April 5, 2023
Life seems different in so many ways after the last few years, but one thing that remains constant is a busy airport. PNW travelers are back at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and spring and summer 2023 promise to be among the busiest on record. We have rounded up the best digital assistants to keep you up to date and get you to your spring and summer destinations as easily as possible. They may not all be apps, but they are all digital helpers to help you travel happier.
Take a look at apps that we’ve covered in the past:
- Apps for the Airport (2022)
- Apps for When You’re Hungry and in a Hurry (2019)
- Apps for the Airport (2018)
Know before you go
Travel tips for SEA Airport
Find out the latest airport news and get travel tips to make your trip the best it can be.
Hopper
Hopper claims to save you an average of $65 per flight by giving you access to flash deals on travel, including flights, hotels, and rental cars. The app is free to use but you pay for your purchases. Hopper is an accredited travel agency so there are real people to help you when things go wrong.
Free
iOs and Android
FlySEA App
The FlySEA app has everything you need for a better trip, including TSA security checkpoint wait times and flight information. Plus a shopping and dining directory, step by step map directions, details on airport accessibility, and ground transportation tips. And links to SEA Visitor Pass, SEA Spot Saver, Mobile Ordering and gate delivery, and much more.
Free
iOS and Android
SEA Airport Drive Cams
Picking up or dropping off? Check the SEA Airport Drive cams on the SEA website to see what’s happening with traffic.
Pre-booked Parking
Pre-Booked Parking lets you book and pay for SEA Airport parking before your arrival. Drive your own vehicle and scan your booking QR code on your phone at garage entry and exit. There's no need to pull a ticket, no trip on a shuttle bus, or ride in a third-party vehicle.
Pro tip: Be warned that parking is very busy this season; allow an extra 45 minutes to find a spot. Or better yet, take alternate transportation.
Here are some options:
- Pick up your passenger at a Link Light Rail station one stop away from SEA Airport.
- Take a taxi
- Or use these rideshare websites to request transportation from SEA
SEA Visitor Pass
Picking up a relative who needs a little extra help at the gate? Need every last second with your college student until they board the plane? SEA Visitor Pass gives you access beyond the security checkpoints even if you are not flying that day. Have a leisurely lunch, pick up grandma at the gate, and get an extra hug (or two) before they leave.
Skip the lines
Bags First entry at IAF
In past articles, we have recommended the Mobile Passport App. With the new Bags First process at the International Arrivals Facility (IAF) at SEA, you no longer have to show your passport when entering the country. Unless you opt out of facial recognition technology, you will pick up your bags and walk through the terminal and your face will be matched with your existing passport photo to speed your entrance. The photo of you at the airport will be deleted shortly after your arrival.
But using the Mobile Passport Control App can speed your entrance process even more.
Updated Mobile Passport Control App
As of February 2022, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has updated the Mobile Passport Control app (MPC). Using this free, secure (and optional) app on your mobile device, you can answer customs questions in advance for up to 12 family members and present one QR code for your group. This streamlines your entry into the U.S. by reducing passport control inspection time, and shortening wait times.
Previous versions of the app forward to this new app, so be sure to download the new version.
Here’s how it works:
1. Create a profile with your passport information, name, gender, date of birth, and country of citizenship
2. Upon landing in the United States, take a photo of yourself and answer a series of CBP inspection-related questions
3. Submit the transaction through the app, and you will get an electronic receipt with an encrypted QR code
4. Look for a dedicated line for Mobile Passport users
5. Bring your physical passport, mobile device, and QR to a CBP officer
6. Scan your QR code
7. You’re done! No more putting your bags back on the belt and collecting them at bag claim!
Free; or $14.99 per year for ad-free premium version
Applicable for: U.S. and Canadian Citizens
SEA Spot Saver
What’s better than waiting in line at the airport? Soooooo many things, like shopping, wandering, getting your steps in, stretching out, making a phone call to your loved ones, and reading a magazine. You told us you wanted to skip the lines at the airport and get a more efficient screening experience without the extra cost of other trusted traveler programs. And SEA Spot Saver was created just for SEA travelers.
Reserve your spot in line at SEA with SEA Spot Saver. It's free and easy! This is technically a website, not an app, but it will have a big (positive) impact on your airport experience.
Free
- Save your spot in the TSA security line
My TSA
The MyTSA app gives you 24/7 access to the most frequently requested airport security information, like tips to prepare for security, including a searchable database of items that can (and can’t) go in checked or carry-on bags.
In this app, you can also:
- Search allowed items that you can bring through the checkpoint
- Check the delay information at any U.S. airport
- Check the trends for TSA checkpoints at any airport on your specific day and time of travel (based on historical data)
- Consult a guide on how to prepare for and get through the security checkpoint quickly
- Discover which airports and airlines support TSA PreCheck®
- Sign up for TSA PreCheck®
- Request live assistance from TSA
Free
iOS and Android
CLEAR
CLEAR PLUS is a trusted traveler program that operates at more than 40 U.S. airports (including SEA) and gets you through dedicated security entry lanes with a retina scan or fingerprint. The member app features Home-to-Gate, a feature that registers traffic data, terminal walking times, and suggests when to leave for the airport. Plus, schedule a ride with Uber from inside the CLEAR app to help you get to the airport on time. Available only in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Note: the App is free; membership to the CLEAR program is $189 per year, plus $60 each for up to three additional travelers
iOS and Android
Help is just a swipe away
SayHi
SayHi puts an interpreter in your pocket. It’s a live translation app that allows you to have a conversation in two languages and hear your voice translated instantly. It can be used if you want to learn a new language, travel to a foreign country, or chat with people who don't speak your language. Language support is included for the following languages: Afrikaans, Arabic, Bengali, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Chinese (Cantonese - Traditional), Chinese (Mandarin), Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Fijan, Filipino, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Hindi, Hmong Daw, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Malagasy, Malay, Maltese, Norwegian, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Slovenian, Samoan, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish, Tamil, Thai, Tongon, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Vietnamese, Welsh
Free with no advertising or premium features
Be My Eyes
Need a pair of sharp eyes? Or have some sight to lend? Be My Eyes is a simple, free tool to see the world better, together. It connects a global community of volunteers and people who need a little extra support with everyday tasks. If you’re looking for help reading small print or signs, an airport display or menu, traveling and navigating, or any other simple tasks, you can call a volunteer anywhere in the world 24/7 for help over live video. Or you can register to volunteer and help others. Tasks are usually completed in just a few minutes, and if you’re busy there’s no need to answer — someone else will get it. Millions of multi-lingual people have volunteered to help 24/7 to answer calls in more than 185 languages. Assistance for specialized or more complicated tasks is also available.
Free
On the ground
TripIt
We’ve covered TripIt in the past as a great way to automate and organize your travel itinerary in one place. But the updated app now provides safety scores for the neighborhood you’re staying in, particularly helpful for female, solo, and LGBTQIA travelers.
Read more about how to use this feature from That Anxious Traveler.com
Free
iOS and Android
Tacoma City Walks
The GPSMyCity app provides you with several self-guided city walks, including walk route maps and powerful navigation features. You can explore the city on your own, at your own pace, and at a cost that is only a fraction of what you would normally pay for a guided tour. Designed to be used offline with no need for cell phone or wifi connectivity.
Free to download with ads and in-app purchases. You can review the attractions and use the functional offline maps. A subscription (ranging from $12.99 to $18.99) is required to access the walk route maps and use turn-by-turn navigation.
Tacoma Japantown Walking Tour
Learn about the historic Nihonmachi (Japantown) of Tacoma, Washington on a guided walking tour. Included in the application is a map showing points of interest, historic and modern photos of each location, as well as links to essays and notes about this historic area that have been compiled by historian Michael Sullivan and writer Tamiko Nimura. Join a walking tour on May 18 for the Day of Remembrance on which local Japanese-Americans left Tacoma during WW II.
Free
TREAD Map
This app is your perfect guide for sustainable outdoor recreation in Washington State. It will help you find less crowded or dog-friendly trails, assess local conditions, and notify you of closures or hazards. Powered by local experts, TREAD Map is the official outdoor recreation app from State of Washington Tourism, and partners TREAD consulting and Dharma Maps.
Free
