Seattle Airport

Training for how to get people through security at this airport is desperately needed. Last trip, my mother and I were in two separate lines. It took her 10 minutes, me 50 minutes. Tonight there is only one security line open at 9:30, despite the large number of red eyes that fly out of this airport. I'm trying to pick up a minor at the gate and have been in this line for 45 minutes. There's got to be a better way!

It may reduce congestion but I still don't like the fact that shuttle buses and taxis leave you out in the parking structure across from the terminals and you must go up one floor by elevator then cross a skybridge then descend again. Easy enough if you are without luggage or have just hand luggage but if you are using a cart ($5 of course) it can take a while. Other than that the airport will large is relatively easy to navigate and clean. In most cases it's as quick to walk as to take the airport trains unless you're going to Terminal S (satellite terminal) used by some but not all Delta flights. Decent array of eateries in the airport. To get to the consolidated rental car terminal you must take a shuttle bus (definitely too far to walk). Can be a bit of a hassle if you have several bags but on our last visit there were many airport personnel assisting people with their bags onto the bus.

I went on Alaska Airlines for a day trip to Seattle on June 10th and found the airport clean and nice. It was a long walk to the train as others have posted here and for a guy with a bad back like me other than that it was a good airport. You should check out the stores. Also if you are an aviation buff like me the airport is great for spotting both once you are past security and out of the airport. The airport has some airlines that do not fly to my hometown (Phoenix) so I got to experience seeing them for the first time. All in all I definitely recommend this airport and am looking forward to visiting it again in the future!

Live in Seattle area so have flown in and out too many times to count. The only things that really annoy me are the always-long security lines and the absolute slowest luggage delivery we have experienced after extensive travel around the world.

Arrived at SEA on an intercontinental flight and had a domestic connection next morning. I liked the airport. Upon arrival immigration was quick no queues (just 4 people in front of me) so I was through in 5 mins. Baggage arrived a few mins later and overall it took just 20 mins from leaving the plane until I was out of the airport. Similar positive experience next morning. Friendly staff at check-in and security no queues and adequate food facilities in the waiting area.

This airport is filthy but sadly I live in Seattle so its the nearest airport to me. Next the terminals are inconvenient and the light rail station is on the other side of the parking garage making it inconvenient and the last thing is that it is old and that they need to update the airport. I do not recommend this airport so try to avoid it and if you live in Seattle even though its far try Bellingham International airport it might be an extra drive but its worth it.

Although the Seatac has a somewhat dated layout with two different trains needed to reach the N and S satellite terminals it is an relatively efficient and professionally run facility compared to most other US airports. For 20 years I was based in PHL and flew 8-12 times a year. For the last 15 years I have been based in SEA. The experience is like night and day. Fundamentally 80-85% of SEA flights run on time while the PHL figure is routinely around 70% and sometimes less. The fundamental requirement of an airport is to have the capacity to land and park arriving flights in a timely manner and similarly dispatch departing flights. There is plenty of data available to determine whether they are doing this and it should be given a heavy weight in any benchmarking/ranking system. There is a good choice of food in a clean and airy central food court with large picture windows and high ceilings. One of my favorites is Vino Volo where it is possible to taste a flight of wines accompanied by light snacks - and they will pack up gift packages for you to take on the plane. Very civilized. Two obvious weaknesses exist and they reflect poor planning. One is the location of the light rail station which is way too far from the terminal. The other is the location of the new car rental terminal which should have been connected to the light rail but has to be reached by a separate bus system. However this lack of co-ordination between different transit agencies is a chronic problem in Washington state.

In general a modern clean comfortable airport. My biggest complaint is the fact that to get from the baggage claim area to the courtesy buses for hotels etc. (except for the shuttle bus to the consolidated rental car facility) or from the courtesy buses to the check-in area you have to go up an elevator or escalators cross a sky bridge then descend another elevator. The shuttles stop on the third level of the parking structure. No big deal unless you have lots of bags. If you're departing and are staying at an airport hotel you can ask the hotel to call the Port Authority for permission to drop you off at the curb at the arrivals level (note: permission must be asked maybe half an hour in advance and the permission applies only to those on the request so if others are on the bus they first go to the regular drop-off area and then the bus circles again to drop you off). The area for the courtesy buses is for a variety of such shuttles: those for both parking lots (public and commercial) and hotels. While there are signs showing where each type of bus stops (in 2-3 locations) they tend to group together (with those for commercial parking lots seemingly especially numerous) and you have to be alert and while standing on the curb may have to flag down the shuttle you want especially if it's for a hotel. The area for the courtesy shuttles.

Arriving at Sea-Tac by Virgin America was easy and out into the baggage carousal which is right in the middle of a messy and dirty public area where it was just so messy. Lots of people around and your baggage which could be stolen if not careful. A long walk to the Sound transit is terrible way of an airport to give efficient service furthermore right through a parking garage. Now imagine if you do this at night. Scary. Trolleys were chargeable and we had to drag our luggage a long way to the train. Luckily we did it only once. We can hardly imagine what would happen if we did depart.

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.