The end of the summer is a busy time for that last vacation before the start of the school year. Those who haven’t visited Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) in a while will see new facilities and amenities to make that experience smoother and easier. The opening of the C Concourse Expansion added lanes with roadway improvements, and the new SEA Gateway completion provides major capital upgrades that include restroom renovations, checkpoint wait time tracking, transit feed displays, new dining and retail options, and creative, engaging art. Track what’s new at SEA and what to be aware of as upgrades continue.
Elevator refurbishment — try the next bank!
You might not realize it, but if you park in the airport garage, you’ve probably got a favorite area you head to and an elevator bank you use regularly. (Are you a blue, yellow, orange, purple, or green elevator user?). This also goes for finding ground transportation options, like rideshares and shuttles. Several of the parking garage elevators are getting refurbished, so there will be intermittent closures. Not to worry, as there are plenty of elevators in the garage — you just might have to go to the next set. Already three of the five banks have been completed and look great! 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.
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 in the flySEA app, online, and on digital displays throughout the terminal. Recommended arrival times still apply for peak periods (two hours before domestic 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.
Think ahead for airport parking
Reserve your parking now for Labor Day weekend travel to guarantee you’ll have a parking spot when you arrive. Reserved Parking in the SEA Airport garage is the most convenient parking option, with a dedicated entrance and seamless QR code entry and exit. If you don’t have a reservation, allow more time to find space in General Parking, as it will be busy as well.
Transit info displays at Bag 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 — which is next to 7-Eleven.
New lanes on Airport Expressway — and art!
Getting to the terminal by driving is easier than ever with two new lanes completed as part of the Roadway Improvements project. One lane goes directly to the parking garage, and the other gives shuttles and rideshare access to Floor 3. This leaves two dedicated lanes for public traffic on the lower drive. New art is coming to the canopy of the new pick-up/drop-off point for rental car shuttles, to the north of the lower drive. More art can also be seen on the bollards before entrance doors, like the upper drive near Door 29 with Rachael Comer’s bronze cake titled Enough to go around.
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.
Passenger numbers
The Labor Day travel period is forecasted to bring about 1 million travelers through SEA from September 3 to 8. Volumes are expected to be on par with last year, with the busiest days projected to be:
- Thursday, September 3 — 180,000 overall passengers through the airport (arriving, departing, and connecting)
- Friday, September 4 — 180,000 passengers
- Monday, September 7 — 180,000 passengers
For context, the highest-volume day at SEA was in August 2025, at 207,000 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).
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.
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.
