Sea-Tac Airport sees smooth travel day despite holiday rush

SEATAC, Wash. — Thousands of travelers passed through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on one of the busiest travel days following the Thanksgiving holiday. Despite the anticipated rush, many passengers reported a surprisingly smooth experience.

Robert Callahan, a traveler, said, “Traffic getting in is always a bit anxiety-provoking, and with all the construction it was a bit congested, but once I got out of the car, getting to the terminal and checking in was pretty easy.”

Some travelers opted for later flights to avoid the early morning crowds. Debbie Roadarmel, another traveler, said, “We’ve flown out at 5, 6 in the morning and the lines were out the door to the airport, so this time it’s not so bad.”

Airport officials had predicted about 177,000 travelers for the day. Marcia Karfstedt, a traveler, expressed her surprise at the short lines, saying, “I expected more crowds. I really did. I thought I would be waiting in line for half an hour just to check my bag.”

To avoid potential travel headaches, many passengers arrived hours in advance.

Callahan said, “It’s booking 45 more minutes than I think I need because worst-case scenario and add time on top of that, and that usually makes it so that even if things go terrible, you’re still going to get to where you need to be.”

The airport did not experience major delays or cancellations, a relief for many travelers. This comes as airlines are now required to provide refunds for significant delays under a new Department of Transportation rule.

Roadarmel commented on the change, saying, “It’s a decent thing to do, especially if people have a layover and they’re not going directly home. Then yeah, and if they need a place to stay, it’s the right thing to do.”

As the holiday travel season continues, officials advise travelers to arrive early, check into flights in advance, and prepare for potential delays and long lines.