Journey Back In Time With SEA’s Visitor Pass Program : AirlineReporter

I’m a type of who don’t thoughts doing airport drop offs and pickups. Often I’ll really park and stroll the particular person to safety or meet them after they come out. I miss the times when you could possibly undergo safety with the particular person, stroll them to their gate, and wave to their aircraft because it pushed again. Or welcome them with a smile on the gate as they deplaned. Most drop offs as we speak are about pace and effectivity; the motive force will barely roll to a cease, folks rush out of the automobile, luggage are thrown to the curb, there are just a few fast goodbyes, after which everybody skedaddles earlier than being yelled at by the authorities. 

Back in 2018, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) initiated a brand new program known as the SEA Visitor Pass Program. This free program basically enables you to journey again in time to when a non-flying customer might undergo safety. I’ve been desirous to attempt this system first-hand, however a possibility by no means got here up… till just lately. I had a pal flying in from Montana and I made a decision to provide it a shot. I didn’t allow them to know my sport plan and my hope was to shock them on the gate. 

I might say that for probably the most half issues went fairly easily and it was definitely worth the expertise. However, I’m not certain it will develop into an everyday factor for me. 

To take part, it’s good to do some planning and obtain authorization earlier than heading to the airport, but it surely’s simple sufficient. Here are the fundamentals that it’s good to know: 

1) Apply Online

• Fill out the application. It has very fundamental questions corresponding to identify, e mail, dob, date of go to, and many others. It took me lower than a minute to fill out.
• Note that there’s a restrict of solely 300 guests per day. Normally not a problem besides throughout the summer season and holidays, however it’s all the time finest to enroll sooner moderately than later.
• Make certain to learn all the principles and restrictions as they might change.

2) Wait for TSA’s Approval

• If authorized, you’re going to get an e mail with a QR code, after midnight the day of your go to.
• If you’re denied for some purpose, you would possibly wish to comply with up with the TSA to be sure to don’t run into future points.

3) Go Through Security

• You can solely undergo Checkpoint 4, which could be lame if it’s backed up and others will not be.
• You will want a type of legitimate REAL ID, identical to in the event you have been a flying passenger.
• Your Pre-Check or CLEAR does you no good right here… you must undergo the “normal” course of.

I’ll say that this expertise made me miss my Pre-Check (yea, yea, I do know I’m spoiled). When I went, Checkpoint 4 was backed up and passengers have been being despatched to one of many different places with shorter strains. When I defined that I had a SEA Visitor Pass, at first they didn’t appear to know, however they lastly let me in. It took about 45min to get by way of and after I lastly reached the TSA agent, she checked out me blankly after I confirmed my QR code and defined it was for the SEA Visitor Pass… confidence was sinking. However, it turned out she was new and known as over a supervisor and with just a few clicks of the keyboard, I used to be licensed… yeehaw!

I ended up making getting by way of safety tougher on myself as a result of I made a decision to put on cowboy boots. They regarded superior, however having to take them off to be scanned was a ache… even with having no baggage. Speaking of bags… one factor that was actually bizarre all through my total expertise was not having any. My mind would have these little panic moments: “Omg, where is my bag? I must have lost it,” earlier than remembering my mission. 

After my pal landed, I informed just a little white lie that I might decide them up exterior of bags declare. Instead, I stood off to the facet of the gate as passengers began to deplane. I began to surprise if my pal would even discover me. I hoped that I wouldn’t have to finish up working after them yelling their identify like a loopy particular person. Luckily, it ended up understanding fairly nicely.

Pretty rapidly my pal checked out me, however then regarded away, probably not comprehending it was me. “Nah, David wouldn’t be at my gate,” was the look on their face. Then they regarded again and began smiling and have been clearly entertained that I in some way managed my approach to the gate. My largest remorse of this complete factor was not saying “I got to the gate because I am Airport Batman!” Oh nicely, there’s all the time subsequent time!

The SEA Visitor Pass isn’t just for stunning folks on the gate, it will also be nice for people who find themselves dropping off or selecting up youngsters, an older member of the family, or anybody who would possibly want some additional help. Also, folks can use it to benefit from the outlets or eating places on the airside. And after all AvGeeks would possibly simply wish to go hang around for just a few hours and have a look at the beautiful airplanes.

BONUS: Our pal Harriet Baskas just lately published a story on The Points Guy that details offerings at other airports that’s price trying out.

Curious to study a bit extra about this system, I reached out to Perry Cooper, Media Relations Manager at SEA. I requested if there was any speak of increasing this system to extra examine factors or permitting of us to make use of Pre-Check or CLEAR sooner or later. Unfortunately he mentioned that neither is within the works. I requested how many individuals use this system and I used to be informed that in 2024, SEA noticed nearly 50,000 requests and about 14,800 folks really adopted by way of. And by way of August of this 12 months, there have been about 48,000 requests and 18,125 used. I used to be pleasantly shocked by the recognition!  

Between looking for parking and hitting just a few snags with safety (the cowboy boot holdup was on me), I used to be a bit flustered by the point I reached the gate. I’ll say it was completely price it to shock my pal and I believe it is a nice program, however I’ll probably solely use it for particular events! 

Have you used the same program earlier than? How did it go?

Note: Before utilizing this program, or another comparable ones, please overview their web site to see if any modifications have been made. You don’t wish to get your hand slapped by the TSA!