Seattle Sea-Tac Airport Passenger Reviews and Seattle Airport Traveller Reports   No Star Ranking Awarded         Add your Seattle Airport Review   Seattle Airport Star Ranking     Customer Review scoring : Seattle Airport   6.6 out of 10 55 reviews

	SEATTLE SEA-TAC AIRPORT customer review :  6 August 2012 by Francis Chiu    (Canada)
	Rating : 1/10 Queuing Cleanliness Facilities Recommended	It was my first time travelling through SEA-Tac on a flight to Toronto Canada. The airport is behind the modern times. I was very surprised by the inefficiency of the airport operations. the centralized intake for security check is a joke. The hall way is packed with passengers, it was so difficult to move through. Lines are everywhere, from check-in counter, TSA, even merchant shops. I was in the line waiting for a starbucks coffee, and was in the line for over 10 minutes, finally had to give up in order to catch the plane. I would avoid this airport all together. One of the worst airport in the US.

	SEATTLE SEA-TAC AIRPORT customer review :  1 August 2012 by Bill Wallace    (USA)
	Rating : 3/10 Queuing Cleanliness Facilities Recommended	My wife and I connected through SeaTac on our way to/from Alaska during July 2012. We found it to be one of the filthiest airports that we had ever been in. I travel extensively throughout the USA for business and SeaTac ranks right up there with Miami, LaGuardia and Newark as one of the nastiest airports that I've flown through (the concourses were dirty, restrooms were filthy, and the drinking fountains were also dirty.

	SEATTLE SEA-TAC AIRPORT customer review :  10 February 2012 by Mary Vargas    (USA)
	Rating : 9/10 Queuing Cleanliness Facilities Recommended	I've been several times before, but this was the first time flying with small children and the first time spending more than a few hours waiting due to a cancelled flight. We were very impressed. There were a few open areas to could sit down with all of our stuff and let the kids play. Everyone was helpful and polite. We purchased lunch from Quiznos, food was delicious and staff talked with my children about what there is to do and see at the airport. We ended up waiting 6 hours for our flight, but overall, it wasn't a negative experience and I credit the airport personnel for that. They kept us up to date, gave suggestions as to where to eat.

	SEATTLE SEA-TAC AIRPORT customer review :  25 January 2012 by Tatiana Martin    (USA)
	Rating : 2/10 Queuing Cleanliness Facilities Recommended	This is a very inefficient airport. The check-in desks are spread out and it takes 5 minutes to walk from one end to the other, from there the security screening areas are on the opposite side again. Lucky there is a train that shuttles you to the satellite terminals, I was expecting to walk. The terminals themselves should be updated, in the age of technology, SeaTac should update their outlets. Given that only 30% work and the ones that do are located in the most awkward positions. In addition the light rail train is located on the opposite side of the parking garage, and does not accept credit cards, making you walk all the way back into the middle of the terminal to find an ATM. Overall I am very disappointed with the experiences that I have had with this airport over the years that I have been using it.

	SEATTLE SEA-TAC AIRPORT customer review :  14 December 2011 by A Gluck    (USA)
	Rating : 9/10 Queuing Cleanliness Facilities Recommended	Very diverse airport with lots of interesting offerings. Not all of the airport is up-to-date. Outstanding use of natural light (such as there is in Seattle) in the central terminal concession area. Great use of local restaurants and stores. Easy to get around and well-signed.

	Seattle Sea-Tac Airport customer review :  17 October 2011 by M McManus    (UK)
	Rating : 8/10 Queuing Cleanliness Facilities	Flew into SEA and used it as a base to fly back and forth to other US destinations during a tour. This meant I used the airport about 6 times in a week, using different terminals so feel well placed to rate it. Immigration lines on arrival were pretty long, and immigration officials were characteristically prickly. Airport transfer to downtown via shuttle buses was cheap ($12.50 one way) and efficient. Wi-fi in the airport is completely free and a good connection. Tram connects all the terminals, and airport is well sign posted. Trams connecting terminals leave every two minutes and often have announcements in mutiple languages. Restaurants and gift shops either side of security, with excellent choice and high quality offered. The only let down is the S terminal. Here, the choice of restaurants was very limited, and the food there was not good. In addition, this was the one terminal where I had difficulty with the wi-fi connection. However this is one of the best airports I have ever used.

Seattle Sea-Tac Airport customer review :  23 September 2011 by Rob Payne   (UK)

Customer Rating :  3/5

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Immigration queues about 15 mins long, over an hour to recover our bags from the carousel (747 flight) and I personally found navigating the airport difficult with a lack of decent signage. We headed for the airport shuttle and although we arrived at this airport twice within a couple of weeks, still found it difficult to find. Plenty of food/drink outlets. The 2nd time we arrived aboard a 737, our bags arrived on the carousel within about 25 mins. Airport was clean and tidy. Queues at the desk were short and only 10 mins or so to get through security. Why can't immigration officers smile every once in a while?

Seattle Sea-Tac Airport customer review :  11 September 2011 by M Squires   (UK)

Customer Rating :  2/5

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A good clean, modern airport. Use it once or twice a year, however as per usual again the departure was a shambles. I waited at least 40mins in the security queue, people are not advised what they can or can't take through security until they reach the x-ray machines. Greeted by a large security man yelling at us like a circus lion, I didn't understand a word he was saying and asked if he could stop shouting and talk slowly and clearly. Could I suggest Seattle, that you do as other airports do and have a security station, as we do in London before folk get in the queue. Allow at least 1 hr to get through security. Wake up to these security issues, do you homework before you fly.

SEATTLE SEA-TAC AIRPORT customer review :  6 September 2011 by Jon Ball   (USA)

Customer Rating :  4/5

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Surprised how smoothly our check-in and security was. Everyone was so helpful and polite. We did make the mistake of eating at the Quiznos inside the airport (we had not seen the other reviews warning against that). Food was awful and the employees were the first rude people we had encountered in Seattle. We ended up spending more on money on food than planned because we couldn't eat what we had ordered at Quiznos. However, the food and the employees were wonderful at the Japanese place where we ended up.

SEATTLE SEA-TAC AIRPORT customer review :  18 August 2011 by David Stein   (USA)

Customer Rating :  5/5

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A delightful airport to transit through. Easy layout to negotiate. A large and naturally lit central dining area that is very relaxed. Sea-Tac is definitely one of the more attractive and inviting airports I have seen in the US.

SEATTLE SEA-TAC AIRPORT customer review :  18 August 2011 by Sarah Wallsmith   (USA)

Customer Rating :  4/5

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Easy layout with great transportation to get there. The main concourse has many places to eat and shop. It is always very clean and I've never had a problem making a flight because of security lines. My only is advice is to avoid the Quiznos in terminal B. The food is sub par but they are the only place in that terminal, so I think they know they don't have to try very hard. My advice - get something from one of the great places in the main terminal or C or D.

SEATTLE SEA-TAC AIRPORT customer review :  29 July 2011 by Anthony Adams   (USA)

Customer Rating :  5/5

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Flying from Seattle to Tampa the ticket counter workers were very respectful and clean. Going through security was good as well. But the TSA are very rude. My gate was B17 So it wasn't far to walk from security. There are plenty of restaurants, stores, and bathrooms available.

SEATTLE SEA-TAC AIRPORT customer review :  22 July 2011 by Brendan Adams   (USA)

Customer Rating :  5/5

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This airport is great. The atmosphere is really nice and getting through security is a breeze. My flight got cancelled once and my family was at the back of a line to get a new flight when a random worker came up and got us a flight closer to our destination. There are Starbucks in every food court and at every gate, plus lots of magazine and book stores along with restaurants if you have extra time and would like to sit down. The gates are comfortable as well.

SEATTLE SEA-TAC AIRPORT customer review :  23 March 2011 by C Pelham   (USA)

Customer Rating :  1/5

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I experienced my worst security queuing experience at this airport. I was directed into a massive line, which was moving very slowly. About 60 minutes later when I got close enough to see the actual checkpoints, I found out why. "Elite" (high mileage, first class, etc.) passengers were being given priority at every checkpoint. Well, there was a virtually continuous stream of such passengers, so many of them got though in only seconds or minutes, while us steerage passengers waited an hour to get to the same point. When I finally passed this bottleneck, during my long walk to the gate, I saw that there were many other much smaller security checkpoints, with no lines, further on down the hallway that I could have used instead. Despite arriving almost two hours before my departure time, my flight was almost done boarding when I got to the gate! A miserable airport, one that I hope to never visit again.

SEATTLE SEA-TAC AIRPORT customer review :  20 July 2010 by G Erichsen   (USA)

Customer Rating :  4/5

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A big plus for this airport is the light rail. Two of us (adult and child) were able to take a commuter train from Everett (about 40 miles north of the airport) with an easy connection in downtown Seattle for a total of $12. There's an excellent food court with fair prices in the center of the airport, but pickings can be slim in the concourses and especially in the satellite terminals. This might not be the best airport for people who don't mind walking a bit.

SEATTLE SEA-TAC AIRPORT customer review :  16 July 2010 by S Koenig   (USA)

Customer Rating :  5/5

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The airport has a relatively modern, albeit somewhat chaotic feel. The proximity of the light rail station, allowing quick and inexpensive access to downtown Seattle, is a definite plus (it is located at the far end of the northern parking garage - best to ask for directions). Getting to the airport terminal to check-in can be confusing. Hotel and other courtesy vans let out passengers not next to the terminal, but across the access road next to the parking garage. I saw no crosswalks across that road. To get to the main terminal you need to get to one of the elevators in the parking garages to take you to a skywalk (bridge) over the access road to the terminal, then find a second elevator to go up to the departures level. We almost rented one of the baggage carts in the parking garage, but were glad we used a skycap, due to the confusing route to our check-in counter. There seemed to be a dearth of rest rooms in the check-in areas. As noted, a bit of a walk to the security line (with special entrance for First Class passengers), then down 2 (more?) escalators to get to the train to the "S" terminal for our flight. We did get our exercise departing from this airport.

SEATTLE SEA-TAC AIRPORT customer review :  29 May 2010 by P Cadelina   (USA)

Customer Rating :  4/5

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They have been remodeling this airport for the past 20 years but some things have not changed. The ticket counter check in is old style and cramps the terminal area if heavy flights are queuing. Alaska is the only airline there that I know of with kiosk check in. Security is bad, TSA staff is rude compared to other airports. Security area is cramped and not efficient. Long walks to the gate areas except for Alaska who is the main tenant here. There are two satellite terminals connected by an underground tram. International runs out of the south satellite. After customs you have to put your bags on the conveyer then go to baggage claim in the main terminal to reclaim them. Parking is a mess. Rental cars are currently in the parking garage but plans are to move them away which will mean shuttles to and from. Food services are the only bright spot here. Plenty to choose from at the gates and the food is quite good.

SEATTLE SEA-TAC AIRPORT customer review :  7 March 2010 by S McMillan   (USA)

Customer Rating :  4/5

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I’ve been traveling to Seattle quite often. The best thing about the Seattle airport is the fact that they have a Link light rail station connected via walk-way to the airport. For $2.50 I can get from the airport to less than a block away from my corporate office. And for an additional $6.90 I can ride the ferry over to Bainbridge to meet up with my parents. (The ferry is free heading back into Seattle.) I generally fly Virgin America which seems to be assigned gates in Siberia. Rumor has it there are more dining choices at the food court which is good, since pick’ins are pretty slim down by the low number gates. There is a Starbucks adjacent to the concourse, so at least you can get something there while you are waiting on your flight. The airport itself seems to be clean and well maintained. Baggage handling is prompt and the security lines move quickly and are staffed by friendly people.

SEATTLE SEA-TAC AIRPORT customer review :  31 January 2010 by Lijing Han   (China)

Customer Rating :  3/5

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Connecting flights coming from overseas? Seattle airport is set up to receive only one type of connecting flight, the kind where the airport of origin can tag your bags through to the final destination. However, when coming from some developing countries where your final destination (in the US) cannot be on your international itinerary, the airports will not tag your bags through to the final destination. As a result, when exiting customs in Seattle and given the choice of leaving security or going the route of "connecting flights" one should choose to leave security and collect their bags at the baggage claim of their international airlines, then recheck in with their domestic airline. If your domestic flight is not on the same itinerary as your international flight (eg. you booked it online, but your international flight was bought overseas) then the connecting flight sky hops have no idea where to send your bag (it's not on the tag). The main reason for this is that they "assume" your bags are checked through to your final destination. They fail to ask this important question and do not realize that every customer does not have the background to distinguish that there are multiple kinds of "connecting flights." However, if they do not ask you the airline and CITY where you want your bag to go, it will be lost in the airport. The airport is not small and you will be walking back and forth between the international baggage claim and your domestic airlines trying to figure out where the bags went. This is a common problem at this airport, as reported to me by the lost baggage clerk in San Diego. He said that military coming from Narita, through Seattle, have this issue all the time. If the Sky Hop does not ask you where you want your bag to go, make sure you tell him. If he says "we'll take care of everything" make sure that you discuss the destination as part of the "everything." Most likely he will tell you to take your bag off of the conveyer belt that is headed to another airline and put it on the belt that will take it to the international baggage claim. (In Seattle, after going through customs, the passenger takes a tram to the other terminals, but the bags go on special conveyer belts, either to the next airplane, or to the baggage claim). Please, be careful. If you are not, you may have a very difficult time finding your bag, or anyone who knows where your bag went.

SEATTLE SEA-TAC AIRPORT customer review :  20 November 2009 by K Hulick   (USA)

Customer Rating :  4/5

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Seatac is one of the best laid-out US. airports. The main terminal is open and easy to navigate. There is food service on both sides of security. All security lanes go to the same gate areas, so you can easily just walk to the shortest station, not necessarily the one right by your airline. There are maybe 5 or 6 security stations - quick and efficient (or as efficient as the TSA can be). Parking is challenging, with spaces full even on low-traffic days. But the ease of airport navigation makes up for the parking problems.

SEATTLE SEA-TAC AIRPORT customer review :19 October 2009 by Glenn Dy

Customer Rating :  3/5

SeaTac airport didn't seem to have changed for the better from my very first visit in 2003. It's dark, the baggage claim areas confusing, ground staff impersonal and cold, like the airport's impression itself. I could comment though that after claiming one's baggage, the curbside pick-up is very convenient as one does not have to travel a long distance tugging one's luggage to the escalator then onto the parking area. Yes, SeaTac's image of personal items being lost seems prevailing till now. I arrived in Guangzhou from Seattle via Incheon where I requested that my baggage be claimed in its final destination which is Guangzhou. When I claimed by luggage in Guangzhou, I found out that the locks on one of my two luggages had disappeared and now I have to conduct an inventory of what I had packed inside to confirm if my stuff had been nicked. SeaTac's management should certainly look seriously on this issue as it will definitely be a negative factor in it's image of a city that is really a lovely one with friendly people and green surroundings. The airport just does not do justice to what the city has to offer.

SEATTLE SEA-TAC AIRPORT customer review : 3 August 2009 : by Elmore Poulet

Customer Rating :  2/5

SeaTac is big and confusing, with a large main terminal and remote satellite terminals out on the tarmac that can only be reached using underground trams. It is very easy for the uninitiated to get lost and it can easily take an extra fifteen minutes once inside security to get to a gate. The parking garage and rental car area are close by and convenient, but the outlying parking areas are far away and it is sometimes hard to figure out where to catch the shuttle buses. Ticket lines are not usually too bad, but, as mentioned elsewhere in this blog, the security lines are often very long and waits of forty-five minutes or an hour are not uncommon, even at this late date, when other airports have figured out how to manage their security lines. Arrive at least two hours early at SeaTac! Also mentioned elsewhere, the TSA personnel at SeaTac are right up there with the most surly and rude anywhere, definitely on the same level as those at EWR and PHL, and that's saying a lot! On the other hand, sometimes the lines are really short, and if you have extra time to kill, the food court with forty foot high windows overlooking the apron activity is a nice place to have lunch. The big wooden rocking chairs are nice! The Alaska Airlines Board Room located just inside security is friendly but can be crowded. One very serious note; SeaTac is very well known for an internal theft problem, with items disappearing from checked bags. When you travel through SeaTac you just have to expect to lose things to people that work there. It's a sad commentary on the state of travel today that this problem can't be stopped.

SEATTLE SEA-TAC AIRPORT customer review : 20 July 2009 : by L Hunter

Customer Rating :  1/5

Firstly, as an international visitor I tried to find a Sea-Tac employee OR an information desk - someone who could tell me what the correct process was in terms of locating my baggage and clearing it through customs before finding the gate to my connecting flight. No information desk to be found and no obvious employee to approach with my questions. No signage that would indicate my flight arrival number and corresponding luggage carousel, no signage that indicated how/where I could find the Terminal for my connecting flight (finally stumbled on an escalator that took me down one level and discovered that there is a small subway/monorail to transport passengers to other Terminals within the airport). I did approach two airline employees to see if they could assist me with my confusion; but alas - they seemed almost as equally confused and were definitely "cranky". Finally made it all the way to the Terminal for my connecting flight and thought I would kill some time by checking out their complimentary wireless internet connection. Tried to connect several times and was unsuccessful. Boarding time finally arrived and I had my boarding pass and picture ID checked by the agent at my Gate and was cleared to take the ramp and board my plane. Trouble was - the ramp had no less than 4 doors/exits leading off of it - each one leading to a different plane to board. There was mass confusion with passengers going off in all directions and get this - only two destination signs for four flights and neither of these signs (Edmonton and Santa Rosa) matched my destination (Vancouver). There were three of us who ended up on the wrong plane initially and had to exit the plane, back-track the ramp and find an airline attendant who could motion us towards the correct plane! Seems as there is a long history of passengers complaining about the lack of signage.

SEATTLE SEA-TAC AIRPORT customer review : 18 May 2009 : by Mike Rosenzweig

Customer Rating :  5/5

Lots to do prior to your flight - great food court and shops, and food prices are not rip offs. International arrivals are pleasant too - fast immigration and customs personnel. Only downside is after customs, you have to drop you luggage off again so that it goes to the main terminal while you take the tram to the main terminal. This is bad because when you get to the main terminal, you have to pay to use luggage carts. Overall Seattle is a great airport!

SEATTLE SEA-TAC AIRPORT customer review : 26 March 2009 : by John Wagner

Customer Rating :  5/5

I just returned to the States from SE Asia this past week, and went through Immigration & Customs in Seattle for the first time. What a pleasant and speedy experience (when compared to San Francisco or New York). The agents actually smiled! I had a fairly tight connection to Portland, but Seattle is so efficient, I made the flight easily, and I even had to go through a complete check-in and security scan since I was on multiple tickets. The only thing I have to complain about at Seattle is Anthony's Seafood Restaurant - overpriced and of mediocre quality! I will transit Seattle Seatac on my next foreign trip for sure - what a pleasure.

SEATTLE SEA-TAC AIRPORT customer review : 6 January 2009 : by B Reger

Customer Rating :  5/5

I change planes in Seattle several times a year. Great food court. Terminal announcements are non-existant but the electronic boards are kept reasonably up to date. Worst connection is Satellite N to the main Alaska terminal. If it is a tight connection you need to hustle. International arrivals are not too bad. Much more pleasant than New York, Chicago or SFO. You can clear Canadian customs before boarding your flight to Canada. Little congestion. Generally friendly people. Not perfect, but better than many.

SEATTLE SEA-TAC AIRPORT customer review : 7 November 2008 : by Sarah Bush

Customer Rating :  1/5

Seatac has a terrible international arrival terminal. We arrived from Paris on our Air France flight. The customs lines were fairly long and it took a while to get our luggage. No real explanation, just hundreds of Americans, Europeans, and other nationalities in the luggage area. The only non-english announcement I heard was in German. After having spent two weeks in Eurpoe, we were very spoiled that many Europeans spoke a little english. We missed 2 flights because airport employees were telling us, and many others, we could go out and come back in when they had no business giving half correct instructions.

SEATTLE SEA-TAC AIRPORT customer review : 7 October 2008 : by I Krisnanto

Customer Rating :  3/5

First time arriving on an international flight at SEA, I found the process quite efficient and nice compared to other major US airports. The immigration line was short and fast and the luggage came out quite quickly. The only issue was that we had to clear customs at the satellite terminal and then re-deposited our luggage to be picked up again at the main terminal. Departing was also a straightforward process though the check in and security lines were significantly longer. But it seemed that the airport staff was ready for it and the lines moved swiftly.

Seattle Airport review by Paul Browne

29 July 2008   Customer Rating :

Admittedly this is the first time that I have transited Seatac but I found the process very onerous. Arriving on a Lufthansa flight from Europe and connecting with an AC flight to Vancouver - a process that took 3 hours! Immigration Control was slow and as Canadian citizens we were not advised that we could use the Areas 5 and 6 reserved for US citizens until we were well into the lineup. Once dealt with by a very pleasant officer, we had to go thru TSA inspection which took a while by more pleasant officers (did u know that there were regulation sized plastic bags for your liquids??? I sure didn't!) and then had to take 3, count 'em, three, trains to get to the North Satellite where our Jazz aircraft departed from! And we only made it because of a helpful United Airlines employee - certainly not because of any useful signage! We probably wouldn't choose to travel via SEA again if we could help it, it was far too stressful.