SEATTLE – Seattle-Tacoma International Airport officials are preparing for increased air traffic as schools let out for spring break, music festivals start to come back, and weather conditions improve.

From Real ID deadlines to new airport restaurants, parking procedures and spot savers, there are several ways to make travel easier and more enjoyable this spring.

By the numbers:

First, the airport will be busy. Passenger volume is expected to rise this year again, with airport officials planning for at least 5% bigger crowds compared to the same time period last year.

• Friday, April 4, 169,000 estimated overall travelers (arriving, departing, and connecting)
• Thursday, April 11, 164,000 passengers
• Thursday, April 3, 161,000 passengers
• Friday, April 18, 161,000 passengers
• Thursday, April 10, 158,000 passengers
• Thursday, April 17, 156,000 passengers

Spring break for Seattle Public Schools in 2025 will be Apr. 14-18.

When does Real ID go into effect at U.S. airports?

May 7, 2025 is the deadline for the federal REAL ID Act. This means anyone traveling by airplane will need to be compliant with identity documents fitting Real ID standards. More information is available at the Washington State Department of Licensing. 

How does construction impact travel at SEA Airport?

The SEA Gateway project is a years-long project to improve the security and flow of airport traffic. However, there will be interruptions in the meantime. 

Security checkpoint 5 is closed. Airport employees wearing green uniforms are deployed to help passengers navigate construction areas. 

For those traveling with Alaska Airlines, you can check in and do bag drops at the Bridge level.

How to reserve parking at SEA Airport

The fourth floor of the parking garage has space guaranteed for passengers with Reserve Parking. Airport officials recommend reserving your spot two weeks in advance.

If you are not reserving parking, customers are advised to allow an extra 30-45 minutes to find drive up spaces in their general parking areas. 

Saving a spot in line at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

Washington residents have enjoyed the SEA Spot Saver since 2021, and as travel seasons ramp up more, the service will continue to be available for passengers. 

The spot saver allows you to do just that, save a spot to be able to skip security lines at SEA Airport. The service has been popular, with more than one million passengers using it in just the first two years of operation. 

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The Seattle Mariners made the surprising decision to cut ties with veteran outfielder Mitch Haniger earlier this week, eating $15.5 million in the process.

Haniger, 34, hit just .208 last season with 12 homers and 44 RBI, but he has been an important fixture in Mariners history over the last decade.

Originally acquired before the 2017 season, Haniger earned an All-Star appearance in 2018 and then hit 39 homers in a superb 2021 campaign. He left in free agency after the 2022 season but was brought back in a trade with the San Francisco Giants before 2024.

The financial aspect of his release is the main reason it’s surprising, but it’s also surprising because the M’s didn’t technically have to make this decision. Seattle could have put Haniger on the injured list because of a shoulder issue that had kept him out the lineup since March 8, but they released him anyways.

Speaking on the “Refuse to Lose” podcast, ESPN MLB Insider Buster Olney had the following to say about the situation:

And ​I ​was ​surprised, ​based ​on ​the ​fact ​that ​teams ​will ​reflexively ​do ​the ​most ​conservative…make ​the ​most ​conservative ​decisions ​at ​the ​beginning ​of ​the ​year ​because ​they ​don’t ​want ​to just ​dump ​a ​player ​who ​might ​have ​some ​value ​and ​give ​them ​away ​early ​in ​the ​year, ​versus ​hoarding ​resources, ​letting ​them ​play ​and ​seeing what ​happens. ​The ​fact ​that ​they ​released ​him ​at ​a ​time ​when ​they’re ​looking ​for ​as ​much ​offense ​they ​possibly ​can ​glean, ​the ​fact ​that ​they ​released ​him ​tells ​you ​the ​Mariners ​don’t ​believe ​that ​he’s ​going ​to ​come ​back ​and ​be ​the ​Mitch ​Haniger ​of ​old.

You can listen to full episodes of the ‘Refuse to Lose’ podcast each Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Olney joins us on every Thursday episode.

NEW PODCAST IS OUT! Brady is back for another episode of “Refuse to Lose,” where he reacts to the Mitch Haniger release from all angles. Did Haniger actually want to be released? Then, Brady makes his prediction for the Mariners in 2025 and talks with former big-leaguer Dan Winkler, who works at Driveline Baseball, a Washington-based company. CLICK HERE:

WHAT’s WITH THE BUNTING? Two of the more controversial plays on Opening Day involved the Mariners bunting with Jorge Polanco and Victor Robles. Manager Dan Wilson spoke about those plays. CLICK HERE:

POLANCO MAKES RANDOM HISTORY: With a home run and a bunt, Jorge Polanco made some random history on Thursday night. CLICK HERE:

Continue to follow our Inside the Mariners coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following Teren Kowatsch and Brady Farkas on “X” @Teren_Kowatsch and @RefuseToLosePod. You can subscribe to the “Refuse to Lose” podcast by clicking HERE.