Airport Airport

SEA Seattle Tacoma International Airport TSA Times

( Terminal Checkpoint 4 General )
IATA Code:

SEA

Timezone:

UTC/GMT -7:00 hours

Airport local time:

Friday, 11:19pm


Wait times are falling (16.2% over last 3 hours)
Last Updated:
11:02 PM (UTC/GMT -7:00 hours)2026-04-03
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  • Data

    Qsensor makes use of data from Seattle Tacoma International Airport.

  • Disclaimer

    Waiting times may not accurately reflect your experience. It is advisable to arrive at the airport well in advance and follow the recommendations of the airlines and airports.

  • Airport Last Updated

    11:02 PM (UTC/GMT -7:00 hours)2026-04-03

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  • Total average

    Wait Times by Day of Week

    Average wait times based on the last 3 weeks of data.

    7m
    Mon
    8m
    Tue
    8m
    Wed
    10m
    Thu
    9m
    Fri
    8m
    Sat
    9m
    Sun

    The wait time at 11 pm for Checkpoint 4 General is 5 minutes

    Based on data from the past 3 weeks.
    Current: 5 min (Similar to usual: avg wait time is 5 min)

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    Latest Airport Arrival Time
    Domestic 1h 10m before departure
    International 1h 36m before departure
    How we calculated this

    Bag drop closes 45-60 min before departure. With an estimated 25 min bag drop queue, you need to arrive at the desk 70-85 min early. After that, allow 9 min for security (avg on Fridays) and 12 min to walk to your gate, which closes 15-20 min before departure.

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    • Lowest wait time periods
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    Best & Worst Times to Fly

    Based on historical tsa wait times across all days of the week.

    Best Time
    Afternoon
    12pm - 5pm
    7 min avg wait
    Worst Time
    Early Morning
    4am - 8am
    11 min avg wait
    Flying in the Afternoon instead of Early Morning could save you up to 4 minutes in tsa lines.

    Airport Guide for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

    Commonly known as Sea-Tac is the primary commercial aviation gateway for the Pacific Northwest and serves as a major hub for Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Located approximately 14 miles south of downtown Seattle in the city of SeaTac, the airport handled a record volume of over 52.6 million passengers in 2024.

    The facility features a central Main Terminal with four concourses (A, B, C, D) and two detached satellite terminals (North and South) that are accessible only via the automated SEA Underground train system. Recent modernizations include the International Arrivals Facility (IAF), which utilizes a unique “Bags First” clearance protocol.

    Seattle Tacoma International Airport FAQ

    No. The 4th Floor of the parking garage, formerly known as “Terminal Direct”, is now exclusively Reserved Parking. You cannot drive up and grab a ticket for this floor. You must book a spot online at least 6 hours in advance to generate a QR code for entry. If you attempt to enter without a reservation, you will be diverted to General Parking (Floors 1-3 or 5-8).

    SEO Spotsaver Is a free service that allows you book a time go through security. Spot Saver is available daily from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Checkpoint 4 and TSA Checkpoint 2 using this link.

    • Important: Spot Saver users go through general screening (shoes off, laptops out). If you have TSA PreCheck, sticking to the dedicated PreCheck lanes is usually faster and more convenient.

    It depends on the ride type:

    • Standard Rides (UberX, Lyft, etc.): You must walk to the 3rd Floor of the Parking Garage. Cross the skybridges from baggage claim to the garage (Level 4), then take the elevator down to Level 3. Look for the purple or orange stall numbers.
    • Uber Black: This is the only exception allowed to pick up at the curbside outside Baggage Claim. If you book Uber Black, you can wait at the arrival doors.

    Yes, the walk from the terminal to the SeaTac/Airport Station is considered long (about the length of a concourse) and involves crossing the parking garage. However, the airport offers a free electric shuttle service that runs between the station and the airport skybridge for those with heavy luggage or mobility issues.

    At SEA, all checkpoints lead to all gates. You do not have to use the checkpoint closest to your airline’s counter. If Checkpoint 5 is backed up, check the wait times on the FlySEA app and walk to Checkpoint 2 or 3, then use the airside corridor to reach your gate.

    You must take the SEA Underground train; you cannot walk to these satellite terminals.

    • For N Gates (North Satellite): Take the Green Line loop.
    • For S Gates (South Satellite): Take the Blue Line loop.
    • Connecting: The Yellow Line shuttle connects the A and D stations within the main terminal if you need to switch ends of the airport quickly.

    Yes. All main terminal concourses (A, B, C, D) are connected airside. You can walk from the A gates to the D gates without leaving security, though it takes about 15-20 minutes.

    SEA uses a Bags First protocol which is different from many other US airports:

    • Claim Luggage: You pick up your checked bags before going through Passport Control.
    • Passport Control: Clear customs with your bags.
    • Re-Check/Exit: Drop your bags at the re-check counter if you have a connecting flight, or exit to the arrivals hall if Seattle is your final destination.

    Yes. After clearing customs and re-checking your bags, you must go through TSA screening to re-enter the secure terminal. The International Arrivals Facility has its own checkpoint, but it closes at night (approx. 9:45 PM). If you arrive late, you may be directed to exit and use the main terminal checkpoints.

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    Live data: For the majority of the airports we track we use live data from the airport. For the remaining airports we provide a modelled projection, combined with crowdsourced data.

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    Our sources for wait time data vary and may include air travel data aggregators, federal agencies such as the TSA, CATSA CBP, or information from the airport and its affiliated service providers. For some airports, Qsensor utilises its proprietary queue modelling technology to project wait times. Additionally, we crowdsource data from passengers who have input their wait time using the “Add Your Time” button.

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    We regularly check queue times and flight delays for accuracy, however all times are estimates and waiting times and delays may not accurately reflect your experience. It is advisable to arrive at the airport well in advance and follow the recommendations of the airlines and airports.

    There are a wide array of ways that queue data is measured. Including but not limited to looking at how long a passenger takes to get from scanning their boarding pass to exiting the security or customs area. Auditing passengers on how long it took them to pass through security or customs as well as Qsensors’ proprietary system for user added wait times. 

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