Skip The Line? Seattle Airport Testing Reservation System For Airport Safety

The arrival of warm weather, the end of the school year and the desire to get out of the house after a year of isolation mean that air travel is increasing rapidly.

That also means long lines returning at TSA checkpoints at the country’s airports. However, a pilot program kicking off next week in Seattle aims to cut down on waiting time for passengers who can schedule some time in advance to blow through security.

The program known as SEA Spot Saver begins Tuesday at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and allows passengers on certain flights to make digital reservations for the screening process.

SEA Spot Saver operates daily from 4 a.m. to 12 p.m., the airport rush hour, at checkpoints 2 and 5 until the end of August.

“We can use technology to make the travel experience more rational and intuitive,” Port of Seattle commissioner Sam Cho said in a statement. “We appreciate the partnership of passengers and airlines to test these programs for the benefit of our community.”

SEA Spot Saver is free and open to all passengers with general control.

The first experience was developed for Alaska Airlines passengers at Checkpoint 5 using Pangiam technology. The second experience is for Delta Airlines and other passengers at Checkpoint 2 with VHT technology.

Alaska Airlines passengers can register for an appointment up to 24 hours before their flight or upon arrival at the terminal. You will receive a QR code that can be used for up to 12 people in your group. There is a separate line for those with reservations at the checkpoint.

“These are the innovations and ideas we love to make our guests more comfortable and stress-free, especially as more people fly again,” said Charu Jain, senior vice president, Alaska Airlines. “With very little effort, guests can rely on technology to go through the security process faster.”

At Checkpoint 2, Delta and other passengers can make a virtual reservation for up to 10 people as soon as they arrive at the terminal. You will also receive a QR code and use a separate line at the checkpoint.

Passengers have a 15-minute window to get to their appointment and will be notified in their app when it is time to arrive at the checkpoint.

“Virtual queuing demonstrates our belief in putting customers in control of their experience,” said Matt DiMaria, CEO of VHT. “It gives passengers a sense of comfort and stability, but also gives airports the ability to be predictable and efficient. It really is a win-win situation for everyone. ”

During that program, airport officials said TSA pre-check passengers should continue to use Checkpoint 4, where they can take advantage of short lines and not have to take off their shoes or electronics.

All CLEAR customers can use their dedicated lane at each checkpoint for an expedited experience.

Airport and TSA officials will evaluate the success of the program at the end of the program to determine whether to continue, change, or expand.

“We are confident that this pilot program will help reduce the queues, enable social distancing and provide travelers with a smoother and safer experience,” said Dan Tanciar, chief innovation officer at Pangiam.

The program can’t come early enough. The traffic has grown so heavy in the last month that checkpoint lines extend into the airport parking garage.

“We had situations where we waited in the garage and over 60 minutes,” airport spokesman Perry Cooper told the Tacoma News Tribune.

Although the number of passengers screened at the airport in the first week of April was still below 2019 levels, it was up 828 percent year over year, Cooper said.

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