Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan - How are security lines for Alaska's gates at SEA?

I'm flying SEA-SJC late Sunday evening. I haven't flown in/out of Seattle since 1986 and have no idea what to expect in terms of security.

I'm not checking bags - would an hour be enough time to get through security and to the gate?

That is how long I would allow.

There can sometimes be a big difference in lines at security (they all feed into the same common area), so I'll sometimes take a bit of a walk around to see where the shortest line is.

We are now in the summer travel season which equals amateur hour for many passengers. Typically, it takes about 10-15 minutes to get through security. Might take a bit longer. I also will walk to another security area if the lines are too long where I would typically enter.

There are 3 security areas- for the three gates- C, D, and I think A- 95%- "A" is normally just dead- so if C & D- are backed up - we walk down to A- and go right through- then you and to walk back within the "secure" area to D, C or to the train of N- have found "A" slow with less stress- if you don't mind a little walk. rlb

Thank you for the advice! It definitely has helped me plan better.

Assuming you're not going through elite lines, I'd avoid the lines at the N gates unless you're flying out of N. Those lines are long and it is often unclear who goes where when. The C/D ones are usually ok, but I second advice regarding heading to A if those lines are too long.

I third going to the middle checkpoints (assuming you are not precheck eligible). Also, sometimes the normal line is faster than the elite line, take a look before you enter.

There are 3 security areas- for the three gates- C, D, and I think A- 95%- "A" is normally just dead- so if C & D- are backed up - we walk down to A- and go right through- then you and to walk back within the "secure" area to D, C or to the train of N- have found "A" slow with less stress- if you don't mind a little walk. rlb If the OP is transiting SEA late Sunday evening, be aware that the N / D security checkpoint closes down at a certain hour and everybody has to hike down to the central checkpoint that dumps into the food court, then back up to the N / D gates. This adds unwanted time to your security experience.

If the OP is transiting SEA late Sunday evening, be aware that the N / D security checkpoint closes down at a certain hour and everybody has to hike down to the central checkpoint that dumps into the food court, then back up to the N / D gates. This adds unwanted time to your security experience.

Does this mean there is no Pre check lane at that hour?

Does this mean there is no Pre check lane at that hour?

Yes, it's frustrating because on your trek from the north checkpoint to the central checkpoint, you pass about half a dozen signs extolling the virtues of PreCheck.

PreCheck is only available at the north checkpoint. If the checkpoint is closed, you'll get screened the same as anyone else.

At SEA, I always allow 90 minutes to get through security. This allows for the rare, but possible 30 minute security line. Late on Sunday evening, you should be fine, but please allow at least 75 minutes to be on the safe side.

If you're returning a car, give yourself time as that new "convenient" :rolleyes: consolidated rental car facility is now open. It's a good 10-15 minute bus ride to the terminal. I used to roll up 60 minutes before departure and drop off a car. Now you need to drop off 90 minutes early.

Thanks, Port of Seattle, for ruining what used to be one of the easiest rental car experiences at a major airport.

Thanks, Port of Seattle, for ruining what used to be one of the easiest rental car experiences at a major airport. This is a great point. Renting or returning a car at SEA is now a terrible, time-consuming experience, much worse than before. (Off topic: I visited the new offsite car rental center for the first time last weekend. It's terrible. Confusing, cryptic design. Why would you force customers to go inside to do their paperwork, then go outside again and use open-air escalators or stairs to reach the vehicles... in a locale where it rains all the time?)

I could not agree more -- the new rental car facility is absurd. The port's ability to waste taxpayer and passenger fee funds is alive and well.

This is a great point. Renting or returning a car at SEA is now a terrible, time-consuming experience, much worse than before. (Off topic: I visited the new offsite car rental center for the first time last weekend. It's terrible. Confusing, cryptic design. Why would you force customers to go inside to do their paperwork, then go outside again and use open-air escalators or stairs to reach the vehicles... in a locale where it rains all the time?)

Sounds like typical Seattle area genius planning & forward thinking :rolleyes:

Getting dropped off so no need to experience the ill-designed rental car facility. Good to know though.

My flight leaves around 8PM so I'll arrive around 6:30PM or so - I don't think they would have shut down all the security areas by that time. I think when I said late night - it sounded like a redeye.

I guess the Port Authority decided that the space in the parking garage was better used for something other than a rental car facility. Besides, it seems most larger airports are moving to off site rental parking. Seems to me PhX went that route some years back.

I do agree that the old return site was very convenient in normal conditions, but some times on heavy use holiday periods the return line would back up. I think there was one Thanksgiving holiday weekend that the backup was so severe that some people actually abandoned their rental car in the backup in order to catch their flight.

Besides, it seems most larger airports are moving to off site rental parking. Seems to me PhX went that route some years back.

PHX has always been off-site. You can still see the old Hertz lot at Sky Harbor Circle and 24th St. The difference between PHX and a lot of these other "convenient" consolidated rental car facilities is location and number of busses. In PHX it's a straight shot into the terminal and I don't think I've ever seen less than two busses waiting for each terminal. In SEA or LAS or ABQ it involves a 10+ minute bus ride to some far flung facility in some unused, inconvenient corner of the airport with no direct road to the terminal.

The Port of Seattle has done a lot right with SEA over the years. This isn't one of them.

The difference between PHX and a lot of these other "convenient" consolidated rental car facilities is location and number of busses. In PHX it's a straight shot into the terminal and I don't think I've ever seen less than two busses waiting for each terminal. In SEA or LAS or ABQ it involves a 10+ minute bus ride to some far flung facility in some unused, inconvenient corner of the airport with no direct road to the terminal.

PHX is a pretty long ride actually. DFW isn't very good, especially if you want to exit to the north. BWI is probably the worst in the country -- the bus drives you way off airport grounds and into the countryside, for so long you think you're being taken hostage. But for wasted time, inconvenience, pointless expense and crap design, the new SEA edifice is right up there. Or down there.

PHX has always been off-site.

Not always. Hertz and the majors used to have a lot right outside of T2, and T3 used to have some moving sidewalks out to its rental cars. Then, T4 was born, and well, the rest is inconvenient history. I only flew into T1 maybe once or twice, and don't remember how I got to my car.

Hi, all.

I will be flying Horizon from SEA to Spokane this Saturday AM for HoopFest. I remember in the past Alaska provided an express security line for PDX and GEG passengers - is this still true ?

Thanks.

We just flew out of SEATAC- arrived at the airport, with bags in tow- approx. 9:00 a.m.- confusing bag drop area- but made it through- on to security for N/D gates- not bad lines- infact they opened up more when we got there.- we were at N gates- by 9:20 a.m.- plenty of time for coffee- and etc.-longest waits were my husbands' 15 minutes at BurgerKing (the order went fast- prep went slow), and my 10 minutes at Starbucks. so in all- had plenty of time to drink our coffee- prior to boarding at 10:25. Not a bad flight day-

Hi, all.

I will be flying Horizon from SEA to Spokane this Saturday AM for HoopFest. I remember in the past Alaska provided an express security line for PDX and GEG passengers - is this still true ?

Thanks.

Yes, express/elite security checkpoints at both C (Central) and North include Portland/Spokane passengers.

It depends on when you are flying....not all checkpoints are open at the same time.

At certain points in the day they usually close one.

If the last time you flew out of seattle was 1986 things have changes.

Alaska flights are close to the security area on D (though this is going to change).

I would say be at the security line about an hr before your flight and you should be fine.

My conern is how familiar are you with the airport and its layout.

PHX has always been off-site. You can still see the old Hertz lot at Sky Harbor Circle and 24th St. The difference between PHX and a lot of these other "convenient" consolidated rental car facilities is location and number of busses. In PHX it's a straight shot into the terminal and I don't think I've ever seen less than two busses waiting for each terminal. In SEA or LAS or ABQ it involves a 10+ minute bus ride to some far flung facility in some unused, inconvenient corner of the airport with no direct road to the terminal.

The Port of Seattle has done a lot right with SEA over the years. This isn't one of them.


http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018176783_rentalcar10m.html



SEATAC built a new rental car facility on airport grounds about 5 min shuttle bus away.

Now you take the shuttle buses to the rental facility where you rent/return the cars.

Supposedly all but rent-awreck will have there stations there.

For rent-a-wreck you will have to pick up their shuttle from the rental facility. They cant drop/pick up people from the airport.

Security lines at the airport were very light. All of them were open as far as I could tell. I used the one at the far right of the check-in area (D concourse location). I decided to opt out since they used the x-ray backscatter machines. No problem opting out.

Free wifi was nice, especially since they don't require you to read some ad or watch a video before connecting. Too bad they don't have more power outlets in concourse C available - they didn't seem to prevalent from what I could tell, but I didn't look too closely and didn't need any.

Security lines at the airport were very light. All of them were open as far as I could tell. I used the one at the far right of the check-in area (D concourse location). I decided to opt out since they used the x-ray backscatter machines. No problem opting out.

Free wifi was nice, especially since they don't require you to read some ad or watch a video before connecting. Too bad they don't have more power outlets in concourse C available - they didn't seem to prevalent from what I could tell, but I didn't look too closely and didn't need any.

Glad you had an easy experience. Check-in and security lines at SEA are usually long in the early morning and light at night. Not sure why some people thought you needed to get there 75-90 minutes in advance.

This is a great point. Renting or returning a car at SEA is now a terrible, time-consuming experience, much worse than before. (Off topic: I visited the new offsite car rental center for the first time last weekend. It's terrible. Confusing, cryptic design. Why would you force customers to go inside to do their paperwork, then go outside again and use open-air escalators or stairs to reach the vehicles... in a locale where it rains all the time?)

The vast majority of major airports have rental car facilities away from the terminal(s). No reason to waste valuable parking space in the central parking facility, which is often crowded.

The open-air escalators and stairs and covered, aren't they? Similar to Safeco Field when it rains? You stay dry but are still outside.

Not sure why some people thought you needed to get there 75-90 minutes in advance.

Generally speaking, you're right. However I've shown up for a 9p flight at 745 to be greeted by a sea of humanity at one of the checkpoints. I had to clear all the way at A. Since AS decides to board flights 40+ minutes early :rolleyes:, I had about 30 minutes to get from A to the high D gates. I also had a GE appointment in September at 11a. The security lines were at least 30, maybe 45 minutes (in the non-elite lanes).

The vast majority of major airports have rental car facilities away from the terminal(s).

They do? I can name several major airports offhand that are in the terminal, or very close to it. The Seattle rental car facility is different because there is no direct access to the terminal. You have to wind your way down Air Cargo road.

I'll just rent from the Hertz at the SeaTac Marriott now...no airport fees.