For Busy Travel Week, Sea-Tac Plans Festivities

From Sea-Tac: Costumed characters, reindeer greeting train passengers, live music, and gifts galore will help travelers ring in the holiday season at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The highlight of the season is the daily parade as Frosty the Snowman, Sugar Plum Fairies, Santa and more will march from the C Concourse and wind their way to the Central Terminal.

The characters will also roam through the airport, giving gifts to kids and other travelers, courtesy of the Merchants at Sea-Tac Airport. The parade is at 9:30 a.m., and will be held daily from December 16-24. Santa, his elves and others holiday favorites will be in the terminals from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. through the 23rd, and until noon on Christmas Eve.

Sea-Tac passengers utilizing Link Light Rail will be greeted by live reindeer at the airport train station from 8:00 a.m. to noon on both December 19-20. The Port of Seattle is partnering with Sound Transit to bring the animals to the station, to encourage alternate transportation during the holiday season. Carolers will serenade passengers at the train station those two days as well, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Back inside the airport, carolers singing traditional melodies will be performing both on the secure and non-secure parts of the facility. Travelers will also be able to listen to performances by other musicians, including a harpist and steel drums, in the Central Terminal. Performers and times can be found here. The airport’s regular live music performances will continue during the holidays; for a current schedule, click here.

For passengers looking for that unique last-minute gift, the airport merchants offer a wide variety of items. From 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., volunteers from the USO Northwest will be inside of security checkpoint #3 in the Central Terminal and near Starbucks in Concourse A (near the entrance to the train station) to provide gift wrapping services for donations. Giftwrapping will be offered from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., from Dec. 16-24. Proceeds will go to fund improvements to the USO lounge at the airport, including replacing the accessibility ramp to the lounge.

Holiday Hustle and Bustle
In total, Sea-Tac expects more than two and a half million passengers to pass through the airport between December 15-January 2.

The busiest travel days are projected to be:

• Friday, December 22, (157,800);
• Thursday, December 21 (154,900);
• Friday, Dec. 15 (152,500);

The least busy days will be:

• Sunday, December 31 (99,700);
• Monday, January 1 (108,700);
• Sunday, Dec. 24 (109,200).

Due to heavier volume during the holidays, travelers are encouraged to arrive at Sea-Tac at least two hours before their domestic flight, and three hours before an international departure.

Traveling with Food or Presents?

Food is permitted in carry-on bags, but if travelers don’t plan on eating it in the airport or on board the plane, it’s recommended that any other food is packed in checked luggage. This should speed up the security lines and get passengers to their flights quicker. If traveling with gifts, place them in gift bags instead of wrapping them. If TSA needs to take a closer look at a package, they will unwrap the gift to do their job.

TSA has tips for getting through security here.

Over the River and Through the Woods
Maybe you’re not taking the sleigh to Grandmother’s house for the holidays, but heading to the airport for a flight to visit Granny or pick her up. Be aware – the drives will be congested with lots of people doing the same.

Once again, travelers making their way to the airport are encouraged to take light rail, public transit, taxis or rideshare cars. The shortest way to the airport may not be the most direct; watch this video for travel tips to get to Sea-Tac for your flight or to meet a passenger.

Image via Shutterstock