8 hours layover in Seattle
 

We have an 8 hour layover in Seattle on a Sunday (arrival with Alaska Airlines at ~ 05:00 a.m. in the morning / onward flights with British at ~ 01:00 p.m.). Having read theat security takes quite a while - do you think we have enough time to drive into the city and spend a few hours there (never been so would love to do that)? How much before our onward flight should we leave the city center (by cab and/or train)?

Many thanks for your help :)

You do....but probably only a few hours. And not much is going to be open Sunday morning from 7-10 AM. The weather has been pretty wet and rainy as of late with more of the same this weekend. You might have a backup plan and walk over to 13 Coins, a Seattle institution and across from the airport, for a leisurely breakfast and then maybe hang out in a airport lounge for a spell. That is probably what I would do.

When will this be?

FWIW, SEA has a program that allows you to reserve the time and date that you plan on going through security. I haven't used the program myself (I usually connect through SEA instead of originating there) but it's complimentary and runs during the hours you will be there.

https://www.portseattle.org/SEAspotsaver

I guess Pike Place market would be a good place to start as it opens early (0700 for the fresh food stalls) well before the crowds get there. Do that, have breakfast, wander around further, and get back tot he airport by no later than 1130 (with Spotsaver mentioned above or TAS PreCheck). As for times, does BA really have that early a flight from SEA? That'd be a 05-0600 arrival into LHR.

Take a cab from airport (faster as don't wait for rideshare pickup and cheaper if get flat rate cab) and Uber/Lyft back. Market best bet and can do: Lowell's for sit down brunch, Piroshky Piroshky, Le Panier, Indi Chocolate, Honest Biscuit

BA 52 departs SEA at 13:40 and arrives into LHR at 07:00 +1.

5 am to 1 pm…youdont have much time for a Sunday since many places won’t be open

You need to be back at thr airport at least 90 min before your flight for security

you could hit pike place market around 9 am thrn head back to airport around 1030 am ehivh gives you time to get some food before your flight

^ Helps with same-day connections or if you need to go into the office but pretty ugly otherwise. Get into LHR to start the day when it's late evening (2300) where you left. As ugly as the AF YVR-CDG flight.

Thanks a lot for your suggestions. Will check the weather forecast upfront and might switch plans in case of bad weather.

It will be in May.

Great, thanks a lot for the hint. I will definitely reserve a timeslot in case we decide to go to the city center.

Apologize for the missleading explanation: we have a domestic flight booked from Hawaii which arives at 06:00 a.m. ... the onward flight to London only leaves at 01:00 p.m.

May is during the Alaska cruise season, so security and check-in wait times at SEA can be quite a lot longer than at other times of the year.

Nevertheless, I think you'll be fine to head to the Pike Place market for breakfast and a walk-around as the merchants set up for the day. I'd recommend Lowell's, a traditional diner sort of place with a great view of the harbor. If you can be there by 7 or 7:30, you'll have plenty of time for a meal and a wander, then maybe down the hill to the central waterfront for another stroll. You could easily walk to Waterfront Park and scenic Pier 62, then on to Pier 66, one of Seattle's two cruise terminals, where there will be lots and lots of taxis available for rides to the airport.

Weather more likely to be pleasant or at least o.k. rather than cold/wet/windy for the next couple of months.

As for cruise crowds at SEA, check this schedule
Seattle (Washington) cruise port schedule | CruiseMapper

If there are ships not named "American" or "Safari" in port, it will likely be busy. Most cruisers are in a hurry to get home for budget if not time reasons.