We will be returning from Europe mid Oct on a direct flight from Amsterdam to Seatac. We are to arrive at 11:35 AM and I then have to catch a shuttle out of Seatac at 13:30pm to Lake Union to connect to Canada. This means that I have to enter the USA and clear customs and immigration. Assuming the flights are on time, will this be enough time to clear with only carry on baggage?
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
1068 posts
SeaTac is my "home" airport. It is almost never a running late/horrible mayhem situation at SeaTac. I have always managed to get through customs within an hour or less. You should definitely have enough time. The airport is pretty small, the connections are well signed, and you are getting in late enough that horrendous crowds ought to have thinned out. That being said, I would tell the flight attendant on your incoming flight that you have a tight connection. I know, they know you have a tight connection. But a squeaky wheel often gets more than grease - a squeaky wheel often gets special consideration in deplaning and making connections!
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9371 posts
The shuttle to Lake Union will take about 30 minutes, so add that to your "hour or less" getting through passport control and customs. That leaves you about 30 minutes to check in, get through security, and find your gate. That would be uncomfortably tight to me, but it might be enough time.