Seattle-Tacoma International is my hometown airport, and I’m there quite often – not just for the start and end of travel adventures, but sometimes just to look around. SEA sits about 13 miles south of Seattle city centre and 31 miles from Tacoma city centre. It’s the Pacific Northwest’s major airport, with 39 airlines offering direct flights to 94 domestic and 36 international destinations.
Seattle-based Alaska Airlines has a hub at SEA, as does Delta Air Lines. The airport has one main terminal with four concourses (A, B, C, and D), two satellite concourses (North and South) that you can reach via an underground train, plus an International Arrivals Facility (IAF).
Like so many other airports, SEA is getting bigger. So don’t be surprised if you encounter construction projects. The ‘reveals’ at SEA make the inconveniences worth it.
How to get to and from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Travel time between Seattle and SEA is at least 30 minutes by car, taxi, or ride-hailing service but can be longer during morning and afternoon rush hours. It’s easier and less expensive to make the trip on the Link light rail, which covers the route in about 40 minutes.
There’s a covered walkway stretching about 290 m between the SEA light rail station and the terminal entrance on the fourth floor of the airport multi-storey car park. From 5 am to midnight daily, the airport runs a free golf cart-style shuttle back and forth. I usually enjoy the walk, but I have no problem hopping on the shuttle when I’m running late.
Tip: ride-hailing fares in Seattle can be high, and your bill can jump when airport surcharges and surge pricing are added. If you’re heading to or from the city centre (downtown), taxis use meters with a $20 (around £15) minimum fare for trips originating at SEA. At SEA, look for the two-colour taxis stationed on the third floor of the multi-storey car park.
Navigating security queues at SEA
Security checkpoint queues can be quite long during peak travel times such as public holidays, school holidays, and summer (SEA served 52.6 million passengers in 2024). If you don’t have membership in a paid trusted traveller programme, such as TSA Precheck for those enrolled in Global Entry, you can reserve a free slot for expedited screening at a dedicated lane by using the virtual queueing programme called the SEA Spot Saver.
It operates daily from 4 am to 10 pm. at Checkpoints 2 and 4, and you can make an appointment online through the SEA website or the flySEA app.
Tip: if there are no SEA Spot Saver slots available when you try to book ahead, don’t give up. Try again on your way to the airport or once you arrive, as last-minute slots often open up. I have TSA Precheck, but even those lanes can involve a long waiting time at SEA. Sometimes I make a Spot Saver reservation while standing in the Precheck queue. It means going to a different lane and taking my shoes off, but I’ve got through faster than friends who stayed put.
If you’re arriving on an international flight and don’t have Global Entry, you can use the free Mobile Passport Control app for an expedited lane. The app will ask for your photo, passport info, and customs declarations. Once you’re in the customs hall, you can skip the standard queues and join the faster Mobile Passport Control lane.
SEA Visitor Pass Programme
The SEA Visitor Pass programme gives access to the secure side of the airport for visitors who are not flying. This means you can be there at the gate to greet arriving friends or family (domestic flights only) or stay with your loved ones until the moment they board their flight. The pass also provides access to all the cool post-security shops, restaurants, bars, live music, and aircraft viewing spots.
You can apply for a pass online up to seven days in advance or on the day you want to visit. If the TSA give the green light, you’ll get a QR code via email to show at a specific checkpoint. Turnaround is fast, and while there’s a limit of 300 passes a day, I’ve never been shut out.
This is one of my favourite SEA secrets. I sometimes use it just to have a staycation at the airport without luggage or a flight to catch.
Amenities at SEA
Food, drink, and shopping
The dining and shopping options at SEA are diverse, with many local brands represented. I have my favourites, but when queues are long, I place an order for a takeaway at one of the more than 20 participating restaurants on OrderSEA.org or the FlySEA app.
Art and music at SEA
You’ll see art all over SEA, even in the toilets and baggage claim. The collection has been growing in size and reputation for decades. On my strolls around the airport, I visit old favourites by notable artists like Frank Stella, Louise Nevelson, and Robert Rauschenberg and enjoy spotting new additions. It’s like a free museum visit before my flight.
SEA also has a free concert series. On most days, local artists perform at four locations in the airport: outside the Sub Pop store by the C concourse, in two spots in the Central Terminal, and at the N Concourse Marketplace. You can see the schedule on the SEA website or the flySEA app.
Airline lounges at SEA
Alaska Airlines, which has its headquarters in Seattle, has three lounges at SEA. You’ll also find lounges for Delta Air Lines, United, and British Airways. For credit card holders, there’s an American Express Centurion Lounge and two locations for The Club at SEA, which is part of the Priority Pass programme and offers day passes to all travellers.
Access is usually based on ticket class, airline alliance, or the credit cards you have. If you get into the American Express Centurion Lounge on the mezzanine level of the Central Terminal, look for the portrait of the Seattle skyline made from coffee beans and the photos of famous musicians from the Emerald City.
Amenities for families and neurodiverse passengers
Besides exploring the art, watching planes, and riding the underground train, kids will enjoy the Children’s Play Areas near gates A1 and D25. SEA also has a sensory room and participates in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyard programme, which discreetly indicates to staff that a passenger may need extra support or time.
Luggage services and luggage storage at SEA
Seattle is a major summer cruise port for Alaska-bound travellers. Many passengers head straight to the airport after disembarking and hang around for hours because most airlines don’t allow luggage check-in more than three hours before a flight. To address this, the Port of Seattle (which operates SEA) hosts the Port Valet bag programme. The complimentary service allows cruise passengers to check their bags in on their cruise ship and have their luggage go directly to the airline.
Regular checked baggage fees still apply, but using the Port Valet programme means that cruise passengers can spend time in the city without their bags and can then skip the hassles of the baggage check-in queues when they get to the airport.
Tip: Smarte Carte, in the baggage claim area between Carousels 9 and 10, offers luggage storage. They also sell boxes, tape, locks, and even hire out car seats and prams. I’ve used the storage service more than once to leave house keys or a gift for friends arriving when I’m away.
Hotels near SEA
While there are no on-property hotels at SEA, there are plenty of hotels close to the airport, including a handful just across the street. A bonus for guests at more than 30 partner hotels is the free SeaTac Shopping & Dining shuttle to the nearby Westfield Southcenter. The service runs daily, except for certain public holidays. When I have an early flight, I sometimes book a hotel near the airport and use the shuttle to start my holiday early with dinner, a film, and shopping at the shopping centre.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
