Delta Air Lines Seattle Tacoma
Photograph ©2013 by Brian Cohen.

New Free Pilot Fast Track Security Screening at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

A new fast track program — which allows a limited number of travelers to reserve a time slot for general screening every morning between 4:00 and noon daily at three security checkpoints at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport — is now in effect on a pilot basis by the Port of Seattle…

New Free Pilot Fast Track Security Screening at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

…and the best part of this pilot program — which is officially called SEA Spot Saver — is that it is free of charge to all departing passengers of either Alaska Airlines or Delta Air Lines, as long as appointments are available. You can schedule your appointment for screening either prior to leaving for the airport or when you are at the terminal — but keep in mind that appointments are limited.

If you miss your appointment time for whatever reason, you will be given a grace period of up to 15 minutes beyond your appointment time.

The five steps on how SEA Spot Saver works is:

  1. Start by selecting the airline with which you will be flying as a passenger — either:
  2. Fill out your name, the number of people in your party, and other important information to save your spot.
  3. Once you are at the airport, do whatever you need or want to do in the meantime. Check your bags, grab some coffee, spend more time with loved ones, or all of the above!
  4. Go to your assigned checkpoint and look for the SEA Spot Saver logo — or use this interactive map for step-by-step directions.
  5. Show your confirmation of your appointment to members of the staff at the airport and go through screening at the security checkpoint.

Not the First Innovative Program For Seattle–Tacoma International Airport

SEA Spot Saver is not the first program which was piloted by the Port of Seattle.

Seattle–Tacoma International Airport — in cooperation with the Transportation Security Administration — allows the public to access shops and restaurants beyond the security checkpoint of the terminal without requiring the purchase of an airline ticket with the SEA Visitor Pass, which was first introduced in November of 2018; but the program is currently suspended due to the current 2019 Novel Coronavirus pandemic.

When this program will resume is unknown at the time that this article was written.

Summary

If you are not a member of either the TSA Pre✓ Program of the Transportation Security Administration or Global Entry of Customs and Border Protection of the United States — both of which charge fees — you might benefit from the SEA Spot Saver program…

…and note that SEA Spot Saver is only available to general screening passengers to help provide a better screening experience for those without a trusted traveler program and create efficiency where the highest demand is experienced — meaning that members of CLEAR, TSA Pre✓, and other trusted traveler programs can use SEA Spot Saver if they want; but they will be unable to use the benefits of their respective trusted traveler programs.

Keep in mind that this pilot program is only available through Tuesday, August 31, 2021. If the pilot program is officially deemed successful, not only will it likely be launched on a permanent basis at an unspecified date in the future; but it will likely include members of trusted traveler programs in the future.

In my opinion, a systemwide program similar to the SEA Spot Saver program should have been the de facto program for passengers to pass through airport security checkpoints instead of the TSA Pre✓ program for the reasons which are specified in the following articles which are posted here at The Gate:

Photograph ©2013 by Brian Cohen.

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