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Why is Sea-Tac Airport so busy right now?

Warmer weather means a busy summer travel season ahead. There may be longer than usual lines and delays at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac).

Airport officials told KIRO Newsradio that things could get worse as Memorial Day weekend approaches.

“I highly recommend using one of the rideshare programs. Light rail is a great way to get to the airport without having to worry about parking a car or driving,” Sea-Tac Airport spokesman Peter McGraw told KIRO Newsradio.

He added that the volume of people traveling has now returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Other news: Progress or problem? Seattle's population continues to grow, but growth has slowed

McGraw recommends checking Sea-Tac Airport's website for travel recommendations beforehand. However, as a rule of thumb, you should be at the airport two to three hours before your scheduled departure.

To stay up to date on security checkpoint wait times, travelers can download the flySEA app. The app provides information on ground transportation, parking, security checks, international travel and more.

Travelers can also reserve their parking space online in advance to secure a space in the airport garage.

Another tip is to use SEA Spot Saver. According to Sea-Tac's website, visitors can pre-register at the ticketing level of the terminal up to five days before their flight or upon arrival at the airport. After registering, travelers can secure their place in the security queue. Then go to the assigned checkpoint at the selected time and look for the SEA Spot Saver logo.

Visitors can also view Airport Drive's live cameras. To check traffic click here.

For any additional questions about the airport, visit the Port of Seattle website.

Contributor: Tom Brock, KIRO Newsradio

Julia Dallas is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read their stories here. Follow Julia on X Here and send her an email here.

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