International arrivals at Sea-Tac

International flights into Seattle-Tacoma International arrive at the International Arrivals Facility, which opened in 2022. Passengers walk from the gate across an aerial walkway into the facility, clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection, collect their checked bags and pass customs before exiting into the public area — where friends, family and pre-booked drivers wait.

How long it takes

It depends on the number of flights arriving at the same time. On a quiet afternoon the whole process can take 30–45 minutes; when several wide-body flights land together it can take well over an hour. Travellers with Global Entry, or who use the Mobile Passport Control app where eligible, usually move faster.

Timing your pickup

This is where a car that follows your flight earns its keep. Your driver sees the actual landing time and allows for immigration and baggage, so you do not pay for — or worry about — the driver waiting while you queue. With meet & greet they wait for you in the public arrivals area with a name sign.

Connecting to a domestic flight

If you are connecting in Seattle, you recheck your bags after customs and go back through security to the main terminal. If your trip ends in Seattle, you simply walk out to the car.

Before you land

• Give us the flight number and a mobile number that will work in the U.S. (or a messaging app you use).
• Complete any arrival forms required for your journey before you board.
• Keep passports and the customs declaration details to hand — it speeds up the queue.

After a long-haul flight

The drive into the city is short — about half an hour to downtown Seattle, under an hour to Bellevue — and a quiet car is the best place to start adjusting to the time zone. Tell your driver the temperature you like; they will leave the conversation to you.

After twelve hours in the air, the kindest thing is a name sign and a car that is already there.