Record numbers over the last few weeks set the stage for what will be a busy upcoming Labor Day weekend travel period at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). The record for the largest passenger volume day ever at SEA was broken twice in August. Those numbers are not expected to be surpassed for the holiday, but it will still be busy. Plan ahead to use a Trusted Traveler option to get you through TSA security checkpoints faster.
New lanes pay off at checkpoints
The four new lanes added at two SEA security checkpoints (Checkpoints 2 and 3) beginning in June have paid off for travelers this summer. In July, 93% of all travelers went through checkpoints in less than 30 minutes, with 74% under 20 minutes. For the year, 91% of travelers have made it through checkpoints in under 30 minutes. Kudos also go to our partners with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and our line management team with VIP!
Be aware: Major construction is underway, especially the SEA Gateway project near Alaska Airlines ticketing and Checkpoint 1 relocation in Gina Marie Lindsey Arrivals Hall. Learn more about current construction projects at Upgrade SEA and track all of the latest construction impacts.
Use Trusted Traveler options for faster security screening
Want to make sure you get through security checkpoints in the fastest way possible? Reserve your spot with the FREE SEA Spot Saver program or enter your TSA PreCheck information with your airline. If you don’t already use Expedited Security Screening Programs, learn more about them for your next trip and start the process now.
Summer breaks records
SEA had its busiest days in history twice this August — first on Sunday, August 11 (75,407 screened passengers), and again on Sunday, August 18 (75,410 screened passengers). The previous all-time record for most passengers ever at SEA in one day was held by what’s fondly called the “Swiftie Bump” of 2023, set after a weekend of Taylor Swift concerts in Seattle.
Numbers to know
- New record: 75,410 passengers screened through security checkpoints, amounting to about 198,000 total airport passengers
- Record month: July was the largest single month in passenger volume ever at SEA with 5.48 million passengers, up 3.8% from July 2019
- Top 10: Nine of the top 10 all-time passenger volume days have happened in 2024
This Labor Day weekend
Here are the expected total passengers for August 28 through September 3:
- Wednesday, August 28: 152,000
- Thursday, August 29: 179,000
- Friday, August 30: 187,000
- Saturday, August 31: 155,000
- Sunday, September 1: 163,000
- Monday, September 2: 193,000
- Tuesday, September 3: 156,000
For the above period, checkpoint volumes are projected to be up about 9% from 2023.
Travel tips for the holiday
- Start here with all of our Travel Tips for SEA Airport.
- Arrive early. Be in the terminal at least two hours before your boarding time for a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight. Include travel times from off-site parking or drop-offs. More than one-third of SEA’s daily passenger volume arrives at the airport before 9:00 a.m., causing busy conditions at TSA security checkpoints and on the drives. Two more peak periods occur from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. and from 9:00 to 11:00 p.m.
- Avoid a traffic jam. Try alternate ways to get to the airport, so you avoid the congested drives. Use public transportation, airport parking, a taxi/limo, a rideshare, a scheduled airporter, a door-to-door van service, or a shuttle option.
- Think opposite. If driving to the curb is your only option, use the Lower Arrivals Drive to drop off during peak hours, or use the Upper Departures Drive to pick up. Or just use whichever lane is moving faster — they both go to the same building!
- Try SEA Reserved Parking. Reserve a space on Floor 4 for a minimum two-day stay. From there, it’s just a short walk across the skybridge to the terminal. Reservations during the holiday period are filling quickly. We recommend reserving at least two weeks in advance for best availability.
- If you’re parking at the airport garage, look for the green lights indicating open parking stalls. The Automated Parking Guidance System helps you find a spot faster!
Ready to check in
- No bags to check and boarding pass in hand? Go straight to the security checkpoint and avoid the check-in desks.
- Be prepped with your airlines ahead of time. Check their baggage policies, check yourself in, and have all their apps downloaded for efficient travel. See our best baggage tips.
- Don’t forget your boarding passes or your bag tags or whatever you can do ahead of time.
Security checkpoint options
- Be ready for security checkpoints. SEA and TSA want to help you move through as quickly as possible. Travelers are required to remove any electronic device larger than a cell phone from their carry-on luggage. Also remove foods and liquids from your carry-on luggage and prepare to hold up your boarding pass for review. Review the latest Identification and Documentation Requirements.
- Going to Mexico or another international destination for your holiday? Download the Mobile Passport Control app before you leave home. Add your travel details as you land back at SEA. Collect your bags and go straight to a dedicated line in the International Arrivals Facility. Your entire family can complete the customs process from a single mobile device, available for U.S. and Canadian citizens and those with a green card.
- Check out more at SEA Airport travel tips
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About Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Operated by the Port of Seattle, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) serves the people of the Pacific Northwest with essential services, access to hundreds of domestic and global destinations, and economic activity that supports tens of thousands of jobs and produces $22 billion in economic activity. SEA has earned the highest U.S. ranking in Skytrax’s World’s Top 100 Airports for the third year in a row, two consecutive years as Best Airport in North America (2022/2023), and a 4-Star Skytrax Rating, focused on customer-centered travel with better services, facilities, and amenities. SEA totaled over 50.8 million passengers in 2023 — down just 1.8% from 2019 — with a forecast to exceed pre-pandemic traveler volumes in 2024. Thirty-six airlines serve 93 nonstop domestic and 33 international destinations including Canada, Mexico, and seasonal operations.
For more information about our U.S. Top 12 airport, visit www.flysea.org and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Every day. Elevate.
Contact
Chris Guizlo | SEA Airport
(206) 787-3433 | [email protected]
