Space-A Scout › Bases › Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
In the year ending November 2026, 326 Space-A flights left Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, most often for Yokota AB, Kadena AB and Osan AB. On the 270 flights where the terminal reported who made the cut, Category VI travelers, the retirees and veterans at the back of the line, got a seat 54 percent of the time. Those flights moved 3,111 Space-A travelers.
These are the recorded destinations in the year ending November 2026, most frequent first. Terminals only publish firm schedules about 72 hours ahead, so treat this as the pattern, not a promise. Each pair with enough history has its own page under routes, with weekday, seat and month detail.
| Yokota AB | 82 flights |
| Kadena AB | 78 flights |
| Osan AB | 59 flights |
| MCAS Iwakuni | 53 flights |
| Misawa AB | 29 flights |
| Andersen AFB | 25 flights |
Category VI is the last group called at roll call, and the fear is that nothing is left by then. The record at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport says otherwise: 54 percent of the 270 reported flights had room by the time Cat VI was called. This is one of the tougher terminals for retirees, so flexibility and a backup plan matter more here than most places.
Timing matters here. February and November have been the friendliest months, with retirees getting on 79 percent of reported flights at the top of that range. June has been the toughest at 20 percent. If your dates can move, move them.
By raw volume, October and September saw the most departures in the year ending November 2026, and June the fewest. A busy month means more chances, not better odds, and both numbers matter when you pick a window.
Sign-up is free and does not commit you to anything. You can email the terminal at seattle.gateway@us.af.mil (the email doubles as your dated proof of sign-up), use the AMC online sign-up portal and call (253) 982-3504 / (253) 982-0555 to confirm anything time-sensitive. Do it 45 to 60 days before you want to travel, because your place in line at roll call is your sign-up date, and a sign-up is good for 60 days. The sign-up guide covers the new AMC website, family sign-ups and multi-leg trips.
Getting to and from the terminal. Ticketing counter Level 5 next to Hawaiian Airlines; second office at Baggage Claim between carousels 4 and 5. Link Light Rail to downtown Seattle. Kitsap Airporter to Tacoma (11 miles from JBLM terminal); SeaTac Shuttle (seatacshuttle.com) is the only shuttle with NAS Whidbey Island base access. Airport parking pre-book at portseattle.org; advance booking required for parking over 30 days.
Where to sleep. Roll calls cluster in the early morning, so plan to be within reach the night before. Options travelers use here:
What regulars know about Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Terminal and traveler guidance as of November 2026; hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you rely on any of it.
In the year ending November 2026, Category VI travelers, which covers retirees and eligible veterans, made the cut on 54 percent of the 270 flights where Seattle-Tacoma International Airport reported a category. The live boards at spaceascout.com show current results.
The most frequent destinations in the year ending November 2026 were Yokota AB, Kadena AB, Osan AB and MCAS Iwakuni, out of 326 recorded flights. Published schedules only firm up about 72 hours out.
Email seattle.gateway@us.af.mil with your name, category, number of travelers and desired destinations, or use the AMC online portal. Sign up 45 to 60 days before you want to fly. It is free and the email gives you a dated record.
Travelers use Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Seattle Sea-Tac Airport and Hampton Inn and Suites Seattle - Airport / 28th Avenue among others. Roll calls at most terminals fall in the early morning, so staying within reach the night before matters more than which option you pick.
Open the live boards for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Space-A Scout collects 72-hour schedules, Patriot Express calendars and roll-call results from more than a hundred passenger terminals, refreshed every twenty minutes. It is free and no account is required. Built by Luke Connally, USMC, Retired, who flies Space-A himself. See every base we hold records for, every route, the guides, or start with the five-minute primer. Location: Seattle-Tacoma IAP, WA.