SEATAC, Wash. — Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) saw a bustling day of travel following the Thanksgiving holiday, with approximately 177,000 passengers passing through its terminals. Despite expectations for congestion, many travelers reported a surprisingly smooth and hassle-free experience.
Robert Callahan, a traveler at SEA, noted, “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.” Travelers arriving early seemed to have anticipated the crowd and benefited from reduced wait times once inside the airport.
Some passengers, like Debbie Roadarmel, opted for later flights to avoid the morning rush. “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,” Roadarmel said, reflecting the strategies many travelers employed to minimize stress during one of the busiest travel days of the year.
Despite predictions for heavy crowds, with 177,000 travelers expected to pass through the airport, many found the lines shorter than anticipated. Marcia Karfstedt, another traveler, expressed her surprise at the short wait times, commenting, “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 headaches, many passengers arrived at the airport well in advance. Callahan shared his strategy, saying, “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.”
Fortunately, the airport avoided major delays or cancellations, which is a relief considering the new Department of Transportation rule requiring airlines to offer refunds for significant delays. This new regulation has garnered praise from travelers like Roadarmel, who said, “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.”
In the end, what could have been a chaotic day of travel turned out to be relatively smooth, with passengers benefiting from thoughtful planning and efficient airport operations.
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