SEA is a mess
Jul 25, 2018, 4:03 pm
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2003
Location: PDX USA
Programs: AS MVPG, AA, BA, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold, Hyatt Platinum, IHG, Hertz 5*
Posts: 690
yes, SEA is a disaster, I am really curtailing my travel through there the past 2 years and trying to limit it to "by necessity only", though I do often choose to connect outbound internationally as it's the best of the bad options on DL. returning, I try to connect in SLC, because the SEA customs situation has become a real nightmare.
Jul 25, 2018, 4:13 pm
#17
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SEA
Programs: AS 100K, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 876
Ha...just actually trying to drive into Arrivals and Departures is a nightmare. I flew in on a Sunday evening 2 weeks ago and traffic was backed up down the main highway into 518, and then into I5. It must have been a two hour wait to just get to the Airport. SeaTac better figure it out quick or that board of commissioners needs to be voted out quick!
Jul 25, 2018, 4:32 pm
#18
Join Date: May 2006
Location: TUS/PDX
Programs: WN CP/A-List, AS MVPG75K
Posts: 5,798
Ha...just actually trying to drive into Arrivals and Departures is a nightmare. I flew in on a Sunday evening 2 weeks ago and traffic was backed up down the main highway into 518, and then into I5. It must have been a two hour wait to just get to the Airport. SeaTac better figure it out quick or that board of commissioners needs to be voted out quick!
HAVE to get picked up downstairs, it’s easier to get dropped on International and walk over. Especially now that the weather is so nice.
Jul 25, 2018, 5:16 pm
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,371
for those of us who live here, Link Light Rail is a tremendous asset ... my wife and I use the Kiss-and-Ride at the airport light rail station as our dropoff/pickup point when I'm arriving or departing late in the evening, and if I drive myself to or from I'll generally park at the Crowne Plaza ($9/day) and walk the short block to the station
Jul 25, 2018, 5:18 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,458
Once the new international arrivals facility is complete, the international connections will be much better.
Jul 25, 2018, 5:19 pm
#21
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 2,400
I just got back from a trip where I left SEA on a Sunday. I forgot how bad it can be on Sundays, but it was even worse than in the past. I think I will go back to my SAT-TUES trips instead of SUN-WED, it was that bad. Not sure there is a whole lot they can do to improve flow. I flew into Vegas, and it sure makes me happy that they went against the naysayers and went ahead with the new terminal when the economy tanked. It is easy and uncrowded.
Jul 25, 2018, 5:20 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,458
Ha...just actually trying to drive into Arrivals and Departures is a nightmare. I flew in on a Sunday evening 2 weeks ago and traffic was backed up down the main highway into 518, and then into I5. It must have been a two hour wait to just get to the Airport. SeaTac better figure it out quick or that board of commissioners needs to be voted out quick!
Jul 25, 2018, 5:24 pm
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,371
Jul 25, 2018, 5:43 pm
#24
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 2,400
The funny thing, I breezed through TSA, but the hallways were just a sea of people. It was Sunday from about 1-3pm. I do not think I have ever seen it that busy. I have a flight Aug 19 (another Sunday) and that should be my last flight during cruise season.
Jul 25, 2018, 6:57 pm
#25
Join Date: Nov 2015
Programs: DL, Marriott & IHG Platty; HH Diamonte
Posts: 861
I have missed my last two connections in Seattle. In both cases, the originating flight departed on time, but it is now impossible to make many connections at SEA with less than 60 minutes due to crowding. In both cases, the connecting gate agent closed the door at T-15, even knowing we were sprinting to reach them. In both cases, the connecting gate agent was extremely rude and downgraded us from paid F to Y when reaccomodating. In both cases, we were refused any compensation above the suspiciously low refund of fare difference to which we were entitled (the latest one came in at $49 on what was, as I recall, about a $400 ticket).
I usually qualify any grievances against Alaska with “but I still love them!” That is getting harder to do.
But I still love them!
I usually qualify any grievances against Alaska with “but I still love them!” That is getting harder to do.
But I still love them!
For example, we had a 43 minute connection yesterday at SEA with Alaska and I managed to run outside and have a smoke and make it back for a quick beer with my wife and a shot (patron blanco). Granted she started drinking her beer while I was outside.
Personally I typically fly Delta, but i did a status match with Alaska earlier this year to 75k and on every flight we just took with them, they acknowledged my loyalty and did something to confirm that loyalty...I thought it was nice as Delta doesn't do that as frequently.
Jul 25, 2018, 7:04 pm
#26
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Alaska 100K - MM, defender of shoes on the carpeted bulkhead 4ever, AA LT PLT, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia
Posts: 7,446
Ha...just actually trying to drive into Arrivals and Departures is a nightmare. I flew in on a Sunday evening 2 weeks ago and traffic was backed up down the main highway into 518, and then into I5. It must have been a two hour wait to just get to the Airport. SeaTac better figure it out quick or that board of commissioners needs to be voted out quick!
Jul 25, 2018, 7:33 pm
#28
Join Date: May 2003
Location: SFO, mostly
Posts: 2,204
SEA was actually pretty nice to fly through during the 2009-2013 period (post-third runway opening, pre-massive Delta buildup of flights). The ATC delays on short flights are frustrating, as well as the longer taxi times. PDX is my favorite for connections, although I would still pick SEA over SFO.
Jul 25, 2018, 8:30 pm
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,371
Jul 25, 2018, 11:46 pm
#30
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SEA
Programs: AS 100K, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 876
Thats been getting more and more crowded by the Uber drivers as well. :/ Thankfully I live south and can just enter/exit the airport via Angle Lake. Fall cannot come soon enough.