Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is saying goodbye to one of its more popular passenger perks. The airport announced that its SEA Spot Saver program will officially end on November 30, 2026, meaning travelers will no longer be able to reserve a free time slot to get through airport security. Existing reservations through November 29 will still be honored. For travelers who don’t have TSA PreCheck or CLEAR, that’s going to be a bummer.
What was SEA Spot Saver?
SEA launched Spot Saver in 2021 when long TSA security lines were a major problem at the airport. The concept was simple: Travelers could reserve a time to go through security rather than just showing up and hoping for the best. Best of all, it was completely free and didn’t require a membership.
Travelers could make a reservation before their trip and then arrive at the designated checkpoint during their assigned 15-minute window. It was a clever idea, especially during periods when security waits at SEA could get painfully long.
Why is SEA getting rid of it?
According to the Port of Seattle, Spot Saver was never intended to be a permanent solution. It was introduced to help manage security lines while the airport worked on longer-term improvements. Those improvements have since arrived, including new and redesigned TSA checkpoints that opened in 2025. According to SEA, 94% of travelers are now getting through security in 20 minutes or less.
There’s another important reason Spot Saver is disappearing: A lot of people who make reservations aren’t actually using them. I can believe it because I often do the same thing with CLEAR. If I get to the airport and see that the TSA PreCheck line is short, I just hop in that line instead.
Cooper also told KIRO 7 that during a recent three-week period, roughly 23,000 people per week signed up for Spot Saver but only about 10,000 actually used it. Airport officials say eliminating Spot Saver will also free up space for general security screening.
I can understand SEA’s decision, but travelers will miss this
I don’t travel through Seattle nearly as much as I used to, so Spot Saver hasn’t been part of my regular airport routine. But I have friends who fly through SEA frequently and absolutely loved the program. And judging by the travelers interviewed by KIRO 7, they aren’t alone.
One passenger said she uses Spot Saver every time she flies and had just used it for a family trip to Hawaii with 12 people. Another traveler said she had previously used CLEAR but didn’t renew her membership because Spot Saver worked so well for her.
“That’s really a bummer,” one passenger told KIRO 7 about the program ending, adding that Spot Saver was one of the perks of flying out of SEA. I can see both sides.
Given how few people are actually using their reservations, combined with SEA’s improved security wait times and other expedited screening options, I can understand why airport officials decided the program was no longer worth keeping.
Travelers also have more ways to speed through security than they did when Spot Saver debuted in 2021. Depending on eligibility and availability, those options include TSA PreCheck, CLEAR and TSA PreCheck Touchless ID.
But there’s one big difference: Spot Saver was free. Travelers didn’t need to pay for CLEAR or enroll in TSA PreCheck. They just needed to plan ahead and make a reservation.
That’s why I think the travelers who are really going to feel this change are those who don’t have TSA PreCheck or CLEAR. For families and occasional travelers in particular, Spot Saver was a pretty sweet option, and I can understand why SEA regulars are disappointed to see it go.
What SEA travelers should do now
The good news is that SEA says its security lines are performing significantly better than they were when Spot Saver launched.
Travelers can check live TSA checkpoint wait times before and after arriving at the airport. SEA posts estimated checkpoint wait times online and through the flySEA app, making it easier to figure out which checkpoint is moving fastest.
Keep in mind, you don’t have to use the security checkpoint closest to your airline. Once you’re through security at SEA, you can access the airport’s gates, so checking wait times at different checkpoints before getting in line could save you some time.
If you’re eligible for TSA PreCheck Touchless ID, that’s another option worth looking into. The technology allows eligible PreCheck travelers to verify their identity using facial recognition rather than handing over a physical ID at participating checkpoints.
For now, Spot Saver isn’t gone just yet. Reservations will continue through November 29, 2026, and the program officially ends November 30, immediately after the busy Thanksgiving travel period.
