One map, pinned from each airport’s published coordinates.
Category scores
Overall is the published weighted sum. A highlighted score is ahead; a tie stays plain.
Ease of use
25% · Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
PAE8.8+1.3
SEA7.5
Comfort & amenities
20% · Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
PAE8.4+1.2
SEA7.2
Food & retail
15% · Food and retail quality and variety.
PAE7.4
SEA7.8+0.4
Ground access
15% · Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
PAE7.4
SEA8.0+0.6
Reliability
15% · Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
PAE7.6+0.8
SEA6.8
Lounges
10% · Worth-it density and access quality.
PAE2.0
SEA7.5+5.5
Best for
PAE
North King / Snohomish travelers who would otherwise drive SEAOvernight parking at leftover $24/day Economy after a free first 15 minutesAlaska / Horizon West Coast banks without a Sea-Tac transfer
SEA
Link light rail to downtownAlaska and Delta hubsPacific Northwest dining after the C expansionPreCheck and CLEAR when you have them
Watch out for
PAE
Live Priority Pass leftover /en/airport/everett-pae and /en/airport/seattle-pae are 404 — empty loungesOfficial dest leftover still prints Frontier DEN and leftover SJC COVID vs the live Alaska-only boardSecure leftover closes between banks — leaving the sterile side can leave you landsideAirNav leftover 7000 ft vs FAA NFDC leftover 9010 × 150 on RWY 16R/34L — leftover vs leftover
SEA
More than one-third of daily passengers arrive before 9 a.m.SEA Spot Saver ends 30 November 2026 (Checkpoint 4, general screening only)Alaska C lounge closes 19:00 — use D or North Satellite at nightCenturion and The Club at SEA waitlists at peak timesInternational-to-domestic connections reclear TSA after the IAF
Amenities and tips
PAE
Beecher's Handmade Cheese at Gate 1Economy parking $24/dayNo ticketed passenger loungeUpper Case Bar in the departures loungeComplimentary high-speed Wi-FiConcierge, fireplaces, pet relief
Official leftover arrive 2 hours
Official FAQ leftover the airlines recommend arriving 2 hours before departure. Official leftover terminal opens 4 a.m. and closes on the last arrival.
Two gates after a single TSA
One scheduled-pax hall leftover ~30,000 sq ft. Official leftover two jet bridges plus a leftover hardstand. Official leftover ticketing, one TSA, and a departures lounge with waiter service.
Beecher's airside; Theo & Betty's landside
Official leftover Beecher's Handmade Cheese post-security near Gate 1, daily 6 a.m.–4 p.m. Official leftover Upper Case Bar in the departures lounge, opens daily 6 a.m. Official leftover Theo & Betty's landside at bag claim, daily 5 a.m.–11 p.m.
SEA
Link Light RailC Concourse ExpansionThe Club at SEAFree Wi-FiBottle refill stations
Arrive 2 hours domestic, 3 international
Port of Seattle still publishes 94% of travelers through security in 20 minutes or less.
Any checkpoint reaches every gate
C Concourse expansion opened 11 Jun 2026 with dining, quiet rooms, and The Lookout at C.
C Concourse and Central Terminal food courts
Priority Pass also has $28 restaurant credits at Brewtop, Bambuza, P.F. Chang’s, and Ninth & Pike.
PAE · A two-gate leftover boutique hall 20 miles north of downtown Seattle, with $24 Economy parking, waiter service after TSA, and no ticketed lounge pin.
SEA · SEA is a one-terminal Alaska and Delta hub with a $3 Link ride downtown. The C Concourse expansion is open; SEA Spot Saver ends 30 November 2026. Morning security before 9 a.m. is still the main pinch.
