I’m a kind of who don’t thoughts doing airport drop offs and pickups. Usually I’ll really park and stroll the particular person to safety or meet them once they come out. I miss the times when you might undergo safety with the particular person, stroll them to their gate, and wave to their airplane because it pushed again. Or welcome them with a smile on the gate as they deplaned. Most drop offs as we speak are about velocity and effectivity; the motive force will barely roll to a cease, folks rush out of the car, luggage are thrown to the curb, there are a number of fast goodbyes, after which everybody skedaddles earlier than being yelled at by the authorities.
Again in 2018, Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport (SEA) initiated a brand new program known as the SEA Customer Cross Program. This free program basically enables you to journey again in time to when a non-flying customer may undergo safety. I’ve been desirous to strive this system first-hand, however a chance by no means got here up… till just lately. I had a pal flying in from Montana and I made a decision to present it a shot. I didn’t allow them to know my sport plan and my hope was to shock them on the gate.
I’d say that for probably the most half issues went fairly easily and it was well worth the expertise. Nevertheless, I’m not certain this can develop into an everyday factor for me.
To take part, you could perform a little planning and obtain authorization earlier than heading to the airport, however it’s straightforward sufficient. Listed here are the fundamentals that you could know:
1) Apply On-line
Fill out the appliance. It has very fundamental questions resembling title, e mail, dob, date of go to, and so forth. It took me lower than a minute to fill out.
Observe that there’s a restrict of solely 300 guests per day. Usually not a problem besides throughout the summer season and holidays, however it’s at all times finest to enroll sooner fairly than later.
Be certain that to learn all the foundations and restrictions as they might change.
2) Await TSA’s Approval
If accepted, you’ll get an e mail with a QR code, after midnight the day of your go to.
In the event you’re denied for some purpose, you would possibly wish to observe up with the TSA to be sure you don’t run into future points.
3) Go By means of Safety
You’ll be able to solely undergo Checkpoint 4, which could be lame if it’s backed up and others aren’t.
You will want a type of legitimate REAL ID, identical to when you had been a flying passenger.
Your Pre-Test or CLEAR does you no good right here… you must undergo the “regular” course of.
I’ll say that this expertise made me miss my Pre-Test (yea, yea, I do know I’m spoiled). After I went, Checkpoint 4 was backed up and passengers had been being despatched to one of many different areas with shorter strains. After I defined that I had a SEA Customer Cross, at first they didn’t appear to know, however they lastly let me in. It took about 45min to get via and after I lastly reached the TSA agent, she checked out me blankly after I confirmed my QR code and defined it was for the SEA Customer Cross… confidence was sinking. Nevertheless, it turned out she was new and known as over a supervisor and with a number of clicks of the keyboard, I used to be licensed… yeehaw!
I ended up making getting via safety more durable on myself as a result of I made a decision to put on cowboy boots. They seemed superior, however having to take them off to be scanned was a ache… even with having no baggage. Talking of baggage… one factor that was actually bizarre all through my total expertise was not having any. My mind would have these little panic moments: “Omg, the place is my bag? I should have misplaced it,” earlier than remembering my mission.
After my pal landed, I informed a bit white lie that I’d decide them up outdoors of bags declare. As a substitute, I stood off to the facet of the gate as passengers began to deplane. I began to marvel if my pal would even discover me. I hoped that I wouldn’t have to finish up operating after them yelling their title like a loopy particular person. Fortunately, it ended up figuring out fairly nicely.
Fairly rapidly my pal checked out me, however then seemed away, not likely comprehending it was me. “Nah, David wouldn’t be at my gate,” was the look on their face. Then they seemed again and began smiling and had been clearly entertained that I someway managed my approach to the gate. My greatest remorse of this complete factor was not saying “I acquired to the gate as a result of I’m Airport Batman!” Oh nicely, there’s at all times subsequent time!
The SEA Customer Cross shouldn’t be just for shocking folks on the gate, it may also be nice for people who find themselves dropping off or choosing up youngsters, an older member of the family, or anybody who would possibly want some further help. Additionally, folks can use it to benefit from the retailers or eating places on the airside. And naturally AvGeeks would possibly simply wish to go hang around for a number of hours and have a look at the beautiful airplanes.
BONUS: Our pal Harriet Baskas just lately printed a narrative on The Factors Man that particulars choices at different airports that’s price trying out.
Curious to study a bit extra about this system, I reached out to Perry Cooper, Media Relations Supervisor at SEA. I requested if there was any speak of increasing this system to further verify factors or permitting of us to make use of Pre-Test or CLEAR sooner or later. Sadly he stated that neither is within the works. I requested how many individuals use this system and I used to be informed that in 2024, SEA noticed nearly 50,000 requests and about 14,800 folks really adopted via. And thru August of this 12 months, there have been about 48,000 requests and 18,125 used. I used to be pleasantly stunned by the recognition!
Between looking for parking and hitting a number of snags with safety (the cowboy boot holdup was on me), I used to be a bit flustered by the point I reached the gate. I’ll say it was completely price it to shock my pal and I feel it is a nice program, however I’ll possible solely use it for particular events!
Have you ever used the same program earlier than? How did it go?
Observe: Earlier than utilizing this program, or some other related ones, please overview their web site to see if any adjustments have been made. You don’t wish to get your hand slapped by the TSA!
Previewing JFK’s New Terminal 6
