Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Guide
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is a major hub for Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines.
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Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (more commonly known as its airport code, SEA) has a single terminal with six concourses. This makes it easy to access all its amenities — including its 10 lounges — no matter where you’re flying. The airport, one of the busiest in the U.S., serves as a hub for Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines.
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SEA airport map
SEA has the Central Terminal, which connects A, B, S, C, N and D gates. This map shows you how the airport is laid out:
Although you can walk to most gates from the Central Terminal, you will need to use the shuttle train if you’re flying from either S or N gates.
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Airlines that fly to SEA
There are 36 airlines that fly to SEA:
- Aer Lingus.
- Aeromexico.
- Air Canada.
- Air France.
- Air Tahiti Nui.
- Alaska Airlines.
- American Airlines.
- ANA.
- Asiana Airlines.
- British Airways.
- China Airlines.
- Condor.
- Delta Air Lines.
- Emirates.
- EVA Air.
- Finnair.
- Frontier Airlines.
- Hainan Airlines.
- Hawaiian Airlines.
- Icelandair.
- Japan Airlines.
- JetBlue Airways.
- Korean Air.
- Lufthansa.
- Philippine Airlines.
- Qatar Airways.
- Singapore Airlines.
- Southwest Airlines.
- Spirit Airlines.
- Starlux Airlines.
- Sun Country Airlines.
- Turkish Airlines.
- United Airlines.
- Virgin Atlantic.
- Volaris.
- WestJet.
» Learn more: The best airline this year
Central Terminal
Central Terminal is the only terminal at Seattle airport, which makes it fairly simple to navigate.
Lounges
Seattle airport has 10 lounges:
- The Club at SEA:
- A Concourse, near gate A12.
- S Concourse, mezzanine level, above gate S10.
- Alaska Lounge:
- C Concourse, near gate C16A.
- N Concourse, mezzanine level, above gate N15.
- D Concourse, near gate D1.
- The American Express Centurion Lounge: Central Terminal, mezzanine level, above the food court.
- British Airways Terraces Lounge: S Concourse, near gate S10.
- Delta Sky Club: A Concourse, near gate A1.
- United Club: A Concourse, near gate A9.
- USO lounge: Above Checkpoint 3, mezzanine level.
» Learn more: The guide to lounges at Seattle Airport
Security and customs
Security checkpoints
There are four main checkpoints currently open at SEA airport; Checkpoint 5 is closed for construction. Each checkpoint has access to every gate, though different checkpoints offer different services, including TSA PreCheck and CLEAR lanes.
TSA PreCheck
TSA PreCheck lets registered travelers bypass some security measures, such as removing laptops from their bags. TSA PreCheck is available at two checkpoints:
- Checkpoint 1.
- Checkpoint 4.
CLEAR
CLEAR+® is a membership program designed to let you speed through airport security lines using dedicated CLEAR lanes. It works with both TSA PreCheck and standard security queues. You can find CLEAR lanes at three checkpoints:
- Checkpoint 1.
- Checkpoint 2.
- Checkpoint 4.
SEA Spot Saver
SEA Spot Saver lets you reserve a time to go through security rather than needing to wait in the regular line. It’s available at two checkpoints:
- Checkpoint 2.
- Checkpoint 3.
Global Entry
Sea-Tac provides Global Entry services for those returning from international flights. Global Entry is a trusted traveler program that lets you bypass the standard immigration line.
» Learn more: TSA PreCheck vs. Global Entry: Which is better?
Sea-Tac airport transportation
Sea-Tac airport parking
Sea-Tac has one main parking garage. You can either reserve a spot in advance or drive up:
- Reserved: $47 per day.
- Drive-up: $8 hourly, $37 daily, $222 weekly.
Accessible parking is available in the main garage, as is motorcycle parking and EV parking.
Rental cars
If you’re looking to rent a car at SEA, you’ll need to catch a shuttle to its offsite lot. There are two passenger pickup areas on the baggage claim level, one at the north end and one at the south end.
Rental car companies at SEA
- Alamo.
- Avis.
- Budget.
- Dollar.
- Enterprise.
- Fox Rent A Car.
- Hertz.
- National.
- Payless.
- Rent-A-Wreck.
- Sixt.
- Thrifty Car Rental.
Public transit
The Seattle airport is well connected with public transit, with buses and light rail available.
The light rail comes from downtown Seattle and takes 38 minutes to get to the airport. It’s also inexpensive at just $3 one-way for a standard adult fare.
If you’re not located on the light rail line, you can choose to use the bus. With bus service throughout Seattle, you’ll pay as little as $3.25 for your ride.
Uber and Lyft rideshare services are available for passengers, with pickups on the third floor of the parking garage.
Taxis are also available at SEA. Passengers can choose a metered taxi or a flat-rate taxi. Flat-rate taxis charge a specific rate based on the ZIP code to which you’re traveling.
Top photo courtesy of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
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