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News for Travelers

Last Updated 2/2/10

Link Light Rail to the Airport Is Here

Free WiFi Now Available at Sea-Tac Airport

The Port of Seattle now provides free WiFi is now available throughout the Airport.

New Smoking Policy in Effect at Sea-Tac Airport - Outdoor Smoking Areas Relocated

In order to comply with state law regarding second-hand smoke, the areas where smoking is permitted outside of the airport terminal have moved.

Smoking is now permitted in two outdoor locations (see map):

  • North end of the Lower Drive (Baggage Claim level): North of door 26, across the small parking lot, adjacent to the stairs that lead to the cruise tent lot
  • South end of the Ground Transportation Lot (Baggage Claim level): South of door 00, on the sidewalk at the far south end of the Ground Transportation Lot

The Washington Clean Indoor Air Act prohibits smoking in all public places, places of employment and within 25 feet of entrances, exits, windows and air intakes that serve these places. Following an assessment by the King County Health Department, the airport drives have been identified as work places.  Smoking is prohibited along the full length of the upper and lower airport drives, everywhere in the airport garage, throughout the terminal and in all airfield locations.

Global Entry Now Available at Sea-Tac

This new program, now available at Sea-Tac Airport, enables international travelers who are pre-screened, pre-approved and registered to quickly clear U.S. Customs.

Once approved and registered, arriving international travelers present their machine-readable passport, submit their fingerprints for biometric verification, and make a declaration at the kiosk. Upon successful completion of the process at the kiosk, they are then directed to baggage claim and the exit, unless chosen for further inspection. The Global Entry Program reduces average wait times for arriving passengers by 70 percent. More that 75 percent of Global Entry passengers are processed in under five minutes.

Travelers can apply for the program online.

Exit from Airport Garage Rerouted; New Route Gives Drivers Access to the Exit to S. 170th Street

A Makeover for Delta and Northwest

As part of the merger between Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines, all Northwest flights at Sea-Tac have been rebranded as Delta. The Northwest signage has been replaced with the blue and red of the Delta brand. Check in will be at the relocated Delta counter (the former Northwest ticket counter location) and all Delta flights now depart and arrive at the South Satellite. Baggage for Delta domestic flights will arrive on Carousels 3, 4, or 5. Baggage for direct international flights arrives on Carousel 1. More information on the rebranding and merger is available on Delta's Web site.

Sun Country Flights Relocated

Sun Country flights have moved to the South Satellite. Their ticket has moved to the same location as the new Delta counter.

Real-Time Flight Information for Sea-Tac Airport Available Through Most Cell Phones

Banner saying Text

The next time you are wondering about the status of a flight at Sea-Tac Airport, just turn to your cell phone.

Sea-Tac customers can now receive real-time flight information directly on their cell phones. The service uses a simple text message request that returns updated flight information back to the phone via text message and is compatible with most cell phone brands.

Users get real-time flight information including current departure or arrival times, gate numbers, and additional flight status updates.

Here's how it works:

  • Create a new text message.
  • Type your airline and flight number in the body of the message. For example, Alaska 1234
  • Enter the code "FlySEA" or 359732 in the "Send To" area.
  • Send the message.

Within seconds, you'll receive the latest real-time information, including the flight number, departure or arrival time, gate number and flight status.

Cell phone updates are a one-time, passenger activated service. In order to receive another update you must text the address again. Your cell phone carrier's standard rates apply.

If you want to receive e-mail notifications for real-time flight status, sign up here.

Checking In for Flights in Sea-Tac's Garage

photo of check-in kiosk in Sea-Tac Airport garage

Travelers on five airlines – Alaska, Continental, Delta, Horizon, and United - can now check in and print their boarding pass right as they enter the Airport from the parking garage. The quick check-in kiosks enable travelers without luggage to print their boarding pass and head straight for the security checkpoint and their departure gate. Travelers with luggage on Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air can get their boarding pass and then take their luggage right to their airline's bag drop area.

The quick check-in kiosks are located on the fourth floor of the garage at the entrances to Skybridges 2-6 and there is also one in the Main Terminal, across from the American Airlines ticket counter.

 

Shorten Your Trip - Use the Security Checkpoint Closest to Your Airline

While you can use any of the three security checkpoints - south, central, north - at the airport and may want to pick an alternative when lines are long, the list below will help you pick the closest one to your departure gate.

Airline

Security Checkpoint
Main Terminal Map

Aeromexico South Checkpoint
Air Canada North Checkpoint
Air France South Checkpoint
AirTran Airways South Checkpoint
Alaska North Checkpoint
American South Checkpoint
Air Mobility Command (AMC) South Checkpoint
Asiana South Checkpoint
British Airways South Checkpoint
Continental Central Checkpoint
Delta South Checkpoint
EVA Air South Checkpoint
Frontier South Checkpoint
Hainan Airlines South Checkpoint
Hawaiian South Checkpoint

Horizon (Horizon departs from two different areas)

  • C Gates
  • S Gates


  • Central Checkpoint
  • South Checkpoint
Icelandair South Checkpoint
JetBlue South Checkpoint
Korean Air South Checkpoint
Lufthansa South Checkpoint
Midwest Airlines South Checkpoint
Southwest Central Checkpoint
Sun Country South Checkpoint
United North Checkpoint
US Airways South Checkpoint
Virgin America South Checkpoint