Last updated 9 minutes ago
Average security wait time at SEA: 3.5 min
Want to know which specific checkpoint lane is fastest right now? GateReady Fast Pass shows you lane-by-lane data — General, TSA Pre, CLEAR, and Priority lanes updated every 15 minutes.
Try Fast Pass Free for 7 DaysCurrent security wait times at each SEA terminal
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Know which terminal to head to before you arrive
| Terminal | Airlines |
|---|---|
| Concourse A | Delta, United, International carriers |
| Concourse B | Delta, Southwest |
| Concourse C | Alaska Airlines |
| Concourse D | Alaska Airlines, American |
| N Satellite | Alaska Airlines |
| S Satellite | Delta, Hawaiian, International carriers |
See how terminals are connected and plan your route through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Schematic layout -- not to scale. Times shown are approximate transit times between terminals.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) is the primary airport for the Pacific Northwest, serving over 50 million passengers annually. It has one main terminal with four concourses (A, B, C/D, and N/S satellites). Security checkpoints are centralized in the main terminal, with separate entrances for the north and south ends.
Terminals
1
Checkpoints
5
TSA PreCheck
Available
The North Checkpoint (Checkpoint 1) is typically faster than the Central and South checkpoints.
Alaska Airlines passengers departing from the N gates should use Checkpoint 5, which has its own TSA PreCheck lane.
Midweek travel (Tuesday-Wednesday) sees the lightest security volumes.
Sea-Tac has a well-signed TSA PreCheck enrollment center inside the airport on the ticketing level.
The Link Light Rail ($3.00) connects downtown Seattle to the airport in about 40 minutes.
Enroll in TSA PreCheck ($78 for 5 years) to use expedited screening lanes. PreCheck members can keep shoes, belts, and light jackets on and leave laptops and liquids in bags.
Remove prohibited items before joining the line. The most common causes of secondary screening are oversized liquids, forgotten water bottles, and loose electronics.
The fastest way? Let GateReady do the work.
Fast Pass members get tools that take the guesswork out of SEA security:
Long security lines are not inevitable. Several trusted traveler programs let you bypass the standard screening queue at SEA. Here is what is available and what each program costs.
Available at SEA and 200+ US airports
TSA PreCheck members use a dedicated screening lane where you can keep your shoes, belt, and light jacket on. Laptops and 3-1-1 compliant liquids stay in your bag. The average PreCheck wait time is under 5 minutes nationwide.
CLEAR is available at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
CLEAR uses biometric screening (fingerprints or iris scan) to verify your identity, letting you skip the ID verification line entirely. When paired with TSA PreCheck, you go from the CLEAR lane directly into the PreCheck screening line — often clearing security in under 2 minutes.
Several travel credit cards reimburse the enrollment fees for trusted traveler programs. These cards pay for themselves by covering your PreCheck, Global Entry, or CLEAR membership costs as a statement credit.
$400/year annual fee
Reimburses: TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, CLEAR
Signup bonus: 50,000 bonus points
$525/year annual fee
Reimburses: TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, CLEAR
Signup bonus: 80,000 bonus miles
The current average security wait time at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is approximately 3.5 min. Wait times are updated every 15 minutes to keep you informed.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has a single terminal with 5 security checkpoints. GateReady monitors all checkpoints and provides real-time data to help you choose the shortest line.
Yes, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport offers TSA PreCheck at multiple checkpoints. PreCheck members can keep shoes, belts, and light jackets on, and leave laptops and 3-1-1 compliant liquids in bags. Enrollment costs $78 for five years. SEA also offers CLEAR, a separate biometric screening service that lets you skip the ID verification line entirely (from $189/year).
For domestic flights at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, arrive at least 2 hours before your scheduled departure. For international flights, arrive 3 hours early. During holiday periods and peak travel times, add an extra 30-60 minutes. Use GateReady's Best Time to Arrive calculator for a personalized recommendation based on current SEA security conditions.
Get the tools you need to breeze through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport security, whether you fly once a year or every week.
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Best for international travelers
Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck and adds expedited US customs processing when you return from international trips. Instead of waiting in the standard customs line, you use a kiosk with facial recognition and walk through in minutes. If you fly internationally even once a year, Global Entry is the better value over standalone PreCheck.
Best for US-Canada travelers
NEXUS is a joint US-Canada trusted traveler program that includes both TSA PreCheck and Global Entry benefits at the same price as Global Entry alone. If you travel between the US and Canada, NEXUS is the best overall value — you get expedited screening in both countries plus all the domestic PreCheck benefits.
$650/year annual fee
Reimburses: TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, CLEAR
See all cards with travel perks on the full comparison page.
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GateReady provides independent airport intelligence. Wait time estimates are based on real-time data and may vary. Not affiliated with TSA or any airport authority.
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