Is 45 minutes enough at SEA? 19% of inbound flights landed too late for it, allowing 30 minutes to reach the next gate. Book 70 minutes to keep the risk under 1 in 10, or 75 in August.
Separately, 1.3% of flights into SEA were cancelled or diverted (1.0% in August). That isn't a missed connection in the same sense: on one booking the airline rebooks you, though it can still cost you the day.
Check your exact itinerary through SEA →
Missed-connection risk by layover and month
Share of flights that landed at SEA too late for the connection (cancellations not included), pooled over 2023–2026. Read across your travel month.
| Layover | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 min | 24% | 21% | 23% | 21% | 26% | 32% | 30% | 31% | 22% | 20% | 20% | 25% | 25% |
| 50 min | 16% | 13% | 15% | 13% | 16% | 21% | 20% | 21% | 14% | 12% | 12% | 17% | 17% |
| 60 min | 12% | 9% | 10% | 8% | 11% | 14% | 14% | 15% | 9% | 8% | 8% | 11% | 11% |
| 75 min | 8% | 6% | 7% | 5% | 7% | 9% | 10% | 10% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 8% | 8% |
| 90 min | 6% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 6% | 7% | 7% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 5% | 5% |
| 120 min | 4% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 3% |
Counts flights that landed; cancelled and diverted inbound flights are reported separately above. Assumes 30 minutes to get off the plane and reach the next gate, and that the onward flight leaves on time. A terminal change or re-checking bags needs more.
Late in the day is riskier
Share of flights that would miss a 60-minute connection, by scheduled arrival time at SEA (past 12 months). Delays pile up through the day.
Riskiest flights in
| From | Flights | Miss 60 min |
|---|---|---|
| CLT Charlotte | 1,302 | 20% |
| ORD Chicago | 5,542 | 20% |
| MIA Miami | 1,233 | 19% |
| JFK New York | 2,906 | 18% |
| PHL Philadelphia | 1,431 | 18% |
| EWR Newark | 2,263 | 17% |
| DFW Dallas | 5,227 | 17% |
| BOS Boston | 2,555 | 17% |
| SFO San Francisco | 6,824 | 17% |
| DTW Detroit | 2,067 | 16% |
| DEN Denver | 6,328 | 15% |
| BNA Nashville | 1,481 | 14% |
Safest flights in
| From | Flights | Miss 60 min |
|---|---|---|
| KOA Kona | 1,412 | 6% |
| PSP Palm Springs | 1,683 | 7% |
| ANC Anchorage | 6,636 | 7% |
| PSC Pasco | 2,663 | 7% |
| MCI Kansas City | 1,126 | 8% |
| MFR Medford | 2,306 | 8% |
| ONT Ontario | 2,488 | 8% |
| PDX Portland | 6,528 | 8% |
| SNA Santa Ana | 3,944 | 8% |
| EUG Eugene | 2,627 | 8% |
| GEG Spokane | 6,157 | 8% |
| FAI Fairbanks | 2,253 | 8% |
Last flights of the day from SEA
If your inbound runs late and you miss one of these, the next flight is usually the next morning. Typical last scheduled departure over the past three months:
| To | Last departure | Flights / day |
|---|---|---|
| AUS Austin | 6:19 p.m. | 7 |
| SNA Santa Ana | 7:35 p.m. | 11.6 |
| SLC Salt Lake City | 7:50 p.m. | 12.5 |
| DEN Denver | 8:07 p.m. | 21.3 |
| OAK Oakland | 8:25 p.m. | 6.8 |
| ONT Ontario | 8:33 p.m. | 8 |
| SJC San Jose | 8:39 p.m. | 13.9 |
| SAN San Diego | 8:49 p.m. | 14.8 |
| PHX Phoenix | 8:50 p.m. | 18.5 |
| HNL Honolulu | 8:50 p.m. | 7.7 |
| LAS Las Vegas | 8:53 p.m. | 15.7 |
| SMF Sacramento | 8:55 p.m. | 14 |
| LAX Los Angeles | 9:30 p.m. | 22.1 |
| BOI Boise | 9:31 p.m. | 14.4 |
| SFO San Francisco | 9:40 p.m. | 21 |
| MFR Medford | 10:40 p.m. | 6.6 |
| PSC Pasco | 10:49 p.m. | 7.4 |
| EUG Eugene | 10:49 p.m. | 7.9 |
| RDM Bend | 10:53 p.m. | 7.9 |
| GEG Spokane | 10:54 p.m. | 16.4 |
| EWR Newark | 11:00 p.m. | 7.4 |
| JFK New York | 11:15 p.m. | 8.6 |
| DFW Dallas | 11:22 p.m. | 15.8 |
| PDX Portland | 11:26 p.m. | 19.2 |
| FAI Fairbanks | 11:27 p.m. | 6.8 |
| BOS Boston | 11:44 p.m. | 9.8 |
| ORD Chicago | 11:56 p.m. | 19.1 |
| ANC Anchorage | 11:59 p.m. | 22.4 |
| ATL Atlanta | 11:59 p.m. | 10.9 |
| MSP Minneapolis | 11:59 p.m. | 9 |
Questions
Is 45 minutes enough for a connection at SEA?
Often, not always. Over the past year 19% of flights into Seattle landed too late to leave 30 minutes to reach the next gate on a 45-minute layover. With 60 minutes it was 11%; with 90, 5%. Separately, 1.3% of inbound flights were cancelled or diverted; on one booking the airline rebooks you.
How long a layover do I need at SEA?
To keep the risk of a late inbound below 1 in 10, about 70 minutes on an average month and 75 minutes in August, the worst month. Add time if you change terminals or need to re-check bags.
An estimate from past arrival delays, not a guarantee. On one ticket, the airline will rebook you if you misconnect. On separate tickets you're on your own, so leave far more time. Method.