SEATTLE — The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) anticipates Thanksgiving travel this year to be on par with last year's number of travelers.
The airport expects 1.5 million people will travel through the airport between Thursday, Nov. 21 and Saturday, Nov. 30. The airport’s projected passenger numbers indicate Tuesday, Nov. 26, Wednesday, Nov. 27 and Saturday. Nov. 30, will be its busiest days.
According to the Port of Seattle, Tuesday Nov. 26 is expected to see 166,000 travelers, Wednesday Nov. 27 to see 177,000 travelers and Saturday Nov. 30 to see 172,000 travelers. Sunday, Dec. 1 is expected to see 177,000 passengers come through SEA.
2024 saw a record number of travelers on August 18 at 198,000.
The busy holiday travel season comes as the airport’s Checkpoint 5 is temporarily closed. Some online systems are still down after the airport was hit with a cyberattack earlier this year.
SEA recommends travelers arrive at least two hours before their boarding time for a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight.
The airport also recommends using its Spot Saver, an appointment system for security screening that uses dedicated lanes through TSA checkpoints.
The Port of Seattle said more than one-third of the airport's daily passenger volume arrives at the airport before 9 a.m. with two more peak periods of 2-5 p.m. and 9-11 p.m.
Other tips from the Port of Seattle include:
- Trying public transportation, using a taxi, or app-based rideshare or shuttle. If driving to the curb is your only option, ignore the departures and arrivals signs and use the fastest-moving lane
- If parking is your only option, plan on an extra 45-60 minutes to find a spot. The airport is incorporating new technology and installing an automated parking guidance system
- Download the flySEA app, which includes an interactive map and use the OrderSEA mobile order feature to order food
- International travelers can download the Mobile Passport Control app
For more information on traveling through SEA, visit portseattle.org.