December 15, 2025
Picking up friends or family from the airport this holiday season is the ultimate act of service, and now it can be less of a headache. Skip the airport drives and head straight to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) parking garage to enjoy 90 minutes of free General Parking between December 22-28, from 7 p.m. to midnight.
And while you’re at the airport, why not turn your pick up into a mini airport adventure? Take advantage of SEA’s gift to you this holiday season. Eat, drink, shop, and explore SEA while skipping traffic on the airport drives and make someone’s night a little easier. It’s a win-win! While you can use SEA Visitor Pass to explore SEA and meet someone at the gate without a plane ticket, there is plenty to do at the airport without having to go through security.
Park, walk, and orient yourself
Skip the busy airport drives and head straight to the SEA Airport Parking garage. Locate and enter the garage.
- Follow signs to General Parking (floors 1-3, 5-8)
- Park in any available stall (look for green overhead lights indicating open stalls)
- Take the elevator to the fourth floor
- Cross the most convenient skybridge to enter the terminal
- Use SEA’s interactive terminal map to navigate your way around the terminal
Travel tip: Ongoing airport roadway construction may cause delays entering the garage. Give yourself extra time so you can fully enjoy your visit while you wait.
Enjoy a bite or drink
While you wait, treat yourself to something quick and delicious at these spots near ticketing areas and baggage claim:
Neighborhood Café, Checkpoint 4. Also located on the D Concourse, this beloved SEA café serves signature Filipino-inspired sips and snacks. Try an ube latte, coconut matcha, or a holiday special , and don’t forget to add boba. Pair your drink with a hand-baked croissant sandwich, butter mochi, cinnamon roll, Rice Krispie treat, or cookie.
7/Eleven, Baggage Claim. Your favorite convenience store is now open at SEA, serving up Slurpee® drinks 24/7, plus Big Gulps, hot foods, salads, sandwiches, and more.
Kawaii Treats Coffee Stand, Gina Marie Lindsay Hall near Door 00. Grab coffee, tea, snacks, ramen, onigiri, sandwiches, and more daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. — plus comfortable seating to relax while you wait.
Starbucks, Baggage Claim 6. Order your favorite holiday beverage while you wait and enjoy festive flavors like spiced gingerbread, sweet peppermint, rich caramel, and butter sugar cookie.
Sourced Market, Ticketing near checkpoints 3 and 4. Fuel up with handcrafted deli dishes and regionally-sourced products, including lox and cream cheese bagels, avocado toast, and grilled panini sandwiches.
Explore world-class art
At SEA, with new art pieces popping up everywhere, there’s something beautiful or intriguing almost anywhere you look. And you don’t have to go through security to experience SEA’s museum-quality art. The Port’s Public Art Program continues to grow and evolve, as it acquires and incorporates high-quality, modern, and contemporary pieces into new and upgraded facilities. With multiple capital projects completed and underway before security, there is more art to enjoy than ever.
Here are some can’t-miss installations to check out while you wait:
Skybridge 6, “Origins of Fire, Rainier”, by Kyle Olson and Sandra Williams
Safety bollards feature a stunning tribute to the iconic Mount Rainier and its Wonderland Trail.
Alaska Ticketing Lobby, “On A Clear Day, You Can See Forever”, by Sarah More
A vibrant mosaic wraps the baggage enclosure, influenced by traditional quilting patterns and celebrating travel and the Pacific Northwest.
Baggage Claim 13 and 16, “Raindrops on Roses”, by Julie Alpert
Look up to see a splash of color stretching 50 feet across the wall, filling the space with playful shapes and bold hues.
Checkpoint 1, glass display case
Peruse a mini museum that helps enclose Checkpoint 1, filled with flamboyant characters, mysterious shapes, and curious caricatures.
Salon-style wall, Baggage Claim 2
This 30-plus-foot installation brings together over 20 pieces of work including portraits, textiles, glass, fabric landscapes, cut wood, and more.
North end of Ticketing, “Cosmic” by Jennifer Steinkamp
At the north end of Alaska Airlines Ticketing, a new digital orchard comes to life via a 60-foot video wall. A cascade of blossoms and fruit transforms the space into a moving garden that shifts and shimmers as travelers pass by.
See what’s new before security
Work is underway across the airport to improve your airport experience. Here’s what’s new before and after security.
Kick back and relax
When you’re done exploring, head to Gina Marie Lindsey Arrivals Hall at the south end of the terminal near International Arrivals. Take a seat, relax, and enjoy a place to wait for your loved one to arrive.
Head back to the garage
Walk your loved ones back to the garage, skip the traffic congestion, and start your celebrations sooner — with less stress and more smiles.
