Owais Crawford
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) has a Visitor Pass program that allows friends and family to go beyond security and meet arriving passengers at the gate. The pass is intended for personal use and enables approved visitors to spend time with arriving passengers before their flight, shop, or dine at the airport. The pass is available to visitors over the age of 15 with a TSA-approved photo ID and minors under the supervision of an approved adult. Visitors can apply for the pass online up to seven days in advance, and entry hours are from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. every day. SEA also has a cell phone waiting lot that friends and family can use for free while waiting for arriving passengers, and the airport is easily accessible via light rail, bus, or shuttle services.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the program | SEA Visitor Pass |
| Who can use it? | Members of the general public who are not flying that day |
| Where to go? | Bring your QR code and your TSA-approved ID to Checkpoint 4 |
| Entry hours | 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days a week |
| Parking | Not free, participants may pay to park in the SEA Airport onsite parking garage |
| Application | Apply the day of your visit or up to seven days in advance |
| Valid ID | Any valid form of identification accepted by TSA, including licenses from other states and U.S. and international passports |
| Age limit | Visitors over the age of 15 who have a TSA-approved photo ID |
| Minors | Every adult can accompany up to five minor participants |
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What You'll Learn
The SEA Visitor Pass pilot program
The program is limited to 300 visitors a day, and applications must be approved by the TSA. Visitors can apply the day of their visit or up to seven days in advance. The program is open to visitors over the age of 15 who have a TSA-approved photo ID. Minors without valid photo IDs must be accompanied by an approved adult. Each person must complete a separate online registration and bring their own QR code, along with their photo ID.
The SEA Visitor Pass is accessible at Checkpoint 4, with entry hours from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. every day. Visitors can enter and exit the airport at any time during their registered day, subject to a four-hour limit. The last entrance is at 9:00 p.m., as many airport services and restaurants close at 10:00 p.m., marking the end of the program access time.
While the SEA Visitor Pass pilot program allows friends and family to go beyond security checkpoints, it is important to note that they will still need to meet arriving passengers at the designated baggage claim areas or carousels.
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Where to meet arrivals at baggage claim
Seattle-Tacoma (SeaTac) International Airport allows visitors to go beyond security and meet friends or family at the gate as they arrive or are about to board. This is a limited-time program, and visitors will need to apply for the SEA Visitor Pass pilot program, which is approved by the TSA.
If you are meeting someone at the airport and do not have this pass, the best place to meet them is at the baggage claim area. SeaTac has one baggage claim area for arriving flights, aside from international connections. It is recommended to meet at a specific baggage carousel, as these are often not announced in advance. The baggage carousel for a specific flight will depend on the airline, so it is good to check this in advance.
If meeting someone at the baggage claim curb, it is suggested to use the cellphone parking lot to avoid circling the airport and remember that you cannot leave your vehicle on the airport drives.
If you are being picked up by a Black Car Sedan, Premium Sedan, or SUV, you can be collected outside one of the doors (#6-#20) on the Arrival's Drive lane on the same level as the baggage claim carousel.
If you are taking public transport, you can take the Link light rail to the SeaTac/Airport Station. From baggage carousel 16 at the terminal's north end, go up one floor to the skybridge level. Head across Skybridge Six and turn left through the parking garage to the light rail station. A free electric shuttle service operates between the light rail station and the airport skybridge.
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How to get through security to meet at the gate
Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) International Airport has introduced a new programme that allows visitors to go beyond security and meet their loved ones at the gate. This programme, which was not possible for 17 years, is a pilot programme that allows people without a ticket to go beyond security checkpoints. Applications to this programme must be approved by the TSA.
Apply for the SEA Visitor Pass
This pass was available through mid-December and allowed people to go beyond security checkpoints. While this programme is currently on hold, it may be reinstated in the future.
Use the SEA Spot Saver programme
This programme allows travellers to skip the long security lines at Sea-Tac Airport. It is a free programme that enables travellers to make a reservation for the TSA general screening security line. Reservations can be made up to 7 days in advance, and spots fill up quickly, so it is recommended to book as early as possible. To use this programme, look for the SEA Spot Saver logo at Checkpoint 2 (near A, B, and S Gates) or Checkpoint 3 (closest to C, D, and N Gates). Show your appointment confirmation to the airport staff and proceed through security.
Meet at the baggage claim area
If you are unable to access the gate, you can still meet your loved ones at the baggage claim area. Sea-Tac Airport has only one baggage claim area for arriving flights, excluding international connections. You can meet at the specific baggage carousel for your loved one's flight, which ensures that neither party has to go too far to meet up.
By following these steps, you can efficiently navigate Sea-Tac Airport and meet your friends and family at the gate or baggage claim area.
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The best way to pick someone up by car
If you're picking someone up by car at Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) Airport, there are a few options available to you, with the most suitable depending on your specific circumstances. Here is some detailed information to help you make the right choice.
Firstly, it is important to note that Sea-Tac Airport is one of the busiest airports in the United States, so it is advisable to plan ahead and consider all options to ensure a smooth pickup. One option is to make use of the airport's cell phone waiting lot, which is located across from the S. 170th Street exit of the Airport Expressway. This lot allows visitors to wait for free for up to 20 minutes while their arriving passengers are making their way to the baggage claim curbside for collection. This option is ideal if you want to avoid parking fees and are expecting a quick pickup.
If you would prefer to park your car and meet your arriving party inside the airport, you can consider the SEA Visitor Pass program. This program allows members of the public who are not flying to enter the post-security side of the airport. The pass is intended for personal use, enabling approved visitors to spend time with friends and family, shop, or dine at the airport. The pass is limited to 300 visitors per day, and applications must be made online in advance, with each visitor requiring a separate registration. A government-issued photo ID and a QR code are required for entry, and minors must be escorted by an approved adult participant at all times. It is important to note that this pass does not provide free parking, and participants will need to pay for parking in the airport's onsite parking garage or at off-site locations.
If you opt for the SEA Visitor Pass, it is recommended that you use the airport's Link light rail service to avoid parking fees. The light rail station is connected to the fourth floor of the parking garage, adjacent to the Central Terminal, with trains departing every 6 to 15 minutes. Alternatively, you can use the bus services that operate from International Boulevard by the light rail station, or the Sound Transit express buses that depart from the lower drive of the Central Terminal at the south end.
When meeting your arriving party, it is advisable to agree on a specific baggage carousel as a meeting point, especially if they are arriving at the airport's single baggage claim area for domestic flights. This ensures that neither party has to go too far to meet up. If your arriving party is taking the Link light rail service to the parking lot, they can follow the signs to the light rail and then walk across the people mover to the parking garage, avoiding the need to go up to the train platform.
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Where to park when picking someone up
Picking someone up from Seattle-Tacoma (SeaTac) Airport can be a stressful experience, but there are a few tips and tricks to make the process smoother.
Firstly, it is important to know that SeaTac Airport has a cell phone lot, located off the Air Cargo Road exit and South of 170th Street. This is a great place to wait for your passenger to arrive, but it can get very busy during the holiday season due to the limited number of parking spaces. It is recommended that the passenger keeps the cell phone and calls when they get to baggage claim, so the driver only needs to drive over once the flight has landed.
If you want to avoid the cell phone lot, there are a few other options. One suggestion is to park in the short-term lot in the garage, which is convenient and quick, but can be expensive if the flight is delayed. The hourly floor is often fairly empty, so you can get in and out quickly, and the rates for the first half-hour are reasonable.
Another option is to ask your passenger to take the light rail one stop to the Tukwila International Blvd Light Rail Station, which has very convenient freeway access and a large parking lot, as well as an overflow lot where you can park and wait for free.
If you don't want to use the parking facilities at the airport, there are several establishments a short 3-4 minute walk past the end of the Arrivals drive and directly across International Blvd, including 13 Coins, Radisson Hotel Bar and Grill, and Gregory's Bar and Grill, where you can wait for your passenger to arrive.
If you are picking up a passenger from Alaska Airlines, it is recommended to use the left lane, as the right lane often backs up well before you reach the Arrivals drive. If your passenger is happy to walk, you can encourage them to head to the Departures drive, which is usually much quicker than fighting the crowds on the Arrivals drive.
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Frequently asked questions
You can apply for the SEA Visitor Pass pilot program, which allows people without a ticket to go beyond security checkpoints. Applications must be approved by the TSA.
Entry hours for the SEA Visitor Pass are 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days a week. The last entrance is at 9:00 p.m. as most airport services and restaurants close at 10:00 p.m.
Bring your QR code and your TSA-approved ID to Checkpoint 4. Access for SEA Visitor pass participants is only available at Checkpoint 4.
You can meet your family in the baggage claim area or at a specific baggage carousel. If you are driving, your family can walk to the parking lot at the base of the Light Rail station and you can pick them up from there.
