Seattle-Tacoma SEA Airport Guide: International Arrivals, Concourses, Link
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Seattle, United States: terminals, getting to the city, security, lounges and connections.
Quick answer: Seattle-Tacoma has one main terminal with six concourses: A, B and the S satellite at the south end, and C, D and the N satellite at the north end. International flights arrive at the S gates or at some A gates and feed into the International Arrivals Facility next to Concourse A, where you collect bags and clear US customs. Delta mostly uses A, B and S; Alaska Airlines mostly uses C, D and N. The free SEA Underground train reaches the satellites, and Link light rail runs to downtown Seattle in about 40 minutes.
Facts checked November 2026. Schedules and entry rules change, so confirm with the airline and the official government site before you travel.
SEA at a glance
| Layout | One terminal; concourses A, B, C, D plus the N and S satellites |
|---|---|
| International arrivals | International Arrivals Facility (IAF), next to Concourse A |
| Delta | Mainly A, B and S gates |
| Alaska Airlines | Mainly C, D and N gates |
| To the satellites | Free SEA Underground train: Blue (A, B, S), Green (C, D, N), Yellow (A to D) |
| Rail to the city | Link 1 Line from SeaTac/Airport Station, about 40 minutes to downtown |
| Rideshare and taxis | Level 3 of the parking garage |
How SEA is laid out and which airlines use which gates
Every flight at SEA checks in and clears security in the same Central Terminal. From there, Concourses A, B, C and D are reachable on foot, while the North Satellite (N gates) and South Satellite (S gates) are reached by train.
Delta, which runs a hub at Seattle, uses mainly A, B and S gates. Alaska Airlines, whose home base is Seattle, uses mainly C, D and N gates, and occasionally A and S. Most foreign airlines board at the S gates. Assignments move from day to day, so check your boarding pass and the screens.
The Port of Seattle calls the S Concourse the main hub for international passengers. It dates from the early 1970s, and a large renovation called S Concourse Evolution is planned, with major construction set to start in 2027 and the work done in phases while the concourse stays open.
The International Arrivals Facility
When people search for the Seattle-Tacoma international terminal, they usually mean the International Arrivals Facility, or IAF, which opened in 2022. It is the customs and baggage hall where every international arrival is processed.
If your flight arrives at an S gate, you walk across a long elevated walkway that crosses a taxi lane 85 feet above the ground and is 780 feet long. If you arrive at an A gate, you reach the IAF along an elevated walkway above Concourse A. The IAF took the number of international-capable gates from 12 to 20.
SEA uses a bags-first process: you collect your checked bags, then go through US Customs and Border Protection. Global Entry and Mobile Passport Control lanes can shorten the wait for eligible travellers. The Port says peak periods can take 60 minutes or more.
International connections at SEA
Connecting from an international flight to a domestic one, you clear customs with your bags, stay to the right to recheck them with your airline, and then go through TSA screening inside the IAF. After that checkpoint you come out in Concourse A and walk or take the train to your next gate.
The IAF connection checkpoint is open from 6 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. Pacific time. Outside those hours you leave to the pre-security side and screen at a main checkpoint. TSA PreCheck works only at the main terminal checkpoints, not in the IAF.
The Port of Seattle advises allowing at least 120 to 180 minutes between an international arrival and a domestic connection. Alaska Airlines and Delta agents can help with rebooking if you miss a connection.
SEA Underground: the train to the N and S gates
The SEA Underground is a free train under the airfield, and you need it for the N and S gates. The Blue line loops between Concourses A and B and the S satellite, the Green line loops between Concourses C and D and the N satellite, and the Yellow line runs between Concourses A and D.
Trains come every few minutes. Within the Central Terminal you can walk between the A, B, C and D gates, which is often as quick as waiting for a train.
Getting into Seattle: Link light rail, taxis and rideshare
Link light rail's 1 Line leaves from SeaTac/Airport Station, connected to the terminal through the parking garage. From baggage claim, follow the Link Light Rail signs; the walk to the platform takes about 5 to 10 minutes. Board the northbound train for downtown Seattle, which takes about 40 minutes to Westlake.
Taxis and the Uber and Lyft pickup areas are on Level 3 of the parking garage, across from the Central Terminal. Taxis are the closer of the two.
Lounges at SEA
Delta opened a Delta One Lounge and a second Delta Sky Club in a new building above Concourse A on June 26, 2025, the first Delta One Lounge at Seattle. Delta has also had a Sky Club in the S satellite; check Delta's lounge page for which clubs are open now.
Alaska Airlines runs Alaska Lounges in the N satellite, in Concourse C and in Concourse D. United's club has been in Concourse A, but United's gates and club space at SEA are changing, so check United's lounge page before you go. The Club at SEA, a shared lounge open to paying guests and some lounge programs, has locations in Concourse A and the S satellite.
Entry rules depend on your ticket class, status, credit card or lounge membership. Check the lounge's own page before you rely on it.
Practical tips for SEA
Airlines generally advise arriving 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international one. The free SEA Spot Saver service lets travellers without TSA PreCheck or CLEAR reserve a time at a security checkpoint, which helps at busy times.
Free Wi-Fi covers the airport. If your gate is in the N or S satellite, add a few minutes for the train before boarding.
Route guides from Seattle (SEA)
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Route guides to Seattle (SEA)
Frequently asked questions
Where do international flights arrive at Seattle-Tacoma airport?
At the S gates or some A gates. Passengers then walk to the International Arrivals Facility next to Concourse A to collect bags and clear US customs.
Which concourse is Delta at SEA?
Delta uses mainly the A, B and S gates. Check your boarding pass, because gates change.
Which concourse is Alaska Airlines at SEA?
Alaska uses mainly the C, D and N gates, and occasionally A and S.
How much time do I need for an international to domestic connection at SEA?
The Port of Seattle advises at least 120 to 180 minutes. You clear customs with your bags, recheck them and go through TSA screening before your next flight.
How long is the light rail from SEA airport to downtown Seattle?
About 40 minutes on the Link 1 Line from SeaTac/Airport Station to downtown stations such as Westlake.
Where is rideshare pickup at Seattle airport?
On Level 3 of the parking garage, across from the Central Terminal. Taxis are on the same level, closer to the terminal.
Is there a Delta One Lounge at Seattle?
Yes. Delta opened a Delta One Lounge and a Delta Sky Club above Concourse A on June 26, 2025.
