If you’ve flown through a US airport recently, you may have noticed that security wait times are in some cases getting long. Some TSA checkpoints simply aren’t staffed to handle the influx of travelers, though the TSA is working on hiring thousands of people ahead of the summer travel rush.
Continue reading: SeaTac Airport Now Lets You Make TSA Screening Appointments
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
No one wants to make another appointment and interact with another half-baked, failure-prone tech system. Just hire enough people so we don’t have to worry about it
This sounds like the Verifly program they Have at Denver - you make an appointment for screenings.
SeaTac barely has any landside retailers they could instead be spending their time in - does a Hudson News and a Starbucks count?
Denver just ended their Verifly program, which had the same reservation concept.
Still do not get this... why someone would reserve this while you could simply wait in line and do it whenever you want? what if you arrive late or earlier?
...Or just get precheck? My goodness.
I would imaging the venn diagram of people who use this program, and people who bring a lot of guests to the Centurion Lounge has a lot of overlap.
Also probably a lot of selfies about their 'upgrade' to Main Cabin Extra.
@Jerry - that's simply not an option for many people who live in and around Seattle.
There's a large contingent of staff (and their families) working for the various large technology companies in the area that do not qualify for TSAPre/Global Entry.
This -> "SeaTac barely has any landside retailers they could instead be spending their time in – does a Hudson News and a Starbucks count?" and the wine bar (which I suspect is closed in the mornings).
Plus the morning rush queues block the front of some of these landslide spaces, so its not a pleasurable waiting area.
I am sure its well intended but will interesting if anyone uses it more than once.
@UA- I've never heard of this—that one's employer could disqualify them for PreCheck/GlobalEntry. I'm truly curious; could you tell me more?
@Scudder: @UA did not say that an employer could be a disqualifier for PreCheck/Global Entry. From the TSA website: "The TSA PreCheck® application program membership is only open to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals and lawful permanent residents. Applicants may be ineligible due to incomplete or false application information, violations of transportation security regulations, or disqualifying criminal offenses and factors." ... this means that people lawfully present in the US working on a H1b visa aren't eligible since they are not US citizens/nationals, nor are they green card holders.
@UA you make a good point, but Indian, UK, German, Korean, Taiwanese, Mexican, Swiss, Singaporean passport holders (and others) can apply for Global Entry and are then eligible. That covers a lot of the travelers you refer to.
Nonetheless, H1B visas aren't unique to Seattle, and I think this program is silly.
Zero faith that SeaTac can do this competently. Every time that I flew there it is complete chaos. Worst airport experience in the USA.
@Esquire - There will always be queues, even with more staff checking ID's and working the scanners. Plenty of people would be happy to use a service like this if it meant not having to stand squeezed up against strangers in a queue during COVID.
@Henry - To your first question about why people wouldn't just want to stand in line breathing strangers air. Yes, you're about to go on an airplane with a bunch of strangers which has it's own risks, that doesn't mean you need to go around taking preventable risks. I've got the vaccine but I don't go around licking sweet sweet door knobs.
As for TSA, the article seems to indicate it will not be part of this reservation program. I'm guessing their lines are short/spaced enough.
@Capo Maf1a - "Worst airport experience in the USA." - you need to visit more airports dude.
SeaTac can be insane at times. I've seen TSA lines take over an hour. If someone can reserve a time and breeze through it's a total win.
@Jerry - Mexican nationals qualify for the TN visa. Seeking the H-1B in such a case is nuts.
Not every foreign national working for a technology firm in Seattle is there on an H-1B visa - plenty of those in that situation are on other visa types (I'm not sure where this idea of "foreign tech worker" = "H-1B holder" comes from, but it's very common).
For Indian nationals, the first step of the application process actually has to occur in India, which is impossible at present and non-trivial at the best of times for those already in the US.
There are plenty of people working for the large technology firms in-and-around Seattle that do not qualify that are not from the countries you've listed - for example, there's a large number of Australians here that normally travel frequently, do not have a simple path toward permanent residency due to their visa type and do not qualify for Global Entry/TSAPre.
And Australians are but one example.
The last two times I've flown out of CLT and LAS (once just two weeks ago) it took me less than 15 minutes to get through TSA without pre-check of any kind. Now perhaps I was just very lucky. But I can't imagine myself having to make an appointment to get through TSA.
I get to the airport early and I do not rush. I'm a 70 year old lady. Travel alone most of the time and I don't have to hurry.
If this works and you can sail through TSA, then God bless your cotton socks. I hope that it makes you happy.
I'll continue to get to the airport when I get to the airport.
BetaBoston: Logan Airport is running a pilot program to let travelers skip security lines.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/06/04/business/logan-airport-is-running-pilot-program-let-travelers-skip-security-lines/
Looks like more hopping on the idea
I stumbled upon your post and was hoping the information was still relevant.... while it seems you can still book TSA Security appointments at SEA if you are flying Alaskan Airlines, you cannot if you are flying another airline (I was flying American Airlines; domestic). I did try this: "Once you arrive at the airport head to Checkpoint 2 and scan the QR code, or text “ready” to 833-435-0591 once you’re in the terminal; there’s no option to make an appointment in advance" - it didn't work.
Going through security wasn't too bad though (at the same time... it was early in the morning - I had a 7:30am flight on a Wednesday morning mid-May 2022).
Good luck and safe travels to all!