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It's a busy time of year for air travel and if getting to your turkey dinner involves a trip from Sea-Tac Airport here are some tips and updates to help speed and ease your journey.
Check-in from home. Most airlines offer Web check-in. You can print your boarding pass at home; if you don't have luggage to check you can bypass the ticket counter completely and go straight through the security checkpoint and your gate.
Check the status of your flight online or via text messaging before you leave home.
Get to the airport at least two hours before departure.
Pack with airport security in mind. Know what is and isn't allowed in carry-ons and checked luggage. Remember to leave checked luggage unlocked or use a TSA-approved lock (your luggage may be opened for security reasons).
Know your limit. You're allowed to board the plane with only one carry-on bag and one personal item like a purse, briefcase or laptop. Most airlines have weight limits for checked luggage and will charge a hefty fee if you exceed them. Check directly with your airline for what flies.
Park in the Airport Garage. It's connected to the Main Terminal by covered skybridges (stay dry), you're right at the airport, no shuttle buses to deal with (save time) check out the discounted weekly rates (save money). And the Airport Garage's new floor count system takes the guess work out of finding available parking and speeds the journey from car to flight. Remember to note where you've parked (space number and elevator color).
Fuel up for the flight . In-flight meals have gone the way of printed airline tickets – they hardly exist. Dine at the airport to grab some take-out for the trip. The options are delicious.
If it's a been a while since you've flown, you'll find some changes at the security checkpoints.
Remote control toys: The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has stepped up inspection of remote-control toys at airport security checkpoints. Passengers carrying these toys, including children, may be subject to additional security. While remote-control toys are still allowed on planes, the TSA recommends that they be packed in checked luggage.
Large electronic items. These items must be removed from carry-ons for separate inspection. Items that now need to be screened separately include:
The new requirement does not affect electronic items in checked luggage.
Cigarette lighters. Most types of cigarette lighters are once again allowed in carry-on luggage. The ban has been lifted on disposable butane lighters, such as Bics, and refillable lighters, such as Zippos. Torch lighters, which have a hotter flame, will continue to be banned.
Breast milk. Mothers flying with, and now without , their child are now permitted to bring breast milk in quantities greater than three ounces as long as it is declared for inspection at the security checkpoint.
3-1-1 Rule: 3 (ounces), 1 (quart), 1 (bag): The TSA rule for carry-on liquids has been in place for a while, but is an especially important one to note if you don't want to be forced to throwaway your t vintage wine or pricey cosmetics.
All liquids, gels and aerosols must be packed in a single, one-quart , zip-top, clear plastic bag. Larger bags or bags that are not zip-top, such as fold-over sandwich bags, are not allowed. Each traveler may carry-on only one plastic bag of liquids and gels and it must be inspected separately. Travelers should remove their quart-sized plastic bag from their carry-on luggage and place it on the conveyer belt for screening.
Larger amounts of liquids can be carried in checked luggage.
Shortening your time in airline ticket counter lines is always a great strategy. New technology offers two alternatives for travelers.
Alaska Airlines “Airport of the Future” Customer Check-In Facility. Alaska's facility features customer-friendly islands of check-in kiosks and bag-check stations. Customers can print their boarding passes at the check-in kiosks. Passengers with only carry-on baggage then proceed directly to the security checkpoint. Passengers with luggage to check proceed to one of the bag-check points, where customer service employees scan customers' boarding passes and affix bag tags.
Checking In for Flights in Sea-Tac's Garage. Travelers on five airlines – Alaska, Continental, Horizon, Northwest and United - can check in and print their boarding pass right as they enter the Airport from the parking garage. The quick check-in kiosks enable travelers without luggage to print their boarding pass and head straight for the security checkpoint and their departure gate. Travelers with luggage on Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air can get their boarding pass and then take their luggage right to their airline's bag drop area.
The quick check-in kiosks are located on the fourth floor of the garage at the entrances to Skybridges 2-6 .