SEATAC, Wash. — The lines are long, people and luggage rush in and out of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. It’s the official kick-off to summer travel.
“People want to get out of the house, they’ve been locked up for the last three years. When you let a dog out of a cage, they’re going to run away, so we’re running everywhere we can go,” said Lilo Adams.
For Adams and her family, everywhere means Seattle and on to a cruise heading for Alaska.
“When I got to the departing flight ... I said oh, this flight is sold out. There was maybe one open seat available in the whole flight. It was pleasant,” said Adams.
“I think, operations wise on our side, everything is going really smoothly,” said Chris Guizlo, a dpokesperson with Sea-Tac Airport.
Guizlo said Friday is its busiest travel day with 171,000 passengers, “and we’re 20% over 2022 Memorial Weekend levels.”
According to AAA, this is the third busiest Memorial Day weekend since 2000, when the company began tracking the data. Though the largest form of travel is by road, 3.39 million passengers are expected to fly this weekend. That’s a 5% increase from 2019.
“We hadn’t taken a vacation in a couple of years, so we headed to Alaska,” said Bob Long who went on to say the vacation is worth navigating air travel on a holiday weekend. “It’s great for the soul.”
“I think it’s as much as we can telling people to prepare and having them understand and plan how they’re going to get to the airport,” said Guizlo.
Earlier in the week, arrivals drive had portions closed for construction.
“That is done with for now, so there will be nothing over the weekend like that,” said Guizlo.
Guizlo said to prevent backups or crashes, drivers should adhere to signs that say not to park on the side of the road.
“It’s something as you’re pulling out someone could hit you, you could be hit if you’re sitting on the side line waiting and two it’s a violation.”
He also encouraged people arrive earlier than normal to get a parking spot and go through security.
“It seemed kind of hustle and bustle, but an organized hustle and bustle. So it wasn’t so bad,” said Adams.
Easy enough to get through a hectic day of travel for a week of whale watching.
“Because they’re waiting for me. They’re waiting to wave to me. I have my cameras ready so we can take pictures,” said Adams.
Another tip is to pick up passengers at departures or drop off passengers at arrivals to alleviate congestion. As of Friday afternoon, there were minimal cancelled flights and delays.