The line went swiftly. The TSA agents were friendly enough. TSA gets a lot of hate but they're just trying to keep us safe so everybody needs to plan ahead, arrive at the airport with time to spare and just relax. read more

Easy, smooth and efficient. Hassle-free. Was a breeze to get through and made fora positive airport experience.

Why? Why be cruel for no legitimate reason. My niece was made to strip down to her sports bra. Our TSA pre check and clear statuses were ignored. I was screamed at, " WHERE IS YOUR CARD?" It turns out that the agent checking me in didn't bother with the special card. They threw my stuff deliberately, it felt like they were trying to agitate me. They yelled at me until I cried. Then it was over like that. WTF for real?! I witnessed others getting treated even worse than we did. They demanded a lady in a wheelchair to walk who clearly couldn't. The public humiliation was real and they should be ashamed. I don't understand why the staff would be directed to treat citizens so roughly. read more

There is a saying: "Never ask a woman who is eating ice cream straight from the carton how she's doing. " The same goes for the TSA agents here, It's best not to talk to them. Most of the TSA agents here act like sociopaths with the interpersonal skills of a wolverine. Perhaps it's because they are grumpy from having to repeat directions too many times to folks that don't listen or have difficulty comprehending what they are shouting in the midst of all the noise. Doubly so if the TSA agent has an accent. Its even hardercto decipher in a noisy environment. This is an " international " airport , so a little more grace with foreign travelers or the hard of hearing would be appreciated. We already feel a little like prisoners when we have to remove our shoes, jewelry and belts ( I apologize to the lady behind me that I may have mooned by belt less pants- not my fault or TSAs- it's the " rules") On a very positive note, they are quick! Sometimes, your luggage gets scanned before you can catch up with it. All things considered, it works well. I never have to worry about missing my flight due to the TSA at this airport. read more

TSA Checkpoint Central was impressively efficient and fluid. The entire process, from start to finish, took less than 15 minutes for all of us. Smooth and hassle-free, making the airport experience a breeze. read more

They suck!! They confiscated my hair product WOW. Agent was rubbing her hands together and then touching her hair like it's gonna be nice to use. That's stealing. Shame on them. Then 3 of them were Laughing I would give a 0 but doesn't give me the option fyi TSA didn't say a thing at LAX read more

The TSA precheck line at SeaTac was much shorter than the Clear or general line this afternoon. Everything was moving smoothly from the ID to the conveyor belt. Then, things came to a stop when a trainee panicked and didn't know or recognize an object going through the scanner. They had to find a supervisor in the office to wave off the concern. They all got a laugh about it while it just irritated the rest of us waiting for the lime to move. Then, a TSA employee wanted me to walk through the metal detector again because she thought I moved too quickly. Another fun day going through the TSA checkpoint at SeaTac. read more

Quite possibly the most aggressive and nasty group of TSA's. Every flight check in out of here is a new level of nonsense. Disrespectful and zero tact at all. One man yelling at a disabled person trying to take a belt off while the others behind the machine laugh. read more

Worst experience ever~ did the spot saver. Got into line quickly. Scanner machine malfunctioned. Bags sent through multiple times before bags were taken to a different scanner. Was not informed of the bag move. Was put to the back of the bags in the other line read more

I always have to get patted down going through security because I have metal surgical clips inside my pelvis from a kidney transplant. I've been treated well in the past, so I won't go down to one star, but on my most recent trip (Oct. 30, 2022- Alaska Airlines) the TSA agent "patting" me down at Sea-Tac roughed me up. I respect that most TSA agents are just trying to keep everyone safe, but she was karate chopping my groin over and over as if she wasn't going to stop until she found the bomb she was apparently sure I was hiding under my elastic waisted shorts and tank top. I kept telling her I had metal clips in my pelvis, but that somehow seemed to make her more sure I must be hiding something. She was very rude in the way she spoke to me, too. Honestly, I think she is probably someone who just likes to hurt people and thrives in an environment where everyone is too afraid to protest for fear of ending up on a no fly list. I really hope TSA agents have to go through some kind of psych evaluation, because I don't want anyone else to be hurt like she hurt me. read more

Almost always use the Central TSA Checkpoint when going through the airport here. It is not as if I have to use this checkpoint. There are other ones to choose from, which may be faster or slower depending on the day and time. I just prefer to use this one since it is the one closest to the Central Terminal food court as I typically get a bite at the airport before my flight. As I mention above, getting through the TSA Checkpoint varies by day and time. My experience using this checkpoint is that it can take a while to get through. Particularly if TSA is slow to open new lines or there is a backup in the screening area. So I feel like my rating of this checkpoint fluctuates up and down because of this. In general, you should arrive 90 minutes to 2 hours before your flight. Getting through the checkpoint can take a half hour if it is crowded. And if you have to check in baggage, it doesn't give you a lot of time to make it to the gate. Especially if the gate is at one of the Satellite Terminals requiring a people mover train ride. On average, I would have to rate this checkpoint 3 stars. Though it can be 2 or 4 star experiences at times. 2 stars when the lines are slow to move and TSA isn't making an effort to balance out the waiting lines and 4 stars when they do and you get shifted to a TSA Pre Check line for a faster screening. But never a 1 star experience here because I make sure to arrive with time to spare. read more

TSA Checkpoint Central - After Passport Control Area - Airport Terminals Near Me - Seattle, Washington

On June 22nd my family flew out of town . The people at the counter were nice but the employee working that morning were very rude to me and my family . First off couldn't print tickets for kids at keosk so had to wait in line then a girl was so rude to us. Then cause I accidentally moved my head during the body test lady yelled stop moving / I mean just because you are security doesn't mean you have to be mean to people you are no better than anyone else. Also especially when I wasn't rude to you. At least other security people at other airports are nice and don't act like they better just cause their position or don't act like they are above the law read more

Terminal 3 Alaska airline TSA at Seattle domestic terminal 3 are doing just fine, but I think it's possible to expand their service a little more. I am trying to explain to them I do have pre-check, but the TSA Filipino staff have issues identify my Pre-check, this is the second time that Alaska airline failed to input my Pre-check to my air ticket document. I am just wondering what's going on with them??????? The whole point is...I lost something during the TSA check..or it's something else?? read more

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TSA agent decided that my wife that was carrying my 9 month son was a risk and needed a full pat down. Sorry but this agency is sham, they need to get defunded. Funny thing is that i went through the line with my shoes on and no one noticed. read more

If SEATTLE TSA were a private company offering its service to the US Government, they would be fired. It is Spring Break, and every year Spring Break happens. So it BOGGLES my mind as to why the SEATTLE TSA can't add more agents, open more rows and actually move people through in a reasonable amount of time. OK, here is what happened. My family missed our connecting flight by 10 minutes in Seattle. We arrived in Seattle from Cancun (Spring Break). We had 2 hours to go from the international to the domestic side. US Customs and Border Patrol did "ok." We got through a massive volume of people in 15 minutes.) Then we go to the Delta counter to get our bags on the Portland flight; the Delta agent says we should have "no problem" making the Portland flight since it is not leaving for an hour. We get to Concourse B Security Check Point 3, and guess what? A line of people stretches so far that NO one can see the end of it! The SEATTLE TSA has decided to close Check Point 2 (no reason for the closure). 300 people at 10:15 PM are trying to make their flights. TSA has 3 out of the eight stations open to check your ID; 3 of 5 tray/scanner lines available: (um.... HELL, its SPRING BREAK!!!!, there will be tons of families coming home or leaving, duh...) Seriously? What part of "tons of people" do you not understand.... Really? What part of "everyone is going to miss their flight" do you not understand.... DON'T YOU NOT KNOW IT IS SPRING BREAK? LITERALLY: less than half of the checkpoint is being utilized to move people through. The TSA leadership is obviously horrible at understanding the need for a massive number of people to catch their flights and get through their checkpoints. Maybe TSA leadership does not fly, or they work from home, or they have never gone through a checkpoint as a passenger because if they had, they would be ashamed of themselves. Something is seriously wrong at TSA. I can say WITH CERTAINTY that the TSA could care less about you or your family. TSA agents move slowly and without urgency; they talk to each other and joke about irrelevant things, acting like travelers are a nuisance or annoyance. Do you know how infuriating it is to watch TSA Agents casually saunter around and casually talk to one another as if the world is such a laid-back place filled with beauty and peace? Do you know how irritating it is to watch TSA Agents act as if time doesn't matter and have no conception of the meaning of urgency? Meanwhile, 300-plus people in line are seething and ready to riot! Because we are all thinking the same thing: Why? Why do these Agents care less about us? If TSA Agents would look at an older person struggling and maybe feel, "what if that was my Dad or Mom" would the agent care a little more... INSTEAD of showing concern, moving faster, and having compassion, TSA Agents say, "we can't control the airlines; we can only do what we do here." in a snarky elitist way. And guess what? SEATTLE TSA Agents were doing an inept and horrible job! So here is how my experience ended, we missed the flight to Portland on Saturday at the end of Spring Break. (The reason I am writing this, my fellow travelers, is to warn you about this utterly unnecessary exercise in chaos and disinterest.) EVERY flight going to Portland from Seattle was sold out until Tuesday. Why? Because that's how many people missed their flights on Friday and Saturday because of this TSA checkpoint. HMM... So even though we need to be home on Sunday (the reason we chose to fly on Saturday) to make sure kids and parents are back in school and work on MONDAY! What?????????? Doesn't TSA care that 1000's of people will miss school and work? So my last act of trying to get my family home (no rental cars were available Amtrak to PDX was full) before we had to get back to school and work, I pulled up the UBER APP... Guess what I found... a wonderful driver that drove us through the night to Portland. The UBER Driver Saved the day! These men and women who drive for UBER/LYFT represent the Spirit of being there to help people get to where they need to be. SEATTLE TSA, you should take a lesson from UBER/Lyft drivers. (Customers rate them on how well they got us to our destination, and they rate us on being a passenger.) Oh wait, I forgot, SEATTLE TSA doesn't have to answer to travelers. That is why they will remain inept, lazy, and disinterested. Don't fly through Seattle! If you have no choice, get there 4 hours ahead of time! Waste your day in lines longer and slower than the ones at Disneyland! If you connect through Seattle from an international origin (Mexico, Asia, Europe...), try to change your ticket NOW to a different airport! You will not make your connecting flight home. read more

Going through TSA is the worst part of my traveling. The employees are yelling instructions not understanding that passengers are not unable to hear what is being said. Thus, employees continue to yell the same thing over and over, which only causes all around frustration. TSA employees become tired of constantly yelling the same instructions, and turn their frustration toward the passengers. Then passengers become frustrated with TSA. It's a no win situation. However, Seattle TSA agents are the worst hands down. It's only in Seattle that I see TSA agents actually arguing with passengers, being told were to go by one agent, then scolded by another for standing in the wrong place. Seattle is the only airport I have seen agents yelling instructions, even when it's not busy. I have seen passengers arrive in a good mood, and leave TSA in a bad mood. Their agents need to be trained in customer service by knowing the difference between speaking to a passenger, rather then at the passenger. read more

When I traveled into seattle, the TSA told me I didn't need to remove my iPad from my bag. Then when I traveled out, my bag got flagged because it had an iPad in it. The person who checked the bag was so rude. I told him that I didn't know and it was different every time. He remarked "If I had a quarter for every time I heard that..." I told him it was true, and he said, if that were true we wouldn't be able to operate. (Or something like that). I just wish people could be more kind. read more

I don't know why but SEATAC seems to be the only airport I've been through that doesn't have a streamlined screening process. I don't fly frequently so I don't pay for the pre-check option but after this trip maybe I should. The screening line was already chock full at 0445. Full of business types, families, you name it dragging strollers, boxes, pet carriers, luggage, and everything else people take onto planes. Seriously it was packed. TSA? Zzzzzzzz. ONE agent/officer checking boarding passes prior to entering the line for the actual screening. That line was also backed up in single file and extended into a long hallway. Nothing like grumpy travelers being herded around by lowest bidder government workers. Part of the problem was the travelers themselves. I know when I get close I start shedding all the clothing you can't wear through the scanner so off come my shoes, belt, wristwatch, hat, outer jacket. BEFORE I get to the X-ray belt. Some of us wait until we get right up to the X-ray belt to do all that. I can understand the ones with the small children waiting but most of us can make it easier on ourselves by BEING READY. This next bit might just be me but it never fails that I get pulled aside for additional screening. This time through I was hand searched and they swabbed my hands with a chemical detection cloth. Then I was physically pulled over to a machine where they submitted the cloth. This process was not done in a cordial manner. No explanation was offered or anything. I walked out of the scanner. The TSA asked me what I had in my back pockets. I say nothing because the rule is nothing in your pockets. He takes my right arm and pulls me aside then begins the hand search. I'm in the classic police frisking stance right in front of everyone. Next thing I know he grabs my hands and starts swabbing them. I pulled my hands back mostly because I was surprised by that. He forced my hands back out in front of me. I felt like maybe I was not free to leave so I asked him real politely if I was under arrest. I really felt like that. Generally I just go with the flow but I felt this intrusion was a little much. Still no explanation of the process or why I was singled out yet again. Meanwhile my wife and daughter are waiting for me to get through. They know I get hassled by TSA so it was no problem for them. The TSA guy brought another TSA guy over and they asked me why I asked the question. I told them I would like an answer because if I wasn't being detained for something then they needed to let me go. I know a few things about detention and interrogation so I asked again politely if they were detaining me and why. They said no and let me go. I was pulled aside again in San Diego too but it was much quicker and I just received a quick hand frisk. No swab and the TSA guy showed me the scanner that showed a hit. I've been trying to figure out why I get pulled aside more than usual. I've boiled it down to this: I'm a military age male with dark hair and brown skin with no checked luggage carrying just a back pack (I pack light). Plus I always buy one way tickets instead of round trip. I can't think of anything else. I'm a U.S citizen, military veteran, family man, and I have a local government job. I'm not the guy you're looking for TSA. read more

My sister, my adult daughter, traveling with her dog and I went through the checkpoint on a crazy busy day. My daughter got flagged and had to do a full body search. They asked her if she wanted a private room. She declined and told them she didn't want to leave her dog. While she was being violated through her clothing they went through everything in her carry on bags. When we sat down to eat something, she opened a zippered compartment in her purse and all of gift cards were gone. Not a huge $ amount, about $50, but that's not the point. Watch you bags like a hawk at SEATAC TSA. Not only are they rude; They are opportunistic thieves! read more

What keeps me coming back? I have no choice. I travel, therefore I go through a TSA checkpoint. It's easy to dis' the TSA, but they have a job to do and I think they do okay. No, you're not gonna like it. It's not a great experience. During the busiest travel times, there's a line down the hall. Give yourself extra time to get through security. Most of the folks working here are friendly if you make some small talk or engage them. You get what you give, so if you spew some negativity, you're likely to get it right back. read more

I saw that someone's review said that SEA-TAC was the best security process. Not in my experience. It is the worst I've experienced and I fly quite a bit, in both bigger airports and smaller, regional airports. You know that shuffle you usually do in a security line? Where you keep moving forward every few minutes? Nope! We literally just stood still for minutes at a time, as the person checking IDs and boarding passes processed one person/family at a very slow rate. I thought we had allowed plenty of time before our flight, arriving to check a bag 90 minutes before our flight. I guess that two hours they are now recommending for domestic flights applies to SEA-TAC!! You need that much time to get through the very inefficient security checkpoint system they have set up there. read more

TSA is inefficient. Workers are doing their best but 1:30 hours to get through a security checkpoint is not good

I wish it was a negative star i could give. Where you alive first the keep sending you to other check point for no reason. Then there is multiple way to shuffle people in front of you a. Clear b. Save a spot c. Tsa precheck then there is a fake information board telling you it take you 23 minutes to pass when afterv90 minutes you are still in line. This is worse tsa wait all around us. Go figure!!! read more

TSA at SeaTac at the ID checkpoint were rude beyond belief. I was checking in for a flight with my elderly mother. They separated us in to two lines (apparently to run the sniffer dogs - but they did not say that so there was no indication of what the TSA agents were trying to do). I was pushed to walk ahead of my mother and yelled at when I turned around to check on her. Disgusted by the lack of awareness shown by TSA, especially the dog handler who was working 10/13/22 at 9am. My mother (who is not American or used to the rudeness of airport security) was left shaken by the events. Thank you TSA for ruining her trip. A$&holes. read more

Terrible wait times. Seemingly no rationale for lines going down escalators and out to sidewalk! Missed my flight after 1.5 hours in security line. read more

Had to get a pat down because my "belt was in the way." These pervs need to be abolished. They can't stop terrorists and all they do is make people late for their flights, all because they can't please their spouses in bed and have to take it out on us. read more

Profiled, harassed, misgendered and needlessly delayed a transgender friend of mine. Absolutely unacceptable in this day and age, and if they expect so much as a smile from me next time I have to travel to Seattle, they're in for a nasty surprise. In fact, I'm thinking of eating a few bean burritos just before I travel, for a little olfactory activism while I'm in their proximity. If they're not going to do their jobs like decent human beings, it's the least I can do. Enjoy! read more

For a large airport, I felt that security check should be more organized. I saw no sense of organization. We put everything we had in boxes, even our 22" luggage. A person in our party wanted to stay with our luggage before them entering it into the x-ray machine, but was asked to go through the check point. We were at the other end waiting for our luggage, but didn't see them. Wait, wait, wait.... There it finally was. Luggage out of sight. What a way to lose your ID and money. Maybe we could have been stuck in Seattle. SFO is so much more efficient. read more

Even at 6 am, this process was actually quite speedy. They even opened up more lanes to accommodate the increase in passengers. Honestly, I think most people are so seasoned to this electronic strip search that most people just whizz on by. I heard some people complain but do your research and just don't wear a belt if you don't have to, don't bring liquids if you don't have to or put them in your quart sized bag before you come, take off your shoes in advance or wear shoes that you can get on/off quickly, have your ID and boarding pass ready and that's it. Easy as pie. read more

Just silly. The line next to me with a mid 20s aged employee is 25 people faster than the other lines in ten min. I have nothing else to do but count people. I checked my own bag and printed my own tag, how much more do we have to do. The other thing is I don't feel any more secure after my interactions with most of the employees. The premium line works for them but all it does is make one employee manage 2 lines. Slowing the whole process down.. Definitely not efficient, also not the first bad experience here. Fire everyone scrap the program and start over, as Trump says "You're fired!" read more

SO unorganized. Half the staff was standing in a group, with blank looks on their faces, while blocking the flow of the (very long) line of passengers. read more

This is the worst airport I have flown out of. I fly for work oft. 1st problem: I get to security with my digital boarding pass and they say the scanner can't read the code. I politely ask if they have a way to enter it in? They say no, they don't have equipment for that. They made me leave my wife & go back to the American Airlines luggage check kiosk, which was about a half mile away, and print a boarding pass and go back to the security line again. One positive is that they allow me to go through the premium line. 2nd problem: My wife asked a TSA agent if she needed to remove her iPad from her backpack? He screamed at her in a very hateful way. He said, "What did I just say?" "I just told all of you what you should do!" My wife said that she couldn't hear him due to the noise from the crowd. She asked him, aren't I supposed to ask you questions if I have them? He just snarled at her, and told her to "leave her iPad in her bag." My wife travels with me for work very often and has never been yelled at like that by anyone in any airport before. 3rd problem: We finally get to our gate, D10, and now we don't have a lot of time left due to our issues of my valid boarding pass not being accepted and my wife being assaulted by the TSA agent in the security area. We see a little deli and think, oh we have just enough time for a quick sandwich and salad and some fruit and a drink. The people checking us out didn't speak English and for this amount of food and the type of food we got, my wife and I shouldn't of had to pay over $50.00 to eat. Ridiculous! Additionally the salad wasn't fresh. 4th problem: our flight was delayed 40 minuets due to the tower assigning our flight a longer flight path and the plane having to get more fuel. I'm giving two stars because they let me go through the Premium line when I got back from getting my printed boarding pass. Otherwise it would have been a one star. Overall not a positive experience at the SEA-TAC Airport. My wife and I flew on flight number 1079. We flew out of SEATAC, 2018 July 01. read more

Worst TSA check ever! Three different check points and was directed to the wrong checkpoint twice! Then herded like cattle through a maze of ropes. Seattle needs to take a look at other airports, so much smoother elsewhere. The agents are miserable people, I feel sorry cuz they can't smile or be kind. read more

Ultimately there is a clear intake for TSA approved vs not but then you end up in the same place and same X-ray machine. Slows down the whole process. Also, attendants are not very friendly. Some make an effort but most do not. read more

I've lived all over the country and subsequently flown to and form all over the nation mainly DFW which is massive. That being said of all the airports I've flown from, large and small Seattle's TSA is by far the absolute worst. Not only is it unorganized and slow but the agents act as if they are too important to be there and you are annoying them. Whoever manages this entity needs to be replaced along with at least half the staff. Subpar to say the least. read more

Too bad there is no negative star option... Rude, mean, and unprofessional barely scratches the surface in describing the TSA officers at SEATAC. 4th airport we've been too on this trip and the agents introduced us to security checkpoint rules we've never heard of, it's like they make it up to suit themselves. A woman (last name Scott) with a heavy African accent yelled at my sister because she couldn't understand her, criticized her for not using TSA pre check which she was only skipping since she was travelling with me and I don't have it. Then the agent even mocked her saying "WHAT!?!" " it's like you don't speak English girl!" WTF, where do these people get this entitlement. Then they search both of our backpacks and another agent (a man) comes at my sister retaliating because we asked for the woman's name to complain about her. These guys need some serious training, I fly out of DIA all the time so I know big airports and the agents there are professional and courteous. SEATAC has the worst TSA agents I've ever encountered, too bad to because I thought Seattle was a beautiful city but based on my experience today I can't say the same of the people, or maybe its just the TSA agents who hate their jobs and choose to take it out on the public. I've worked customer service and they may be federal agents but that does not give them the right to be rotten humans. Maybe they need a pay cut to take them down a peg or two... #SEATAC TSA SUCKS!! read more

It was a little frustrating to walk past more than one nearly empty TSA precheck line to get to the short of the two hour long line. But they do a pretty good job with maintaining this. They had an agent come down and update us after I'd been there about 20 minutes. She gave an estimate to how much longer. At that point we weren't even close enough to see the agent's desks. They had a dog come around so we didn't have to pull anything out. Not liquids, not lap tops. Etc. also didn't have to take our shoes off. Another thing I really liked about these agents is they were polite and professional. Not overly friendly but they weren't constantly yelling either. They would talk to you not over you. read more

We were in the line last week when there was 70,000 passengers in one day. Just wanted to give a shout out to how organized TSA really is. The line was almost out the door, yet it took us just 45 minutes to get through security. It looked like we would be there for days, but they ran us through pretty fast. read more

I hate that after about 8pm they close all the other security checkpoints so you have to come to the central checkpoint. They have the ability to extend the line around escalators and all the way back to the north checkpoint so watch out for that. Although the line looks long and congested it actually moves quite quickly. I can't recall ever waiting more than 20 minutes to get my boarding pass scanned. read more

As an Active Duty member, on orders, in uniform, travelling from Japan to San Diego, CA, I was forced to stand in line that went out of the terminal & wrapped around the corner. I nearly missed my connector flight because of their incompetence & unprofessional-ism. It wasn't until I asked to speak to the Shift Supervisor that I was allowed to be on my way and make my flight. read more