 189,000 passengers

SEA is right here to assist

SEA’s Customer Care crew is on the market to help passengers earlier than, throughout, and after their journeys. Real assist is on the market by telephone, e-mail, social media, or chat help by Customer Care Connect, which provides closed captions and translations in additional than 60 languages. Once you’re on the airport, yow will discover our crew in inexperienced from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the two Information Desks, or use Customer Care Connect touchscreens on the Information Desks   by Checkpoint 4 and Gate A6.

Real ID is in place

REAL ID is right here — be prepared! The REAL ID Act requires anybody touring by airplane to make use of a REAL ID-compliant doc. Check the full list of accepted ID documents or search for info by the Washington State Department of Licensing. If you don’t have a Real ID–compliant doc, remember that it might take you longer to get by safety checkpoints.

Go-to ideas and tips

Arrive early. Avoid feeling rushed — get to the terminal at the very least two hours earlier than your boarding time for a home flight and three hours earlier than a global flight. Factor within the time it is advisable to journey from off-site parking or drop-offs to the terminal. More than one-third of SEA’s each day passenger quantity arrives on the airport earlier than 9:00 a.m., inflicting busy circumstances at TSA safety checkpoints and on the airport drives. Two extra peak durations happen from 2:00 to five:00 p.m. and from 9:00 to 11:00 p.m.

Take benefit of SEA Spot Saver. Secure a spot in line to make the safety checkpoint course of simpler. Checkpoint wait instances are at present not out there on-line, on the flySEA App, or within the terminal, however workers in inexperienced shall be there to information you to the very best queue for you. Use SEA’s interactive map for instructions to the checkpoints, your gate, a favourite restaurant, or facilities. 

Avoid site visitors. Bypass the congested Arrivals and Departures drives through the use of public transportation, airport parking, rideshare, taxi/limo, scheduled airporter, door-to-door van service, or a shuttle choice. When choosing somebody up, briefly park within the SEA Airport parking storage, coming into from the International Boulevard entrance to fulfill arriving vacationers within the terminal, then exit collectively by the storage with out ever utilizing the drives. You may even choose up a espresso whilst you’re ready! 

Think reverse. If you select to make use of the drives, use the decrease Arrivals drive as a substitute of the higher Departures drive throughout peak morning hours, and vice versa should you’re choosing somebody up within the night. Or use whichever lane is shifting quicker – all of them go to the identical terminal. 

Head straight to safety. Check in on your flight forward of time and obtain or print your boarding move. Review your airline’s baggage insurance policies, and should you don’t have to test a bag, head straight to the safety checkpoints. 

Try a Social Story for assist touring. The SEA Airport Social Story and Resource Guide is designed for vacationers with autism or different invisible disabilities to repeatedly overview with their household/caregivers previous to journey.

Contacts

Perry Cooper | SEA Airport 
[email protected]

Chris Guizlo | SEA Airport 
[email protected]