Non-Travelers can now follow their loved ones to the gate at Sea-Tac Airport

Dec 16 2019, 6:57 pm

Those who often travel alone understand the sadness of leaving a loved one behind while they enter security and look back for one last wave. Thanks to the Sea-Tac SEA Visitor Pass, this no longer needs to be the norm.

The SEA Visitor Pass, a program that received over 1,100 participants in less than six weeks last year, returns to the Seattle-Tacoma Airport beginning today, December 16. It allows non-travelers to enter the post-security side of the airport from 8 am to 9 pm, even if they’re not flying out of Sea-Tac that day.

The pass program is intended for personal use and allows approved visitors to not only spend some extra time with friends and family but also to plane-watch as well as shop and dine at the airport.

According to a blog post by the Port of Seattle, the Lehman family of Lynnwood used the program to greet their family at the gate. “We absolutely loved our experience with Visitor Pass!” said Tana Lehman. “Our daughter loved to surprise her grandpa at the gate. It reminded me of when I was younger and we’d get to see people off or welcome them home from their journey.”

 

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Those wanting to get the pass will have to apply online with their full legal name, date of birth, and gender. While applications open a week before the date of flight, only 100 non-travelers will be admitted each day on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the daily quota has been met, applications will close.

Each application is then reviewed by the Transportation Security Administration, who sends back approval status within the requested date. Those approved for entry will receive a QR code that must be brought along with an ID to Checkpoint three — the only checkpoint that lets visitors in.

“At SEA we get that we are not just a building, we are a place where people’s lives happen,” says Port of Seattle Commissioner Ryan Calkins. “As much as we think about how our space and facilities impact the passenger experience, we are also focused on how the airport feels and the opportunities for connection. We guarantee SEA Visitor Pass will make memories.”

Alyssa TherrienAlyssa Therrien

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