West - Consolidated "SEA Security lines" thread

What are security line ups like at SEA? Interested in recent experiences especially for the South Satellite/weekend early mornings.

Don't know about the south satelite but the north satelite in the mornings seems to be very crowded early. Once the ticket counters open the screeners don't get the passengers through quick enough and then a long line forms, but it moves quick enough. Or at least it did in my last two trips...

On Friday (Nov. 9) I was on the 8 am United flight to Denver. I arrived just after 6:00. The elite check-in line was short, so I was checked in less than 5 minutes.

But the security line for the D and N gates snaked around from next to the D/N security down to the security checkpoint for the C/D gates and back down to the D/N checkpoint. The line for the C/D gates also started next to the D/N security checkpoint. The lines were not marked, so it was difficult to figure out which line to get in and there were only a couple of airport employees attempting to coordinate the operation, so I couldn't find them to ask them.

FWIW, one of the Alaska Airlines check-in lines (I don't know which one) went around the counter by the United check-in and back into the hall where the security lines were. It went to almost the C security checkpoint.

One of the airport security guys said that 1 out of 3 people were setting off the metal detectors and that is why it was taking so long.

Thanks for the replies. Late evening security for concourse C last Friday wasn't too bad. Security agent was being the bottle neck checking out itineraries. Varied between no wait and 5 minute wait.

On Tuesday 4pm (well after the security incident), it was 1/2 way back to the D concourse entrance (some 40-50 pax long).

www.travelocity.com\securitypoll (http://www.travelocity.com\securitypoll)

...Longest Security Waits

Of those reporting security waits longer than 60 minutes, survey participants cited the below-listed airports most often. Most airports improved since the October poll:


% reporting % reporting
delays more than delays more than
60 min. 60 min.
Rank Airport November Poll October Poll
1. Denver 53% 53%
2. Baltimore 38% 58%
3. Portland, Ore. 37% 16%
4. St. Louis 36% 44%
5. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 35% 33%
6. Albuquerque, N.M. 35% 37%
7. Boston 35% 46%
8. San Francisco 34% 56%
9. Philadelphia 31% 46%
10. Washington-Dulles 31% 43%

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/011115/dath015_1.html

So how long does it typically take to get through AS security for an 8AM weekday flight these days?

If you're a Gold MVP, the answer would be zippo.

I've only had experience at the D/N Gates for early morning (i.e. 6am) flights recently. Then the normal line would be about 10 minutes long. I'm assuming about 20-30 minute delay two hours later (maybe).

Thanks! By the way - were you in the Subway on 2nd Ave. for lunch today?

I had a 8:20 flight on monday. The difference in the security line at the D/N gates is astonishingly different than at 6am.

The front (UA) counter had already "closed" the IAD flight. It was 7:35. She said that I wouldn't make it through security, b/c it was already double queued. I inquired if the 1K line had been shut down, and she replied, "OH yea, that's right. You can make that flight!"

By the way... I work in NJ, so it wasn't me at Subway! http://www.flyertalk.com/airports/ftairports_forum/wink.gif

The times vary widely. On a non-holiday weekend, non-peak day (Tues-Wed, Sun) the C and D/N checkpoints have an early AM wait time of 5-15 minutes, mostly 5 or less. On peak days or near a holiday (like today) - the morning waits were 45 minutes +. Even the elite lines had a 10 minute wait this morning. Look for these times to increase as we get into the busier months until more checkpoints and staff are added in June.

I'm doing a mileage run next weekend and will be on an 8:20am CO flight returning to EWR via IAH next Sunday, Sept 1. I will have no checked luggage. How much time should I allow to check in (hopefully they have a kiosk for my eticket) and most importantly for security at that hour? Is the security process at SEA quick and efficient? Thanks.

The Continental ticket counter is located near the center of the ticket lobby and contains several e-ticket machines. Continental flights depart from the "B" gates - the security checkpoint wait should be less than 20 minutes (usually less than 5 - especially on a Sunday morning) but there have been wait times of 30-60 minutes on peak days during the early morning and especially at mid-day. Have a good flight.

The B concourse also serves DL, WN and HP, so it can get busy in the mornings. I would allow at least an hour. A small PC is down at the end of the B concourse near the CO gates.

The security wait times have been creeping up in recent times but things are going downhill fast. The security line for the D/N checkpoint this morning stretched into the parking garage! while long lines were also present at the B and C Concourse checkpoints (40 minutes to 1 1/2 hour waits). Waits at the S checkpoint have been minor. Busiest times at the airport are 5-8AM and 10AM - noon; there have been some 30 minute waits even at off-peak times.

I know most of you have elite status and the wait times at those lines remain fairly short - 10-15 minutes at most - but be aware if you are flying an airline where you are not eligible to use the express lines.

Expect the lines to continue through the summer; while some of it is increased travel demand, most of the problems stem from TSA staffing shortages and inadequate management of the checkpoint lines.

KING-TV here in Seattle reported Monday night that the terrible security lines at Sea-Tac 16 June may have been due to a deliberate slowdown on the part of TSA workers upset over pay and work schedules.

The situation was egregious, and "the start of the summer travel season" doesn't begin to explain it... it hasn't taken more than 30 minutes to get through Sea-Tac security at any time this year, yet suddenly at some checkpoints Monday the wait ballooned to two hours. C'mon, the LOADS didn't quadruple.

[This message has been edited by BearX220 (edited 06-17-2003).]

Just in case you don't get, read or see the PI/Times this is the front page.

"Nearly two years after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the creation of a multibillion-dollar federal agency for airport security, travelers at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport are still at risk..."
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001604023_airport24.html

We're catching an early-morning flight on UA in a few days. We're both UA 1Ps and use the express security line, but this time we are each bringing a non-status companion.

What is the protocol? It's not that big deal just to ask the first gatekeeper but I thought I'd ask anyway.

Thanks for any info,
Fredd

I've always been able to take non-premier companions. So you should have no problems.

Thanks for the info.

Never had a problem, done it maybe 30-40+ times. Generally I bring co-workers, friends, significant other, people I find wandering around the parking garage on the 8th floor near row T, Metro bus drivers, people whos birthday falls on October 16th and last but not least, FT'ers who pay me a small sum via automated web tools such as Paypal - may be allowed to utilize the high-security lines.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mymiles2go:
Never had a problem, done it maybe 30-40+ times. Generally I bring co-workers, friends, significant other, people I find wandering around the parking garage on the 8th floor near row T, Metro bus drivers, people whos birthday falls on October 16th and last but not least, FT'ers who pay me a small sum via automated web tools such as Paypal - may be allowed to utilize the high-security lines.</font>

Thanks for the offer, but I think we'll just take our chances. http://www.flyertalk.com/airports/ftairports_forum/biggrin.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/airports/ftairports_forum/biggrin.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mymiles2go:
... people whos birthday falls on October 16th...</font>Wait... did you really do this? http://www.flyertalk.com/airports/ftairports_forum/wink.gif or are you just checking to see if I visit this forum! http://www.flyertalk.com/airports/ftairports_forum/biggrin.gif

October 16 is truly a great day! http://www.flyertalk.com/airports/ftairports_forum/wink.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by chexfan:
Originally posted by mymiles2go:
... people whos birthday falls on October 16th...</font>Wait... did you really do this? http://www.flyertalk.com/airports/ftairports_forum/wink.gif or are you just checking to see if I visit this forum! http://www.flyertalk.com/airports/ftairports_forum/biggrin.gif

October 16 is truly a great day! http://www.flyertalk.com/airports/ftairports_forum/wink.gif



I had to find some way to verify that the local Seattlelites were reading this forum on a daily basis http://www.flyertalk.com/airports/ftairports_forum/wink.gif

Going SEA-ORD AA484 12/25 at (yuck) 6:40 AM...any FT'ers gone thru SEA 12/23 or going thru 12/24, please let me / others know...what are the elite & non-elite lines looking like timewise?

Hi - I have a flight on AS 12/30 at 12:30 (weird, huh?).

Anyway, how much time should I give for check-in and security. I have to go through check in lines because I am using a bump voucher that I will need to get exchanged for a boarding pass.

Add to that security lines.

I am not AS elite nor on the Horizon shuttle.

How far in advance should I arrive at Seatac?

Thanks!

Mike

You have to go to a ticketing counter, not merely check-in (mostly ITMs these days), given that you have a transportation voucher. Unfortunately the Bellevue CTO is closed but if it is going t be closing or has not closed, I'd exchange the voucher there and just web checkin if you can get an e ticket.

Hi - I have a flight on AS 12/30 at 12:30 (weird, huh?).

Anyway, how much time should I give for check-in and security. I have to go through check in lines because I am using a bump voucher that I will need to get exchanged for a boarding pass.

Add to that security lines.

I am not AS elite nor on the Horizon shuttle.

How far in advance should I arrive at Seatac?

Thanks!

Mike

I am assuming that you mean 12:30PM. If so, this is the busiest time of day at Sea-Tac. Since you must do a ticketing transaction, I would allow at least 2 hours (unless you can do the ticketing transaction separately).

Usually I connect thru SEA, and don't really leave the airport. (I can hear Missydarlin already). I recall there was a shorter line for AA elites, back before they opened Terminal A.

When I left noon on Sunday, the security right behind the AS ticketing counters didn't have any spots for elites. Did they change the system, or should I find a different line?

The B and D concourse security lines have elite lines, the C concourse does not.

Thanks, I found it this time around. :)

Thanks, I found it this time around. :)

I'm glad you made it out of the sugar coma in time to find your way around the airport :D

If you have elite status, be sure to take advantage of it by using the elite line where possible! They say the lines are extreme during peak travel times.

Someone evidently went through the TSA checkpoint the wrong way so while the terminals are not being evacuated, airport operations have been halted until the person can be found and interrogated.

I was there two hours ago to pick up a car. Looks like I timed it well. :rolleyes:

The person has been found and the airport is now back open.

Last week Mrs. Fredd and I flew out of SEA for the first time in six weeks. We used two different elite lines and noticed quite a change. An AS checker grudgingly let us in with our UA 1K BPs at the closest access point to the Pacific Marketplace, which we hadn't yet seen. Once we got past her we realized we had to barge in front of others to get to an open TSA lane, not a pleasant feeling. The wait itself was only about 15 minutes around 6:00 p.m.

Later we ventured outside security to help family members check in for our UA flight and then headed back to our usual security line behind the UA counters. As others have noted, the elite line is now closest to you. It was only after we were in it for awhile that we discovered that there were only two TSA checkpoints open, and we waited for at least 30 minutes. We again felt we were barging in front of others as we got to the front. As a 1K I like barging in but I like being able to do it discreetly. ;)

We seldom fly out of SEA in the evening. Are these mob scenes typical of early evenings, summers, or both, did we just have the bad luck of a particularly busy night, or have the logistics worsened in the security lines?

Last week Mrs. Fredd and I flew out of SEA for the first time in six weeks. We used two different elite lines and noticed quite a change. An AS checker grudgingly let us in with our UA 1K BPs at the closest access point to the Pacific Marketplace, which we hadn't yet seen. Once we got past her we realized we had to barge in front of others to get to an open TSA lane, not a pleasant feeling. The wait itself was only about 15 minutes around 6:00 p.m.

Later we ventured outside security to help family members check in for our UA flight and then headed back to our usual security line behind the UA counters. As others have noted, the elite line is now closest to you. It was only after we were in it for awhile that we discovered that there were only two TSA checkpoints open, and we waited for at least 30 minutes. We again felt we were barging in front of others as we got to the front. As a 1K I like barging in but I like being able to do it discreetly. ;)

We seldom fly out of SEA in the evening. Are these mob scenes typical of early evenings, summers, or both, did we just have the bad luck of a particularly busy night, or have the logistics worsened in the security lines?

The TSA shifted staff from the afternoon and evening shifts to the morning to lesson the wait times (at the request of the airlines and the Port of Seattle). The result has been generally modest morning wait times but longer afternoon/evening wait times.

The TSA shifted staff from the afternoon and evening shifts to the morning to lesson the wait times (at the request of the airlines and the Port of Seattle). The result has been generally modest morning wait times but longer afternoon/evening wait times.

Thanks for the explanation. I think the last time we flew out of SEA in the evening was about three years ago. Those early morning flights now look even better to me. :)

Mid-day lineups for our most recent two flights were just fine - virtually no wait in the *G line and a TSA employee ushering at the front to merge and direct us. That was a positive contrast to the previous occasion I described, and feeling we were more-or-less barging in front of others wondering (some out loud) where we sneaked in from.

I'll be flying out of SeaTac in the next couple of weeks. I went to the TSA "wait times" website, and it says that the shortest line for security is FIS (which I can't use, given that I depart from SEA!), followed by the "SEAC" checkpoint.

What/where is the SEAC checkpoint? The others (Central, North, and South) are all obvious. I checked the SeaTac website but couldn't find any mention of it.

thanks!

I think that the TSA website is causing undue confusion with their acronyms. From what I know, there are three security checkpoints - north, central, and south. North serves the D and N gates, Central is for the B and C gates, and South is for the A and S gates. I have found that the North checkpoint tends to be the most crowded. I personally like the South checkpoint.

If you would rather spend your time walking than standing in line, I would pick either the Central or South checkpoint, no matter which gate you are going to. Any checkpoint will get you to anywhere within the secured area. The N and S gates require you to take the underground subway, which is on the secured side of the airport. The rest of the gates are a 10 minute walk from almost anywhere, with the exception of the low numbered A gates which are quite far down towards the south.

During the past year, the most time I have spent in a security line at Sea-Tac is about 20 minutes. I would say that 10 to 15 minutes is typical. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Not sure which TSA website you are seeing SEAC on? The TSA website at:

http://waittime.tsa.dhs.gov

Lists these checkpoints:

Central Checkpoint
FIS Checkpoint
North
South Checkpoint

The FIS Checkpoint stands for "Federal Inspection Service". Not sure why the TSA lists it since it's not open for use by the general public (I'm not sure, but I don't even think it's in the main terminal - anyone know?).

The other three (North, Central, South) are open for all.

As Jeeves states, you can use whichever checkpoint has the shortest line - once airside past security all the concourses are connected and walkable (except North and South you have to take the underground train).


I'll be flying out of SeaTac in the next couple of weeks. I went to the TSA "wait times" website, and it says that the shortest line for security is FIS (which I can't use, given that I depart from SEA!), followed by the "SEAC" checkpoint.

What/where is the SEAC checkpoint? The others (Central, North, and South) are all obvious. I checked the SeaTac website but couldn't find any mention of it.

thanks!

It says FIS (Federal Inspection Services) is located inside customs and immigration as people are transiting to another domestic flight from an international flight.
The checkpoint into C gates was open when I was at the airport. But most of the time it is not open. I almost always head to Central these days even if I have a flight in the D concourse.

I thought I would pass along the following message I've been getting the past week or so from Alaska Air in their Preflight e-mails:

"Passengers traveling out of D gates are advised the North security access at the D concourse is now restricted to two lanes due to TSA activities."

Don't know how long this is in effect. Perhaps another reason to avoid the North checkpoint.

I thought I would pass along the following message I've been getting the past week or so from Alaska Air in their Preflight e-mails:

"Passengers traveling out of D gates are advised the North security access at the D concourse is now restricted to two lanes due to TSA activities."

Don't know how long this is in effect. Perhaps another reason to avoid the North checkpoint.

The C checkpoint (which is between the Central and North checkpoints and usually only used during busy times of year) is open through Monday while the North checkpoint will only have limited lanes open during this time. The TSA is experimenting with different checkpoint arrangements to optimize passenger flow.

All the commercial airline flights, I believe, are accessible from all the security lines.

I normally fly United (which is in the N (North) terminal). There are times when the security line closest to the N gates is way too busy so I've walked down to the C or S gates security lines, gotten done in 10 - 15 mins, and then taken the train(s) to the N terminal.

It says FIS (Federal Inspection Services) is located inside customs and immigration as people are transiting to another domestic flight from an international flight.


Learned something new - thanks!

What are security waits like @ SEA without access to priority lines at 5pm on a Thursday?

What kinds of status will work to get into the priority lines?

Question isn't for me, I've had no problem using UA status even when flying Horizon. (Assume that's standard.)

But I'm wondering whether any airline elite status will do the trick, and if it's even necessary?

Thanks!

You might check the TSA site for SeaTac here:

TSA Sea-Tac Airport Wait times (http://waittime.tsa.dhs.gov/search?airport=SEA&state=WA&day=Thursday&time=17&submit=Submit+Query)

I've found this to be pretty accurate.

Generally you have to have some sort of status or be flying first/business to use the priority lanes. For Star Alliance airlines, this means Star Silver or Star Gold. I'm not familiar with other airline programs, but I would guess that any airline status would work. They don't always check too closely.

30 minutes is the longest I've waited at SEA this year. 10 to 15 is more the norm. Remember that you can go to any checkpoint to access any gate. Sometimes the N/D gates checkpoint is really backed up, but the others are not so bad.

Thanks. Would there be any problem showing, say, an Airtran elite card to access elite security when flying Horizon?

Ah -- elite access IS theoretically segregated by checkpoint (and i'm not sure which concourse AirTran uses at SEA). There is a sign at each checkpoint's fast-track lane showing which elites are allowed to use it (generally the ones whose airlines use proximate gates). I think this policy is enforced sort of sporadically.

At the checkpoint for the C concourse, any Horizon passenger for the PDX shuttle is allowed to use the fast-track lane. If you stood in line for 30 minutes at SEA it'd be just as fast to drive to PDX, downtown-to-downtown.

They check the cards against the boarding pass to ensure that they have the same name. I've seen folks turned away that don't have the appropriate cards. However; with that being said, most of the security takes no longer than 20 minutes except on Sundays when the cruise line returnees are going out.

I'm curious how Seattle handles the holiday travel crush. I'm thinking about driving up from PDX (it's much cheaper, even with parking and gas, to fly out of Seattle this Christmas), and would like to know how much time I'll need to build in. Even at peak holiday times the wait at PDX isn't too bad, anybody with experience care to weigh in?

I'm curious how Seattle handles the holiday travel crush. I'm thinking about driving up from PDX (it's much cheaper, even with parking and gas, to fly out of Seattle this Christmas), and would like to know how much time I'll need to build in. KING5 (local TV) was just this morning running a sort of incoherent, alarmist report, apropos of nothing, about how bad things are going to get at SEA for the holidays -- even though Thanksgiving is more than two months off.

Parking is as big an issue as security time. On-airport day-rate parking fills up fast. You will want to use one of the satellite private lots, and perhaps make a reservation (my favorite: www.shuttlepark2.com). Allow an extra 30+ minutes to find the lot, ditch the car, and ride the shuttle to the terminal.

You will also definitely want to do OLCI and fly without checked baggage if you can. The landside / check-in counter space at SEA is skimpy, far tighter than at PDX, and during the holidays it's a madhouse, with lines stretching out the door into the rain. If you have to check bags use curbside bag check and pay the fee -- if it's not shut down for some security alert.

If you can bypass the check-in counters and go straight to security, I think it would be OK to arrive at the curb (not the parking lot) 2 hours before your departure. I've never seen security lines take more than one hour at SEA. I have, however, stood in a landside check-in line for eight hours (during irrops ten days before Christmas).

I'm curious how Seattle handles the holiday travel crush. I'm thinking about driving up from PDX (it's much cheaper, even with parking and gas, to fly out of Seattle this Christmas)

Even with the reduced Horizon ticket prices?

http://www.alaskasworld.com/Newsroom/QXNews/QXstories/QX_20070826_210454.asp

I'd sure try to take MAX to the airport and hop on the Horizon shuttle rather than deal with Seattle traffic and parking at SeaTac.

We'd never seen such a long elite security line as we did this past Tuesday (day after MLK Day) at 5:00 a.m. Our queue was backed up more than half the way down that glassed-off corridor that runs parallel to the actual TSA checkpoint. The person in line behind us said he flew weekly and had seen this regularly.

As we got toward the front we realized belatedly that there were three screeners checking IDs on the regular line and one for the elite so the regular line was actually moving significantly faster. We still made our flight, the beginning of a long day that ended up in SIN, but it was another of those times that the elite line isn't necessarily the quickest option.

I've seen this myself lately. Mornings are the worst. Something that really seems to compound the problem is that the wheelchairs and crew all cut in to the front of the elite line.

Todays' Seattle Times article on the installation of full-body scanners at Sea-Tac also said, "The North security checkpoint. . .will close Sunday for about two weeks while TSA installs scanners there."

I guess I need to get arrive much earlier as I suspect lines will be longer at the other checkpoints.

Yes -- the mornings (500a-800a) will be hell.

It's kind of odd that they don't have a reopen date. "about two weeks" - is a bit vague. You would think they have a scheduled date for the work to be done.

It looks like the north security checkpoint for the D&N terminals has reopened. I saw this snipet on alaskaair.com today:

SeaTac Security Checkpoint Advisory
Updated: November 1, 2010

The North Security Checkpoint at SeaTac (D gates) have re-opened after the installation of Advanced Imaging Technology (full body) scanners. Please allow additional time for screening if you are using this checkpoint.

I don't think I have been to Seattle airport since 1986 - a long time. What are security lines for Alaska like on a Sunday evening? I have a 7:40PM flight to the SF Bay area.

Thanks in advance.

Hi -
I am trying to figure out how many primary (excluding FIS) checkpoints are at SeaTac airport. According to the MYTSA app, there is a checkpoint for the North Terminal, South Terminal and then 2 for the Main Terminal (Central Checkpoint and Charlie Checkpoint). But the map at SEA's website shows 3 checkpoints for the Central Terminal. Any locals have good insight if there are 2 or 3 in the Central Terminal? And if so, which one is the one that MYTSA refers to as the Charlie Checkpoint?
Thanks so much!
Dan

There are five checkpoints into the main terminal. The north and south satellites do not have independent checkpoints, those are just the two into the main terminal that are closest to their respective shuttle trains.

I'd assume that Charlie Checkpoint is #4, at the foot of C concourse. A/S is #2, Central is #3 and D/N is #5. Checkpoint #1 is rarely open, peak periods only.

This is very helpful - thank you!

There are five checkpoints into the main terminal. The north and south satellites do not have independent checkpoints, those are just the two into the main terminal that are closest to their respective shuttle trains.

I'd assume that Charlie Checkpoint is #4, at the foot of C concourse. A/S is #2, Central is #3 and D/N is #5. Checkpoint #1 is rarely open, peak periods only.

Hi -
I am trying to figure out how many primary (excluding FIS) checkpoints are at SeaTac airport. According to the MYTSA app, there is a checkpoint for the North Terminal, South Terminal and then 2 for the Main Terminal (Central Checkpoint and Charlie Checkpoint). But the map at SEA's website shows 3 checkpoints for the Central Terminal. Any locals have good insight if there are 2 or 3 in the Central Terminal? And if so, which one is the one that MYTSA refers to as the Charlie Checkpoint?
Thanks so much!
Dan


There are 3 checkpoints at SEATAC you can use...one is usually closed. It depends on when you are flying out which one that is.

http://www.airportterminalmaps.com/SEATAC-airport-terminal-map.html

http://www.portseattle.org/Sea-Tac/Maps-and-Directions/Pages/Terminal-Overview.aspx

http://www.portseattle.org/Sea-Tac/Maps-and-Directions/Pages/Central-Terminal.aspx

Usually one of these checkpoints is closed.

The terminal is a parabolic curve shape where two checkpoints are near the ends and the third is in the middle.

There are two exit points from the terminals when you exit to go to baggage claim. These are in between the checkpoints.

To get to North and South Satelites you MUST take the tram that connects to them.

The reason you may have confusion is because on South terminal there is a customs office...non-Canadaian international flights generally arrive here.


As far as the airlines go on these charts...that is in a state of flux right now where airlines will be shifting quite a bit over the next 3 years.

There are 3 checkpoints at SEATAC you can use...one is usually closed. It depends on when you are flying out which one that is.

http://www.airportterminalmaps.com/SEATAC-airport-terminal-map.html

http://www.portseattle.org/Sea-Tac/Maps-and-Directions/Pages/Terminal-Overview.aspx

http://www.portseattle.org/Sea-Tac/Maps-and-Directions/Pages/Central-Terminal.aspx

Usually one of these checkpoints is closed.

The terminal is a parabolic curve shape where two checkpoints are near the ends and the third is in the middle.

There are two exit points from the terminals when you exit to go to baggage claim. These are in between the checkpoints.

To get to North and South Satelites you MUST take the tram that connects to them.

The reason you may have confusion is because on South terminal there is a customs office...non-Canadaian international flights generally arrive here.


As far as the airlines go on these charts...that is in a state of flux right now where airlines will be shifting quite a bit over the next 3 years.

I'm confused about the statement that there are 3 checkpoints and that usually one of them is closed. In my experience, the north and south checkpoints as well as the one the exits into the food court between Terminals B and C are always open. Perhaps they have one closed either very early or late. There is another checkpoint that is often open that exits close to Terminal C near the Alaska Airlines Board Room.