Space-A Scout › Routes › Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to MCAS Iwakuni
The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to MCAS Iwakuni run came up 51 times in the year ending October 2026, about once a week. On the 30 of those where the terminal reported who made the cut, Category VI travelers, the retirees and veterans at the back of the line, got a seat 13 percent of the time.
By raw volume, July and September saw the most departures on this route in the year ending October 2026, and December the fewest. The route was active in 13 of the 13 months on record.
Thursday is the day to watch: 45 of the 51 roll calls for this route, 88 percent, fell on a Thursday.
Category VI is the last group called at roll call. On this route, 13 percent of the 30 reported flights still had room by the time Cat VI was called. This is one of the tougher routes for retirees, so flexibility and a backup plan matter more here than most places.
The lowest category that made each reported flight, in the year ending October 2026:
| Category II | 12 flights |
| Category III | 6 flights |
| Category IV | 7 flights |
| Category V | 1 flight |
| Category VI | 4 flights |
Seats are the other half of the picture. On the 49 flights that reported both numbers, the terminal released an average of 2 seats and 1 were taken, so a typical flight on this route left with about 1 Space-A seats empty. That is tight. This route fills, and being early in the sign-up order matters more here than the category rate alone suggests.
Sign-up at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport 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 October 2026, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport recorded 51 Space-A flights to MCAS Iwakuni, which works out to about once a week. Firm schedules only appear about 72 hours ahead; the free live boards at spaceascout.com show what is posted now.
In the year ending October 2026, Category VI travelers, which covers retirees and eligible veterans, made the cut on 13 percent of the 30 flights where Seattle-Tacoma International Airport reported a category for this route.
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.
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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 route we hold records for, every base, or start with the five-minute primer.