Security check at SeaTac

[u/millenial2101]

Went to SeaTac to drop off someone. The lines for security check at all checkpoints were insane. Has it been like this for sometime? Or is it just today?

[u/Embarrassed-Ad-5005]

The flySEA app is great for finding out wait times. It always looks worse than it actually is.

[u/Specific-Ad9935 → u/Embarrassed-Ad-5005]

check point 5 is always good. people going thru that already know what to expect and do it quick

[u/douchebg01]

Check point 1…that is all. Never a line, haven’t waited more than 10 minutes to get through ever.

[u/oneKev → u/douchebg01]

This. Folks who fly Alaska rarely venture down to checkpoint 1. Quiet! Don’t tell anyone.

[u/bangzilla → u/douchebg01]

Yep - came through CPT 1 about 15 mins ago. Quiet and quick.

[u/Tiki_Waka → u/douchebg01]

Yup. Walk in from the curb. Through in 5 minutes. Faster with Pre and Clear.

[u/Alexs1481 → u/douchebg01]

Shhh don’t tell anyone!

[u/lucidkale]

Just flew a few days ago at 2pm and it was fine minimal lines

[u/lucidkale → u/lucidkale]

But also, airports are all about standing in lines and waiting. So it’s a gift when there are minimal lines. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[u/PetuniaFlowers]

How did you see the see security lines from the drop-off area?

[u/millenial2101 → u/PetuniaFlowers]

I went in. Didn’t see from drop off area.

[u/bangzilla]

Just came through Checkpoint 1 (downstairs by International). Nice and quiet.

[u/MonkeyFreeman]

Correct they are never leaving Seattle

[u/TSAOutreachTeam]

It was supposed to get better with the renovation, but wait times are about the same overall.

They will also get rid of Spot Saver at the end of November, so eventually the best choices if you're a late-arriver will be to fly first class or get Clear.

[u/geo_dj → u/TSAOutreachTeam]

Or TSAPre, which is much cheaper than CLEAR.

[u/TSAOutreachTeam → u/geo_dj]

TSA Precheck lines are getting very long these days, and Clear allows you to jump to the front of the Pre lines.

Soon, there will need to be a Pre Clear so people can jump ahead of the Clear folks.

[u/HighColonic → u/TSAOutreachTeam]

I recently got a survey from Clear, asking me to rank certain benefits that would be part of a hypothetical $999 annual fee VIP program. So your comment about "Pre Clear" is entirely possible.

[u/doorknob60 → u/TSAOutreachTeam]

I haven't tried it at Sea-Tac, but PreCheck Touchless ID has been good for me recently, seems like most people don't have it or know about it. Just skipped probably a 20 minute standard PreCheck line at PDX a couple days ago, there was nobody else in it (though people without touchless kept hopping in that line). Doesn't cost anything extra than regular PreCheck. You just need a passport and have to fill in some extra details in your airline profile.

[u/JellyDonutFrenzy → u/doorknob60]

Usually we do touchless and have no problems but today at checkpoint 6 it was a cluster. There was only one security belt in operation and there was a backup all the way to the ID check stations. So then only Clear people were getting thru and the two PreCheck lines weren’t moving at all. To make things worse for some reason TSA had abdicated the line management responsibilities to the Clear staff who of course were only prioritizing Clear customers and didn’t care at all that the PreCheck lines weren’t moving.

[u/zakary1291 → u/TSAOutreachTeam]

This is Clearly the point of removing spot saver. To charge you more money.

[u/oneKev → u/zakary1291]

Only if you are habitually late. I’m for charging people extra to get in front of me.

[u/Gullible-Novell]

I’ve heard the lines have been pretty bad lately. SeaTac was already struggling with crowds before things got this crazy.

[u/costumedcat]

I have precheck but I went through in 10 minutes just a few moments ago

[u/nasperjack]

Just came through this leas than an hour ago and it was fine.

[u/FavoriteFoodCarrots]

I fly out a few times a month. I’ve found it highly variable recently. Monday morning was pretty rough, although the precheck line moved fast despite looking long.

As others have said, if you’re not flying Alaska, best to avoid the higher-numbered checkpoints and go to the other end of the terminal.

[u/blladnar]

Security took about 10 minutes 2 hours ago. Wasn’t bad at all despite the car line being a little slow.

[u/BeltwayBeliver]

Taking away their chairs probably has not made them quicker

[u/Plusaziz]

It’s gotten worse after world cup

[u/too_much_covfefe_man]

Remember it's Ess Ee Eh now, not SeaTac (lol good luck port of Seattle)