The holiday season is fast approaching, and construction walls are coming down around security Checkpoint 6 at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), plus new dining and retail options, renovated restrooms, and art. In addition, SEA is making pick-up and drop-off easier for the holidays with the first 90 minutes in General Parking free during the busiest holiday travel weeks. As always, use SEA’s travel tips to plan ahead and make your journey easier.
Redesigned, spacious Checkpoint 6 opening
After closing nearly a year ago, Checkpoint 6 on the north end of the Ticketing Lobby reopens Monday, November 17 as part of the SEA Gateway Project. The redesign has doubled the queuing space and tripled the recompose area after screening. It provides six efficient security lanes and features dramatic high ceilings, public art, and expanded restrooms.
Checkpoint 6 has quick access to the D and N Concourses and will offer General, PreCheck, Touchless ID, Premium, and CLEAR+ screening options for passengers. Besides renovated men’s and women’s restrooms, the redesign makes several amenities available pre-security for the first time: a companion care restroom with an adult changing table, a nursing room, and a water fountain and refill station.
This checkpoint remodel follows the June opening of the new Checkpoint 1 on the south end of Baggage Claim. Both projects are part of the rolling $5 billion worth of Upgrade SEA capital projects. Check the latest layout of traveler services in this checkpoint map to find your easiest access.
First 90 minutes free in General Parking
Make airport pick-up and drop-off easier this holiday season. Get your first 90 minutes free in General Parking November 24-30 and December 22-28, 7 p.m. to midnight only. This option allows you to avoid congestion on the drives and head straight out from the airport parking garage. Reserved Parking for Thanksgiving week is selling fast, and those planning ahead should reserve now for December holiday travel. In addition, be sure to use the parking guidance system with the red and green availability lights to find an open stall more quickly.
Expressway construction
Roadway Improvements construction continues. It makes the roads look challenging, but the same number of lanes are still available on both drives. New lanes have opened for the upper Departures drive, while lower Arrivals drive access is being shifted to temporary lanes to the west. This allows for new grading below. Eventually, two entire new lanes will be added by spring 2026.
Travelers can avoid the congestion on the airport drives by using alternatives to driving, including Link light rail, public transit, app-based rideshares, taxi/limos, scheduled airporters, door-to-door van service, and shuttle service.
Bag Claim construction clearing up!
More good news: All the cramped scaffolding on the Baggage Claim level that was part of the SEA Gateway Project, has come down, bringing us closer to completion. Two new bag claim devices have been installed at 15 and 16, replacing outdated designs. Dozens of new art pieces have found homes in new display cases, and you’ll notice better lighting and updated ceiling tiles. Yay!
More space at north Ticketing and Bridge Level check-in
Another section of easy check-in and bag drop is available on the north end of the Alaska Airlines Ticketing Level. The new technology is part of the SEA Gateway Project, which also includes recently added Bridge Level check-in areas along the skybridges from the airport garage. You can use this check-in area even if you’re not coming from the garage.
Looking for something new to try?
Stop by new, recently opened dining and retail locations:
- Baggage Claim level near Bag Claims 15-16 — 7-Eleven
- International Arrivals Hall — Kawaii Treats
- Ticketing level near Checkpoint 5 — Neighborhood Cafe
- Near Gate A1 — Lowrider Cookie Company, Wunderground Coffee, and Theo Chocolate
- Near Gate C10 — Hudson Non-Stop with Amazon “Just Walk Out” technology and Skillet Diner
- Near Gate A10 — Seattle Beer Union
- Central Terminal — Skittles Remix and CVS vending machines
- Near Gate N19 — Emerald City Market
Passenger numbers to know
From Wednesday, November 26 to Monday, December 1, just over 900,000 travelers will travel through SEA. Passenger traffic is estimated to be up 1% from 2024 over the entire holiday period, which begins next Thursday, November 20 and ends Monday, December 1. The busiest days are projected to be:
- Sunday, November 30 — 180,000 estimated overall travelers (arriving, departing, and connecting)
- Wednesday, November 26 — 170,000 passengers
- Monday, December 1 — 166,000 passengers
SEA is here to help
SEA’s Customer Care team is available to support passengers before, during, and after their trips. Real help is available by phone, email, social media, or chat support through Customer Care Connect, which offers closed captions and translations in more than 60 languages. Once you’re at the airport, you can find our team in green from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the two Information Desks or use Customer Care Connect touchscreens at the Information Desks by Checkpoint 4 and Gate A6.
Real ID is in place
REAL ID is here — be ready! The REAL ID Act requires anyone traveling by airplane to use a REAL ID-compliant document. Check the full list of accepted ID documents or look up information through the Washington State Department of Licensing. If you don’t have a Real ID–compliant document, be aware that it may take you longer to get through security checkpoints.
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 9:00 a.m., causing busy conditions on the airport drives and at TSA security checkpoints. Two more peak periods occur from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. and from 9:00 to 11:00 p.m.
Take advantage of SEA Spot Saver. Secure a spot in line to make the security checkpoint process easier. Checkpoint wait times are currently not available online, on the flySEA App, or in the terminal, but staff in green can guide you to the best queue for you. Use SEA’s interactive map for directions to the checkpoints, your gate, a favorite restaurant, or amenities.
Avoid traffic. Bypass the congested Arrivals and Departures drives by using public transportation, airport parking, rideshare, taxi/limo, 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, and if you don’t need to check a bag, head straight to the security checkpoints.
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.
Contact
Kassie McKnight-Xi | Aviation Communications and Marketing Manager
(206) 787-5940 | [email protected]
