Space-A Scout › Bases › Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
In the year ending September 2026, 292 Space-A flights left Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, most often for Yokota AB, Kadena AB and Osan AB. On the 239 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 2,692 Space-A travelers.
These are the recorded destinations in the year ending September 2026, most frequent first. Terminals only publish firm schedules about 72 hours ahead, so treat this as the pattern, not a promise.
| Yokota AB | 74 flights |
| Kadena AB | 70 flights |
| Osan AB | 53 flights |
| MCAS Iwakuni | 47 flights |
| Misawa AB | 25 flights |
| Andersen AFB | 23 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 239 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, July and October saw the most departures in the year ending September 2026, and September 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.
In the year ending September 2026, Category VI travelers, which covers retirees and eligible veterans, made the cut on 54 percent of the 239 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 September 2026 were Yokota AB, Kadena AB, Osan AB and MCAS Iwakuni, out of 292 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.
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, or start with the five-minute primer. Location: Seattle-Tacoma IAP, WA.