What is the minimum connection time for Delta in Seattle?
For domestic-to-domestic connections at Seattle, 30 minutes is Delta's published "minimum connection time." Most likely both the arriving flight and the departing flight will both be from the south satellite at SEA, so you'll just walk from one gate to the other, a matter of yards.
When scheduling connections from an international flight at SEA we recommend that you schedule at least 120 to 180 minutes between flights to allow enough time for processing to prevent missed connections for your next boarding times.
Concourse A, Main Terminal
Seattle - Tacoma International Airport's concourse A (Main Terminal) serves American Airlines, ATA, China Airlines, Delta Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiians Airlines, and Sun Country Airlines. It contains gates A1 - A14.
That depends. You don't say where you are going or where you're coming from. If you flew in on a domestic flight and are flying out domestic you probably have enough time unless it's a holiday or super busy for some other reason. If you're flying out International, you might make it but you'll probably have to hurry.
When should I arrive at the airport? Arrive two hours before your boarding time for domestic flights and three hours before for international flights. Get here early so you'll have plenty of time to check in, go through security, find your gate, and explore our shops and restaurants!
You must collect your baggage, and clear Customs, even if it's tagged to your final destination. If your baggage is checked to your final destination, and you are in possession of a boarding pass, follow the Orange lane after Customs, where your baggage will be placed on a transfer belt.
Recommended minimum connection times
Here's what the official rules are when booking: American: Reported to be 25 minutes. Delta: 30-minute minimum connection time.
Seattle/Tacoma – Delta's primary West Coast hub. The hub serves as an international gateway to Asia for the Western United States. Delta service also includes many major U.S. destinations as well as regional destinations in the Pacific Northwest.
Get to all gates: The A, B, C, and D Concourses are all connected and you can walk or take the train to any of those four. To get to the N and S Concourses, you'll have to take SEA Underground since they're not connected to other gates. Made it through security? Find the nearest train station to you.
Passengers from international flights arrive and will claim all their luggage at the International Arrivals Facility. It typically takes 60 or more minutes to clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection, though it may take longer during peak periods when multiple flights arrive at once.
Is Seattle airport hard to navigate?
The airport is easy to get to from I-5 via Highway 518, from 99, and from 509. The approaches to the arrivals and departures, short- and long-term parking areas are well-labeled, so driving in by car is also easy, as long as the pick-up area isn't too crowded.
No, if your first flight is delayed and you won't make it in time to catch your connecting flight, the plane won't wait for you. However, if you're travelling on a through-ticket, the airline must rebook you on their next available flight to your destination, provided that there are seats available.
If your itinerary was purchased as one ticket (as in: you have only one itinerary and one confirmation number), and the connection time was too short and you miss the second (or third) flight, you can rest easy, no matter what happens. The airline will simply put you onto the next available flight, free of charge.
Current Average TSA Wait Time at SEA
This average wait time is based on the current time (Pacific Standard Time). Please expect to wait up to at least (23 mins) on average to go through security checkpoints at SEA.
If you are departing on a domestic flight, we recommend travelers arrive 2 hours prior to departure. For international destinations, we recommend arriving 3 hours prior to departure.
| Current TSA Wait Time | 12 minutes |
|---|---|
| 9 pm - 10 pm | 1.5 minutes |
| 10 pm - 11 pm | 6.1 minutes |
| 11 pm - 12 am | 8.6 minutes |
| Last Updated | Sunday April 2, 2023 10:40:00 AM ET |
And if at all your missed connection is a fault of your airline, might be due to immigration and custom checking, then the airline should re-book your ticket on their next flight. And if the flight is late, then the airline should also provide meals and accommodation to you. But that totally depends on the airline.
For connecting domestic flights, you almost never have to exit and reenter security, though there are some exceptions at airports where the terminals aren't all connected. For domestic-to-international connection, it's still pretty rare that you have to exit and reenter security, even if you're changing terminals.
You'll need to clear customs and immigration. Next, you'll recheck your luggage for the domestic flight. Finally, you'll need to go through Transportation Security Administration screening.
Many Delta flights have short layovers of 30-40 minutes for a few reasons. First, it allows the airline to maximize their efficiency by quickly turning around planes and getting them back in the air as soon as possible. This helps keep costs down and ensures that passengers can get to their destination on time.
What happens if Delta connecting flight is delayed?
Delta will rebook you on the next available flight
If you experience a delay, cancellation or other operational disruptions, Delta will automatically attempt to rebook you on the next available flight. The airline will also make every reasonable effort to reroute your checked baggage on the same flight.
The main disadvantage of the delta-delta transformer is that there is no star-point or neutral terminal available. Therefore, the delta-delta connected transformer is used when neither primary nor secondary requires neutral terminal and the voltages are low and moderate.
Delta's longest nonstop flight in the world is Johannesburg to Atlanta. With a scheduled flight time of 16 hours and 48 minutes, you'll have time to sit back, relax and enjoy the 8,439-mile journey. #PhotogInFlight credit: Jack H. Valter Mehl and 4,006 others like this.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
SEA serves as a hub for both Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Seattle's location as the closest West Coast city to both Europe and Asia makes it an ideal international gateway, a fact that has made Seattle one of the fastest-growing airports in North America...
The A, B, C and D Concourse are all connected and any of the four can be reached by walking or by the SEA Underground shuttle train.
How far is the airport from the pier? Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is located 15 miles from downtown Seattle. Depending on traffic, the drive could take 30-45 minutes.
Yes, one hour is enough time for a layover when making a connecting flight in many airports. However, if you are flying from a destination known to have delays or flying international you may want to choose a flight that allows for more time.
| Ranking | Airport | Terminal Acreage |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Denver | 33,531 acres |
| 6 | John F. Kennedy (New York) | 4,930 acres source |
| 7 | San Francisco | 4,899 acres source |
| 8 | Sea-Tac | 2,500 acres |
Travelers can access all gates from any checkpoint.
There are five main checkpoints at SEA Airport featuring general, premium, CLEAR, TSA PreCheck, and ADA-friendly screening.
How do I get through customs faster?
Trusted Traveler Program Enrollment
Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Members enter the United States through automatic kiosks at select airports.
Tip 1: Know peak times at the airport and schedule around it
Let's face it — it's almost always busy. But early mornings, midday, and late evenings are peak times for departing, connecting, and arriving flights.
With over 50 million passengers in 2019, Sea-Tac is one of the nation's Top 10 busiest airports, according to the news release. The new site will allow the airport to add two more lanes to the checkpoint and increase its screening capacity from 540 passengers every hour to 940, Cooper said.
Terminal Overview
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) consists of one terminal with 6 gates.
In a passenger context, MCT is defined as the shortest time interval required in order to transfer a passenger and his luggage from one flight to a connecting flight, in a specific location or metropolitan area.
Give yourself a fighting chance
As a rule of thumb, on domestic routes, you need a minimum of 45 minutes between flights. That's because you don't have to go through security, customs, and immigration.
They usually won't. However, if the delay is due to crew, mechanical problems, etc., then they will provide a hotel room for you if you miss the connection. In either case, they'll rebook you on the first flight with an available seat the next day.
In most cases, a 30-minute layover for domestic flights and an hour for international flights is considered a minimum, or short, layover.
Connections of less than an hour usually are possible if everyone in your party is fit and healthy, and you do not have gate-checked items such as a stroller. For peace of mind, particularly when connecting in a large city, try to schedule a layover of at least 60 minutes.
Two hours. Mayers recommends two hours as a standard buffer between flights to be safe. This gives you a cushion in case things go wrong during your journey. You'll definitely want at least a two-hour window if you've booked a “hacker fare,” as opposed to flying with the same airline your entire trip.
Is the new terminal at SeaTac too small?
SeaTac Airport's new international arrivals facility is supposed to accommodate 20 wide body jets, but can only fit 16 at a time, due to the layout. This is now leading to lawsuits between the Port of Seattle and the construction company responsible for the project.
The difference between Clear and TSA PreCheck
Bypassing security vs. shortening the wait. TSA PreCheck allows you to go through a shorter security line and undergo less strict screening requirements (i.e. don't need to take off shoes).
1. Miami International Airport. Taking into account the average wait times for both security checks and passport control, it's Miami International where travelers face the longest waits.
What is a good connection time? Travel advisers say there's a lot to take into account when booking connecting flights, but a general rule of thumb is 60-90 minutes between domestic flights and at least two to three hours for international itineraries.
An MCT is set by the airports (not airlines) and is considered to be the minimum amount of time required to transfer from an incoming flight to another flight (international or domestic) by an able-bodied person given the circumstances involved in that transfer.
Every airline sets minimum connection times at each airport. Domestic are usually 30-60 minutes. International will be longer due to immigration/customs requirements. Larger, congested airports will require a longer time than a small airport.
Concourse A, Main Terminal
Seattle - Tacoma International Airport's concourse A (Main Terminal) serves American Airlines, ATA, China Airlines, Delta Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiians Airlines, and Sun Country Airlines. It contains gates A1 - A14.
Skip the Security Line from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Your time while traveling is important, SEA Spot Saver can help! Experience expedited screening without a membership and all contact-free. Passengers flying out of Seattle can schedule your appointment for screening beforehand or when you're at the terminal!
Making a reservation in advance is a great way to skip TSA's sometimes exorbitantly long lines. However, if you're flying out of an airport that doesn't have this program, you may instead want to consider enrolling in TSA PreCheck or Clear.
The recommended layover time for international flights is generally longer, as you will have to go through customs and immigration before boarding your next flight. In most cases, a 30-minute layover for domestic flights and an hour for international flights is considered a minimum, or short, layover.
How long does it take to get through customs at Sea Tac?
Passengers from international flights arrive and will claim all their luggage at the International Arrivals Facility. It typically takes 60 or more minutes to clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection, though it may take longer during peak periods when multiple flights arrive at once.
- This connector will take you to each train station hub of the S, B, and A Concourses and the N, C, and D Concourses!
- These stations are at the D and A Concourses and you can even take a shuttle between the two stations if needed.
Although it's difficult to say exactly how much time should be left between connecting flights, you should always try to have at least an hour for domestic connecting flights and at least two hours for international connecting flights.
Do connecting flights wait for delayed passengers? No, if your first flight is delayed and you won't make it in time to catch your connecting flight, the plane won't wait for you.
What happens if a flight is delayed and you miss your connection? If you miss your connection due to a delay, usually the airline is responsible for providing you with a replacement flight to your destination. They will have to book you on the earliest possible flight available.
The airline will simply put you onto the next available flight, free of charge. No need to worry uselessly.
How long does customs usually take? On average, it takes travelers 17 minutes and 53 seconds to get through Immigration and Customs. This number will vary based on the airport you're traveling through, the time of year you're traveling, and the time of day you're arriving at the airport.
Delta Sky Club, Concourse A near gate 1.
The airport is easy to get to from I-5 via Highway 518, from 99, and from 509. The approaches to the arrivals and departures, short- and long-term parking areas are well-labeled, so driving in by car is also easy, as long as the pick-up area isn't too crowded.
They will leave to stay on time if they can. You will be booked on the next available flight. Air traffic is like dominoes. If one flight is delayed in departure, it can keep another plane from the gate, resulting in that one being delayed in arrival.
Is 1 hour 30 enough for connecting flights?
If you can't avoid connecting, don't book the shortest layover, because you'll be building in stress and the possibility of missing your flight. A 1-hour layover is not enough anymore. Thirty minutes, not a chance. In most cases, 3 hours is safe.