Spring Break Means Larger Crowds at Sea-Tac

Air travel numbers growing steadily toward pre-9/11 levels

(Seattle)-Spring break means Seattle-Tacoma International Airport might soon see some of the busiest travel days in six months.

"Our two busiest carriers, United and Alaska, are reporting strong bookings for later in the week," said Gina Marie Lindsey, Managing Director of Aviation for the Port of Seattle. "Because United and Alaska share a security checkpoint, there is the potential for long lines to clear security."

"Travelers should plan to arrive at the airport two hours before their flights depart," said Lindsey. "Morning flights are expected to have especially high passenger loads."

Travelers can also speed their trip through security by following a few simple tips:

Pack smart. Avoid having prohibited items in your carry-on. You can check at the ticket counter for a current list of prohibited items. Airlines will gladly allow you to put such items in your checked luggage.
Avoid wearing anything metallic on the day you fly. That could include large jewelry items, clothing with metal zippers or accessories, and shoes with steel toes or shanks.
Only one carry-on bag is allowed through checkpoints, along with a small personal item such as a purse or laptop case.
Have your ticket or boarding pass ready when you approach the checkpoint. Only ticketed passengers are allowed through, and documents will be checked.

Other airlines are reporting a similar rebound in air travel. Passenger counts at Sea-Tac have been recovering steadily in the days since 9/11. February counts were down only 7 percent from February 2001.

"We're starting to see the airline business stabilize," said Lindsey. "Airlines are recovering financially. They're restoring routes and increasing the frequency of service on existing routes."

Lindsey considers that great news for the industry, but notes that the result could be a very busy airport over the next several days.

"We're working right now to double the screening capacity of our checkpoints," she said. "But until those services can be brought online, the best bet for travelers is to pack smart and get to the airport early."