Ignore the Airbnb pushback; Choose wisely and everyone wins

 

An Airbnb in Taxco, Mexico. The owner lived next door

Should you feel guilty about staying in an Airbnb, given the pushback around the idea that they displace locals, create a shortage of housing and ruin neighborhoods once reserved for long-term residents?

Hotel industry lobbyists are winning support from city governments to restrict or eliminate Airbnbs in many places. Even consumer advocates, such as syndicated columnist Christopher Elliott, urge travelers go back to being tourists rather than "pretending" to live in a neighborhood at the expense of permanent residents."

I argued against those arguments in a recent blog post countering the assumption that Airbnb lost its way when it began opening up its listings to investors with hired managers. Some are, but many are owned by individuals supplementing their incomes by renting out a room, suite or mother-in-law apartment never intended as a full-time residence. 

 "How do you tell the difference?" a reader asked.

A classic Airbnb on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia

Making the right choice when choosing an Airbnb requires research, not only when it comes to ownership, but also the neighborhood, bottom-line price and refund policies. Do your homework, and you won't need to feel guilty about deciding on a spacious Airbnb as opposed to a tiny room in a high-priced hotel. The bonus is not only a larger, more private accommodation, but the chance for a unique cultural experience, especially if you are booking in another country,

Here's what to consider:

After searching for a listing that meets your criteria, scroll down to below the map showing the location to "Meet your host." My husband and I rented a suite in White Rock, British Columbia recently. The owner and her family lived in a house attached to the unit which appeared to have been remodeled to include a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. The entrance was near the back of her house, and although the unit was well-equipped, I doubt that anyone would find it suitable as a full-time rental.

A typical Airbnb listing with photos. This was our White Rock Airbnb

A unit that is not owned by an individual but rather by a company that hires out the management might list their own name or the names of the same two or three different "hosts" on multiple listings. 

The studio apartment we rented a couple of years ago on Rua das Flores, the main pedestrian street in Porto, Portugal was one of several managed by the same people, a good indication that the owners were investors. The host, Sofia, confirmed she was a real estate consultant who, along with her parents, started buying up units on the street a few years ago.

The view from our Airbnb in Porto

We stayed three nights in the Airbnb and two nights in a small hotel owned and managed by a local couple. Both we lovely, but I admit I felt better about supporting the local innkeepers as opposed to the investors who likely did displace some permanent housing. 

Pricing

The initial price that appears on an Airbnb listing will not be the bottom-line price you see when you hit the "reserve" button. The initial listing will include the Airbnb service fee, but not taxes. Example: I have been looking at an Airbnb in Mexico City where the listed price was $$373 for thee nights. That jumped to $439 when I went to book and $67.12 in taxes were included. Some cities or countries have a per-day tourist tax required to be collected on-site. We discovered this in Malta last spring when the Airbnb owner left a note requesting that we leave 7 euros in cash on the kitchen table before leaving. 

Refund/Cancellation policy

Always check refund and cancellation policies which vary according to the listing. Many Airbnbs have liberal policies allowing for cancellation with a full refund up to a few days ahead of arrival. Pass on bookings that are non-refundable or return just a partial payment minus the Airbnb fees.

Check the reviews

Airbnb publishes all reviews, good or bad, from both customers and owners. Check them carefully as well as the dates they were posted. Only people who have actually stayed in the Airbnb can do a review, so there is no danger of fake postings. 

House rules and amenities 

Some hosts think of everything. Cindy, our host in White Rock, left blueberry muffins, grapes and cheese in the fridge along with half- and -half for coffee. Other hosts leave the cupboards bare except for salt and pepper. Almost all provide a code for opening the door rather than a key. Some make an effort at personal contact; others don't unless you need something. 

Coffee makers are one of the quirkiest variables. Some hosts provide easy-to-use drip machines with ground coffee; others, like Cindy, supply K-cups and a Keurig or Keurig--like coffee maker. Coffee purists tend to stock their units with complicated equipment such as elaborate espresso machines and whole bean grinders.

The most unusual non-amenity I have encountered was at an Airbnb on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia. The owner provided no indoor trash can, just an outdoor compost pile. Guests were expected to provide their own receptacle for taking coffee grounds or food to the compost pile, and pack everything else out when they left.

   

Escape Seattle's summer crowds with these car-free island getaways

The Winslow marina on Bainbridge Island

No one needs an excuse to scoot car-free on a ferry across the Puget Sound for an island getaway.

But come this month and next, when 750,000 soccer fans are expected in Seattle for the FIFA World Cup games, some visitors might be looking for one. 

Whether you're a local or a visitor, a budget-friendly cruise aboard a walk-on ferry will quickly put the traffic and crowds in your rear view mirror.

As the Seattle skyline fades in the distance, relax and plot your visits to bookstores, galleries, museums and farmers' markets in these three Kitsap Peninsula destinations. 

Winslow/Bainbridge Island

A 35-minute ride aboard one of the big green and white Washington State ferries takes you to the doorstep of downtown Winslow, the gateway to Bainbridge Island, a bedroom community on the Kitsap Peninsula.

Start your day on Winslow Way East., a short walk from the ferry dock along a path marked with information on parks, trails and the story about how pickleball was invented here in 1965.

 Anchoring the entrance to town is the free Bainbridge Island Art Museum. This year, it is  showcasing Northwest crafts with a July exhibit featuring the handiwork of local indigenous artists.

Breakfast on the patio at Coquette Bake Shop 

The museum opens daily at 10 a.m., but if you're here earlier, find the Coquette Bake Shop at the corner of Winslow and Madison for coffee and a morning bun on the sunny patio. 

Lining both sides of Winslow Way are street-level shops selling olives, chocolates, books, Turkish rugs and local art and pottery. Smaller stores are tucked away down flights of stairs or in alleyways. That's where you'll find the Rabbit Hole, a shop crammed with upcycled art objects and estate sale finds, and also Backstreet Beat, stocked with vintage vinyl, used books and $1 CDs.

The Rabbit Hole gift shop

Bainbridge was once a timber and shipbuilding center with a population bigger than Seattle’s in the late 1800. To learn about that history and how the island was affected by the internment of Japanese during World War II, stop by the free Bainbridge History Museum. 

End the day with a glass of wine on the rooftop at Fletcher Bay winery,  then find your way to one of the restaurants on the Winslow marina for a late lunch or dinner. Take a woodsy walk back to the ferry dock along the Charles Schmid CQ Waterfront Trail. 

Bremerton/Port Orchard

With views of the Olympic Mountains and Mount Rainier, the $11 (round trip) one-hour cruise aboard a Washington State ferry to the maritime community of Bremerton is a bargain.

If you're short on time, you can get there in half the time via a Kitsap Transit passenger-only fast ferry.

The Admiral Pete foot ferry to Port Orchard

Either way, the best idea is to go on Saturday and add on another 12-minute ferry ride across Sinclair inlet to the rural hamlet of Port Orchard and the Port Orchard Farmers Market. https://www.pofarmersmarket.com.

Dominating the Bremerton skyline is the hulking Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, in this location since 1891. If you're a military buff, visit the free Puget Sound Navy Museum, https://pugetsoundnavymuseum.org CQ or tour the USS Turner Joy, a museum within a retired naval destroyer moored on the waterfront. 

Otherwise, follow signs to the Port Orchard foot ferry for a $2 trip aboard one of Kitsap Transit's electric ferries or the vintage Admiral Pete.

Steamed buns for sale at the Port Orchard Farmers Market

 Make your first stop the farmers market where white canopies line the waterfront. Wander among the stalls to find locally-produced honey, homemade pickles, steamed buns, solar-powered wind chimes and fruits and veggies grown by backyard farmers. Then take some time to explore Bay Street, a throwback to a small-town main drag decorated with gas lamps and covered porticos.  

Stop at Carter and Company for homemade chocolates, ice cream and miniature cheesecakes, or head to Dude's Donuts across the street for gluten-free vegan donuts and coffee. 

Tea Alchemy

Shops come and go with economic ups and downs. One of the newest additions is Tea Alchemy & Gilded Exchange stocking hundreds of loose teas and herbs "apothecary" style with jars for customers to open and smell.

A mainstay is Josephine's Mercantile, started by Samantha Smith, a South Kitsap High School alumna. 

Inspired by her grandmother, Josephine, who saved everything, Smith and a team of small business owners invite customers to hunt for vintage treasures and repurposed goods in a vast space that once housed roller rink.

The ferry back to Bremerton leaves ever half-hour. Before returning to Seattle, catch the dancing water show at Harborside Fountain Park near the naval museum.

Dining with a view is never cheap, but Anthony's at Sinclair Inlet makes it affordable with its daily happy hour ($10 burgers, $7.50 cocktails) on the deck overlooking the harbor. 

Kingston

With just 20 walk-on passengers aboard Kitsap Transit's fast ferry from the Seattle waterfront to Kingston on a recent Friday morning, there were more than enough window seats for everyone to catch a glimpse of passing container ships, the Olympic mountains and Mount Baker.

Kitsap Transit's fast ferry

The boats fill with 100 or more passengers on their way from Kingston to Seattle in the morning, but the “reverse commute” — from Seattle to Kingston and back to Seattle in the late afternoon  - feels like a 40-minute private cruise.

 Most everything to see and do is concentrated along the main street (Highway 104) near the ferry dock, so grab a coffee-to-go at Aviator Coffee in a wooden shed called the Hangar, or plan your day over an espresso milkshake at women-owned Over the Moon Coffee Roasters.

Depending on your timing, lunch could be French crepes under a sidewalk umbrella at J’aime les Crepes ; Argentinian empanadas at Argensol; or British comfort food from the Saucy Sailor where owner Daphne White starts cooking at 8 a.m. inside a 230-square-foot kitchen. Kiwanis Park near the ferry dock has benches and a shaded gazebo for picnicking. 

Walk-up window at the Saucy Sailor

A handful of retailers offer an eclectic mix of small-town finds. The Paisley Whale  vintage shop keeps limited hours, but when it's open, its inventory of collectables, records, books and clothing spills out onto the sidewalk with $5 treasures.

Fly-tie hat pins for sale at Havencraft

At Havencraft,  horticulturist and jewelry artist Anja McElvaney works with her partner Matthew Schaffer, a woodworker, inside a century-old craftsman-style house. Wander the rooms stocked with local pottery, jewelry and handmade soaps, and check their website for dates of summer afternoon porch concerts.  

Take a half-mile walk from the ferry dock up the hill along Highway 104 to find two bookstores and the Borrowed Kitchen Bakery. Savor the smells of baked apple danish, or pick up a rosemary sourdough or walnut pumpkin seed loaf to take home.

Connected to the bakery is Saltwater Bookshop with a curated selection of cookbooks, childrens' books and books on Northwest indigenous culture. A few doors down at the Kingston Bookery, wooden shelves teeter with 30,000 used titles in a shop started by owner Jeff Wiley's parents in 1998.

Saltair Beach at low tide

For a nature walk, "I would suggest people not miss Saltair Beach, just to the right of the ferry dock on the approach to Kingston," says Saltwater Bookshop owner Madison Duckworth. "There are starfish and tide pools to explore, plus a great view of the ferries coming and going."

Wait for the return ferry to Seattle over a beer at the Kingston Alehouse, or depending on the day, a glass of wine at the Cellar Cat  jazz and piano bar.

  If you go: 

Be prepared for ferries to be more crowded than usual during the FIFA games. Boats rarely fill up with walk-on passengers, but it can happen if they reach capacity. Give yourself plenty of time to return to Seattle.

Washington State Ferries operate the Seattle/Bremerton and Seattle/Bainbridge Island daily car and passenger ferries. Walk-on round-trip fares are $11.35 for adults and $5.65 for ages 65 and over. Youths 18 and under ride free. Info at wsdot.wa.gov/ferries 

Kitsap Transit runs a fast passenger-only ferry Monday-Saturday between Pier 50 on the Seattle waterfront and Bremerton; another between Seattle and Kingston; and the daily foot ferry between Bremerton and Port Orchard. Adult fares are $2 from Bremerton or Kingston to Seattle ($1 for seniors) and $13 from Seattle to Bremerton or Kingston ($6.50 for seniors). Youths 18 and under ride free. Adult fares for the Bremerton/Port Orchard foot ferry are $2 each way, $1 for seniors and free for youths 18 and under.

West Seattle getaway

If you're short on time, and looking for a quick waterborne getaway, consider a trip to West Seattle where there's ferry service to a scenic walking and biking path skirting Alki Beach. 

King County Metro operates a daily walk-on water taxi between the Seattle's Pier 50 and West Seattle's Seacrest Park. Crossing time is 10-15 minutes. Adult fares are $6.25 each way ($5.25 with Orca card) and $2.50 for seniors. Youths 18 and under ride free.

This story appeared in The Seattle Times on June 13, 2026.

Need airport help while traveling through Seattle? Just ask Team Green

 

The team in green

The man had been waiting an hour for his mother to exit international arrivals at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Spotting me in a bright green jacket wearing a name tag that said "Carol," he asked me a few questions about when the flight might arrive and where to get a coffee. 

I answered. He wandered away, then he came back with another question, and finally another.

"Carol," he said, glancing at my name tag, "Why the hell would anyone volunteer to work at the airport?"

I smiled. "Well, sir, to help people like you."

My husband, Tom, and are part of a group of 130 volunteers assisting travelers with directions and information at key locations inside and outside security.

We normally work a three-hour shift on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. -1 p.m. helping people with everything from finding the Uber pick-up to making a phone call, finding a hotel room or locating a lost phone or passport.

One of the perks is three weeks of free parking in the airport garage, but the real reward is the appreciation we feel after offering what seems to be the slightest bit of help. People have thanked me with hugs and kisses. One called me his "guardian angel." Another treated me to a Matcha latte from Starbucks.

When you are in a hurry, tired, confused or irritated about a cancelled flight, we are a friendly face with an answer. 

If you don't speak English, we are there to help. Some volunteers speak various foreign  languages. Others use translation apps. If those fail, we will walk you to wherever you are going, or help you phone an English-speaking relative. We can't help you carry your bags, but we can help you find your gate, advise you on where to eat, the best areas to wait between connections and where to nurse your baby in private.  

Many airports have similar volunteer programs, but Seattle's program is especially important, given on-going construction and expansion projects that have disrupted traffic, baggage claim services, TSA check points and departure gates. 

If you've been frustrated navigating Sea-Tac, you're not alone. A recent survey by JD Power ranked Sea-Tac 17 lowest out of 20 nationwide "mega" airports for customer satisfaction. 

Construction is winding down, so many of the problems that led to the poor showing should be resolved by spring in time for the 2026 cruise season and the FIFA World Cup games  in June.

If you will be among the thousands traveling through Sea-Tac in the next few months, help awaits, not only from the volunteers, but from a paid staff of professional Pathfinders. In the meantime, I have some ratings of my own to hand out, along with some pro-tips.

Start by downloading the free green flySEA app. Use  it to check your gate, arrival and departure times etc. Tip: Instead of scrolling through the various categories such as "Dining" or "Ground Transportation, go "Maps" and type in what you are specifically looking for: ie: "children's play area" or  "espresso" or "ATM," and a list of locations will appear.

Sea-Tac's new Checkpoint One

Fastest TSA checkpoint: Checkpoint 1 downstairs from ticketing at the baggage claim - arrivals level. Sea-Tac has six TSA security checkpoints. All but one are on the departures-ticketing level where lines are likely to be longest.  If you have only a carry-on and don't need to check a bag with your airline, Checkpoint 1 is your best bet. Ask to be dropped at arrivals, near Door 6.

P.F. Chang's overlooks the N Concourse

Best restaurant with a view: P.F. Chang's on the mezzanine at the N Concourse. Some might argue for Salty's, upper level, Central Terminal, but P.F. Chang's is healthier, and although pricey, most of its bowls and entrees are big enough to share. 

Starbucks Not

Best places for coffee: Forget the lines for to-go orders at Starbucks, and head either to Costa Coffee, N Concourse, with its spacious seating area, or Dilettante Chocolates and Mocha Cafe in the main terminal for decadent drinks and desserts. A newly-opened 7-11 at baggage claim has the best price ($3.19) on regular drip coffee. Check out the locally-owned Neighborhood Cafe in the ticketing area of the main terminal (before security) for its bargain breakfast sandwiches ($7.45) and some unusual Filipino snacks  such as black-sesame rice krispie treats and Ube cookies.

Filipino treats at the Neighborhood Cafe 

Best restroom areas: Sea-Tac has all-gender bathrooms, family bathrooms, adult changing areas and private nursing rooms (The best is the nursing suite with comfortable chairs and sofas on the N Concourse mezzanine). Outside security, there's a new nursing room outside  Checkpoint 6, near the Alaska Airlines bag check area. Search "restrooms" on the SEA app for other locations.

Signs indicate private nursing areas

Best place to sit while waiting for a connecting flight: One of the biggest complaints about the airport is the lack of seating, other than tables and chairs inside security and seats at the gate areas.  

Lounge area in the S Concourse

The best place to relax inside security is the lounge area at the S Concourse furnished with couches and comfortable chairs. 

Outside security, options are fewer. There are chairs in the International Arrivals area, but it's often crowded and the seats look and feel like large concrete blocks.  If your layover is long,  considering taking the DoubleTree Inn's free airport shuttle to its hotel near Sea-Tac, and having lunch in its atrium lounge. 

Live music in the Central Terminal

Best entertainment: The live musicians who perform in the Central Terminal, A and N Concourses, and the SEA Pups, trained volunteer therapy dogs around for free cuddles and hugs. 

Best wheelchair service:  If you're traveling on Alaska Air, ask to try out one of their driverless wheel chairs. The little robots have a place for your carry-on, and emit a fun little  sound as they drive you to your gate. 

Self-driving wheel chairs

Best way to meet up with a friend or loved-one: Get a one-time Visitor Pass by clicking on this link. Download a QR code to your phone, then show your TSA-approved ID, and enter the gate area through Checkpoint 4.

Best way to get downtown: Link Light Rail if you don't have much luggage. Head over any skybridge on the ticketing level into the parking garage. A walkway and a free shuttle lead to the station for the $3, 40-minute ride downtown. Starting on March 28, Sound Transit will operate an overnight bus between SeaTac and downtown Seattle every 30 minutes between 12 a.m. and 4 a.m.

Taxis and Ride Shares leave from the third floor of the parking garage.  Don't assume that Uber or Lyft are cheaper than a taxi. A flat-rate taxi to downtown might cost $40-$60 while a ride share can sometimes cost $80 or more.

Need anything else?

Just ask Team Green. We're here to help.

The Star Princess, the newest and biggest Alaska-bound ship will call in Seattle starting next May

 

An acrobatic performance on the piazza

When the 2026 Alaska cruise season launches next May, the Star Princess, the largest and newest ship to call in the 49th state, will homeport in Seattle, but don't expect to find water slides or a go-cart track on the top deck.

Think instead of viewing glaciers from inside a geodesic, glass-enclosed dome, or petting baby sled dogs as they roam around a central piazza encased in a glass sphere with panoramic views.

Oh, and did I mention the pickleball courts and Tiramisu cocktails?

Princess Cruises, one if 15 cruise lines to call out of Seattle next year, is doubling-down on Alaska by focusing on its core niche - a 50-plus crowd of active global travelers.

"Alaska really anchors our brand," said Princess Cruises president Gus Antorcha. Princess, owned by Carnival Corporation, which also operates Carnival and Holland America cruises from Seattle, dispatches half of its fleet to Alaska during the summer, Antorcha said. "We always want to make sure we take our newest ships there."

The 21-deck Star, with a passenger guest capacity of 4,300, will sail through the Inside Passage (7 days roundtrip from Seattle) from May 3 to September 6, with ports of call in Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, and scenic cruising through Glacier Bay or Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier. 

Travel agents and writers had a chance to explore the new ship recently where it is home-ported for the winter in Port Everglades, Florida. 

A candlelight concert in the Dome

The takeway: This is a ship cleverly designed to experience the best of being outdoors when the weather is warm, while providing cozy, light-filled indoor spaces for cooler temperatures in Alaska.

"You need to be flexible," Antorcha said. "You could have very sunny days in Alaska or a bit of drizzle. What is great about this ship is that you can be inside and still experience what it's like to be outdoors." 

An outdoor deck with lounge chairs and hot tub

While warm-weather travelers can take advantage of  living-room like seating on outdoor decks, cooler weather will draw passengers inside the covered Dome, a multi-level, glass-enclosed venue that functions as an indoor pool area during the day, then transforms into an entertainment venue at night for shows and candlelight concerts.

Also indoors, surrounded by a sphere of glass, is a multi-deck atrium called the Piazza, a central hub for socializing, entertainment, and dining. 

The ships programming shifts for Alaska cruises with a focus on cultural and educational activities, but its configuration stays the same. With the exception of the small pool in the Dome, the other pools are outdoors. Outdoor lounge areas are not heated which means grabbing a blanket and hot toddy on chilly days and nights.

Other standout features

*Twelve low-key bars scattered throughout the ship, some specializing in their own signature cocktails such as a popular Tiramisu cocktail and the 24K Gold Margarita, made with Pantalones Organic Tequila, a brand co-founded by Matthew and Camila McConaughey, who christened the Star Princess.

The Bellini Bar's Tiramisu cocktail

*Ten specialty and casual dining restaurants (in addition to main dining rooms) including my favorite, the Makoto Ocean Japanese restaurant serving fresh sushi in an airy space with ocean views. The meat-centered Butcher's Block, created in partnership with Italian butcher Dario Cecchini, was filled the entire three days we were on the cruise, an indication that passengers interested in specialty dining should book ahead. 

Freshly prepared tuna at Makoto Ocean

Dario Cecchini carving meat aboard the Star Princess

 *The walk-up international cafe, open 24/7, with glass cases stocked with pastries, yogurt parfaits and smoked salmon sandwiches in the morning and light bites and desserts in the afternoon and evenings. 

A light bite from the International Cafe

 * Spellbound by Magic Castle, an immersive, speakeasy-style lounge with magic shows, Victorian-themed rooms and drinks. This one is worth the $45 admission price which includes cocktails and a show based on vaudeville and the Great Cardini, a card magician (Richard Pitchford) who presided over the Magician's Guild in 1945.

Inside the Spellbound speakeasy

* The Sanctuary Collection, a ship within a ship, with 80 suites,123 mini suites and 12 deluxe balconies; a top- deck retreat area with private cabanas; and a private dining room and lounge.

*The Princess Medallion, a small, round button that keeps track of where you are and allows you to unlock staterooms, order food and drinks, and shop onboard from anywhere.

Antorcha describes Princess as family-friendly rather than family-focused. Younger travelers will enjoy an underground teen lounge, a junior ranger programs and baby sled dogs brought on board during Alaska sailings.

If I had it to do over again

I would have sampled Lido Tacos and Coffee and Cones on the Lido deck. This is a new addition for Princess, and looked like fun.

Our evening meals were hosted in the speciality restaurants, but if I were on my own, I would have sampled the Indian and seafood offerings at the Eatery buffet. This is a hectic and busy area of the ship, so best suggestion is to get what you want and take it out a table on the deck, or to a quieter area in back.

Skipped both port stops - the Princess Cays, Princess' private island, and Nassau in the Bahamas - and enjoyed being on the ship when most everyone else was away.

Pricing and rooms

Guests can choose among 2,157 staterooms, including more than 1,000 balcony rooms and 51 accessible rooms. 

The best deals on all cruises come during  "wave season," a promotional period starting in January. The Princess Star website recently showed a starting price of $974 per person for an interior room on May sailings. Balcony rooms jump to $1,574. 

Worth considering are one of two add-on packages. The Plus package ($70 per day) covers one Wi-Fi device,  daily gratuities, unlimited casual dining, and a generous beverage package for alcoholic drinks, speciality coffees and mocktails costing up to $15 each (The 14K Gold Margarita is covered). 

The Premier package ($105) covers more expensive beverages (such as the Tiramisu cocktail), dining at specialty restaurants and multiple devices for Wi-Fi. 

Cruising out of Seattle 

The Port of Seattle's 2026 cruise season is scheduled from mid-May to early October, with an estimated 330 ship calls for cruises to Alaska, Mexico, Hawaii, and Asia. The season will feature 27 ships from 15 different lines, including new lines Virgin Voyages and MSC Cruises. About 2.1 million passengers are expected to sail. 

Passengers should benefit from Sea-Tac's new international competition

 

Cathay Pacific's announcement that it will restore non-stop flights between Seattle and Hong Kong next year is icing on the cake for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport where airlines added six new international services this year, and have plans for at least another six in 2026.

Cathay Pacific ended its Seattle-Hong Kong service during the Covid pandemic. When it resumes on March 30, 2026, it will fly five times per week on the 250-seat Airbus A350-900, offering another new gateway to mainland China, Southeast Asia and India.

This comes on top of new non-stops to Seoul and Tokyo added by Alaska Airlines this year as well as a new Edelweiss Air flight to Zurich and an SAS flight to Copenhagen.  Delta will add new non-stops to Barcelona and Rome next year while Alaska will also add a non-stop to Rome as well as Reykjavik and London. 

Seattle now has service to 36 international destinations on 30 different airlines, a major advantage given the 750,000 visitors expected for next year's FIFA Men's World Cup. Seattle will host six matches June 11-July 18th, also the height of the Alaska cruise season. 

Anyone who has traveled through the airport recently has experienced the long back-ups at arrivals and departures, long lines for rental car buses and long waits for loved-ones in a cramped international arrivals area.

One might wonder, "Is Sea-Tac up to the job of accommodating all the extra flights and passengers?''

And how about the airlines? Delta and Alaska are the airport's primary carriers. Delta has loads of experience with international flights, but Alaska is just getting started with international expansion plans that have been taking shape since it acquired new long-haul aircraft in its merger with Hawaiian Airlines.

Let's look at the airport first, then talk about how passengers might be affected by the growing competition.

Sea-Tac is undergoing major renovations to improve its baggage claim area and screening equipment; roadways leading into the airport; and amenities in its C concourse. The goal is to complete most of the work by the time FIFA fans arrive. 

With limited ability to expand outward, Sea-Tac is building up, adding three new stories atop the existing C concourse. 

A rendering of new Concourse C

The  main floor will include a shopping area called Marketplace at C.  Dining and retail will frame a tiered, open amphitheater with a stage for live music. The upper level will house new restaurants, and provide views of the airfield and Olympic Mountains via a lookout deck.

The road improvements, with dedicated lanes for rental car buses, should alleviate the long waits for buses that now get stuck in general airport traffic.

Working with the Transportation Security Administration, the Port of Seattle is optimizing the outbound baggage handling system (BHS). A new system will replace the current aging conveyor system, and position the airport for future growth.

With the number of additional international passengers due to arrive this year and next, Sea-Tac would do well to tweak recent changes at the international arrivals waiting area, called the Gina Marie Lindsey Arrivals Hall on the baggage claim level.

Baggage claim level TSA checkpoint

A recently-opened new security checkpoint on that level (the others are upstairs on the ticketing level) is convenient for passengers being dropped off with only carry-ons, but has added to the general congestion in an already packed waiting area furnished with uncomfortable cube furniture resembling concrete blocks and lacking phone chargers. 

International arrivals waiting area

The wait times are long for arriving international travelers due to an experimental system (to be revisited during a one-month trial starting this month) that requires them to pick up their checked bags before going through Customs and Immigration. Those waiting to meet their loved-ones deserve a more comfortable seating area. 

When it comes to flights, passengers can look forward to more competition which should translate into more competitve fares. Delta and Alaska will be going head-to-head on the new Rome flight as well as flights to Tokyo, London and Seoul.

Both airlines are adding to and improving their lounges at Sea-Tac. Delta customers, unhappy with its requirements for elite status, could decide to switch their elite status to Alaska, given a wider selection of international options that can be booked directly with the airline. 

Delta requires a minimum yearly spend of $5,000 to maintain Silver Elite status while Alaska's requirements for MVP Gold center on the number of miles or segments flown, bars easier to reach with the addition of longer, international routes.

Flight amenities and comfort will depend on the specific route. Delta has the superior in-flight seat-back entertainment system while Alaska passengers must stream movies and TV shows on their own devices. Delta seems to have lowered the quality of its food service on international flights in recent years, so it will be interesting to see if Alaska can do better.

To play in the big leagues, Alaska will have to up its game when it comes to the level of customer service and staffing that international flights require. 

Sea-Tac customers often complain of long waits to reach someone on the phone or long lines at its airport service desks when problems occur. 

Alaska's integration with Hawaiian is progressing in stages, causing confusion and frustration among passengers who go to agents at each airline expecting help, only to be referred to the other.

Beat of Hawaii Travel News lays out the problems in a lengthy post.

"Until the airlines are fully integrated, passengers may need to double-check everything from mileage earning, upgrade eligibility, and seat selection rules. This requires extra work at booking and again before departure, especially for those booking through Hawaiian’s platform but ending up on Alaska metal," it advises.