Seattle Airport Guide: What to Know

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.

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.

Central Terminal is the only terminal at Seattle airport, which makes it fairly simple to navigate.

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.

TSA PreCheck lets registered travelers bypass some security measures, such as taking off their shoes and removing laptops from their bags. TSA PreCheck is available at two checkpoints:

Clear is a membership program designed to let you skip the airport security line. It works with both TSA PreCheck and standard security queues. Clear is available at three checkpoints:

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:

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.

Sea-Tac has one main parking garage. You can either reserve a spot in advance or drive up:

• Drive-up: $8 hourly, $37 daily, $222 weekly.

Accessible parking is available in the main garage, as is motorcycle parking and EV parking.

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.

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.