Additional Reserved Parking is now available to travelers at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) just in time for the holidays. Due to increasing demand, over 600 additional stalls are now available for Reserved Parking. Travelers can also take advantage of a 90-minute grace period in General Parking during peak times for pickup and drop-off convenience this season.
Construction walls are also at a minimum as major projects have completed this year, bringing more amenities inside the terminal and adding roadway lanes outside the terminal that improve your access to SEA. Read on for more travel tips to help you prepare for your best possible trip experience this holiday.
More Reserved Parking available — reserve early to guarantee your spot!
Due to increasing demand, Reserved Parking has expanded with 641 additional stalls on Level 5, a 50% increase for the most convenient parking option. Reserved Parking guarantees a parking spot, has a dedicated entrance, and uses seamless QR code entry and exit. Level 4 remains dedicated to Reserved Parking, so now with the addition, there are 1,871 reserved stalls total, giving travelers the flexibility to choose any open space on either level. Reserve your parking soon, as it’s expected to sell out during peak travel days. If you don’t have a reservation, allow more time to find space in General Parking, as drive-up levels will be busy.
90-minute grace period in General Parking for peak pickups/drop-offs
As part of our continued commitment to improving the customer experience during the busy holiday season, General Parking will provide a 90-minute parking grace period in the garage Monday, November 23 to Sunday, November 29, daily from 7 p.m. to midnight. Any customer who enters the garage during those times will receive 90 minutes of free parking, on the General Parking levels only. Skip the congested drives by using the newly opened Airport Expressway lane directly into the garage, pick up or drop off your party, and you’re out for FREE in under 90 minutes!
Passenger numbers
The Thanksgiving travel period is forecasted to bring about 875,000 travelers through SEA from November 25 to 30. Volumes are expected to be 1% above last year, with the busiest days projected to be:
- Wednesday, November 25 — 164,000 overall passengers through the airport (arriving, departing, and connecting)
- Sunday, November 29 — 164,000 passengers
- Tuesday, November 24 — 156,000 passengers
Overall, the busiest time of the year for SEA is the summer from June through August (unlike many other airports, which see their highest traffic during winter or spring holidays). Six of the top ten all-time volume days at SEA occurred this summer. The highest-volume day at SEA in 2026 was on August 3 at 202,000 overall passengers, just short of the overall record day on August 10, 2025 at 207,000.
Last chance for SEA Spot Saver
We’ve all loved SEA Spot Saver, but it’s time to say goodbye. The last reservations are good through November 29 but the program will sunset on November 30. Why? Our new Checkpoint 1 and additional lanes in Checkpoint 6 have brought long-term solutions to keep up with our growth while significantly reducing wait times. Thanks to all of you SEA Spot Saver fans!
Wait time displays show quick-moving lines!
Early is better than late, so plan ahead and know before you go. Check the real-time security checkpoint wait times, on the flySEA app, online, or on digital displays throughout the terminal. Recommended arrival times still apply for peak periods (two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights).
- Did you know? 99% of travelers at SEA get through checkpoints in 30 minutes or less, and 94% go through in 20 minutes or less! Be sure to thank your local TSA employees. A big reason is the new Checkpoint 1 on the south end of Baggage Claim and Checkpoint 6 being open again after a major redesign, with double the queuing space and triple the space to collect your bags and recompose after screening. Take a look at checkpoint information to find your easiest access.
- Try other Trusted Traveler options, such as TSA PreCheck, to see what works best for you. When in doubt at the terminal, SEA staff in green can guide you to the best queue, including Family and Military lanes. Use SEA’s interactive map for directions to the checkpoints, your gate, a favorite restaurant, or amenities.
What’s new with construction?
Haven’t been here for a while? Check out the latest facility openings including new dining, retail, airfield viewing, and relaxation spaces at the C Concourse Expansion; added drive lanes with roadway improvements; and the new SEA Gateway, adding convenience and efficiency with check-ins even on the skybridge level, plus restroom renovations with current major capital upgrades.
Transit info displays at Baggage Claim
As part of the SEA Gateway Project, you can now find live transit feed information on large, colorful display monitors on the Baggage Claim Level. Besides informational maps of the area, you’ll find real-time transit times for transportation options including airporters, shuttles, and public transit like the Link light rail and King County Metro buses. Plus, there’s more elbow room in Bag Claim, with better lighting, dozens of new temporary art pieces in new display cases, and new bag claim devices at 15 and 16 — next to 7-Eleven.
Quick trick — Avoid congestion by going farther down the drives to drop off or pick up travelers. It’s only a few doors farther, and there’s often more room to pull over.
During peak periods, avoid congestion on the drives by using alternatives including Link light rail, buses, app-based rideshares, taxis/limos, scheduled airporters, door-to-door van service, and shuttle service. Don’t forget Sound Transit launched services with the Crosslake Connection.
Elevator refurbishment — try the next bank!
Four of our five airport garage elevator banks have quietly been refurbished and upgraded. Currently the yellow banks are out of service, along with some purple cabs. Look for signs directing you to the next elevator bank for quicker access to the floor you need. Not to worry, as there are plenty of elevators in the garage — you just might have to go to the next set.
Go-to tips and tricks
Arrive early. Avoid feeling rushed — get to the terminal at least two hours before your boarding time for a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight. Factor in the time you need to travel from off-site parking or drop-offs to the terminal. More than one-third of SEA’s daily passenger volume arrives at the airport before 9 a.m., causing busy conditions on the airport drives and at TSA security checkpoints. Two more peak periods occur from 2 to 5 p.m. and from 9 to 11 p.m.
Avoid traffic. Bypass the congested Arrivals and Departures drives by using public transportation, airport parking, rideshares, a taxi/limo, a scheduled airporter, door-to-door van service, or a shuttle option. When picking someone up, briefly park in the SEA Airport parking garage, entering from the International Boulevard entrance to meet arriving travelers in the terminal, then exit together through the garage without ever using the drives. You can even pick up a coffee while you’re waiting!
Think opposite. If you choose to use the drives, use the lower Arrivals Drive instead of the upper Departures Drive during peak morning hours, and vice versa if you’re picking someone up in the evening. Or use whichever lane is moving faster — they all go to the same terminal.
Head straight to security. Check in for your flight ahead of time and download or print your boarding pass. Review your airline’s baggage policies; if you don’t need to check a bag, head straight to the security checkpoints. All checkpoints lead to all gates.
SEA is here to help. SEA Customer Care is available to support you before, during, and after your travel. Real people are providing real help on the phone, email, social media, or live chat. Once you’re at the airport, you can find our team in green from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the three Information Desks, near Checkpoint 1, by Checkpoint 4, and at Gate A6.
Try a social story for help traveling. The SEA Airport Social Story and Resource Guide is designed for travelers with autism or other invisible disabilities to repeatedly review with their family or caregivers prior to travel.
