My neighbor in Lynnwood kept telling me I should try flying out of Paine Field instead of driving all the way to SeaTac. I didn’t believe her – I mean, how good could a tiny airport in Everett really be? Then I had a trip to Phoenix and figured I’d give it a shot. Twenty minutes from my house to the gate. No joke. I was at my gate with a coffee in hand faster than it usually takes me just to get through SeaTac security.
Now look, Paine Field isn’t going to work for everyone. If you’re flying to New York or Paris or basically anywhere Alaska Airlines doesn’t go, you’re stuck with SeaTac. But if you live north of Seattle and you’re heading to certain West Coast destinations, this smaller airport might actually be the smarter choice.
Table of Contents:
- ✈️ Size Reality Check
- 🛫 Who Flies Where (This Is Important)
- 🚗 Drive Time From Different Areas
- 🅿️ Parking Costs and Reality
- 🏠 Why North End Residents Love Paine Field
- 🍽️ Food, Shopping, and Amenities
- ⚠️ Honest Downsides of Paine Field
- 💡 So Which Airport Should You Actually Choose?
- 🔮 The Future of Paine Field
- ❓ Questions People Keep Asking
- ✈️ My Final Take
✈️ Size Reality Check
Let’s get this out of the way first – Paine Field is tiny compared to SeaTac. We’re talking three gates versus like ninety-something. The whole terminal is smaller than one concourse at SeaTac. You can walk from the parking lot to your gate in maybe five minutes if you’re moving slow.
SeaTac handled over 52 million passengers in 2024. Paine Field? Around 580,000. That’s not even close. But here’s the thing – sometimes smaller is better. I’ve never waited more than ten minutes in the Paine Field security line. At SeaTac, I’ve waited an hour and still almost missed my flight.
The Paine Field terminal opened in 2019, so everything’s new. Fresh flowers in the terminal, big windows overlooking the tarmac, local art on the walls. It feels more like a nice hotel lobby than an airport. SeaTac has that “major airport” vibe – efficient but kind of soulless in most areas.
🛫 Who Flies Where (This Is Important)
Here’s where things get limited at Paine Field. As of right now – December 2025 – you’ve only got Alaska Airlines. Frontier was there for like seven months but they’re pulling out in January 2026. So yeah, just Alaska.
Alaska Airlines flies from Paine Field to:
- Phoenix
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- San Diego
- San Jose
- Orange County
- Portland (starting June 2026)
- Honolulu (seasonal – they cut it back to summer only)
That’s it. Eight or nine destinations depending on the season. About 10-11 flights per day total.
SeaTac has… I don’t even know, maybe 100+ destinations? Dozens of airlines. International flights. Red-eyes to the East Coast. Basically if you want to fly anywhere that’s not on Alaska’s Paine Field list, you’re going to SeaTac.
I fly to Phoenix a few times a year for work, so Paine Field works great for me. My sister lives in Denver and there’s no Denver flight from Paine, so she’s stuck with SeaTac. It really just depends on where you’re going.
🚗 Drive Time From Different Areas
This is where Paine Field really shines if you live in the right place.
From Everett: Paine Field wins by a landslide. We’re talking 10-15 minutes to Paine versus 45 minutes to an hour to SeaTac. No contest.
From North Seattle (Northgate, Lake City, Shoreline): Paine Field is 25-30 minutes. SeaTac is 35-45 minutes. Paine wins, but not by a huge margin.
From Lynnwood/Edmonds/Mountlake Terrace: I live in this area. Paine Field is about 20 minutes. SeaTac is 40-50 minutes depending on traffic. This is where Paine Field makes the most sense.
From Bothell/Woodinville: Paine Field maybe 25-35 minutes. SeaTac 45 minutes to an hour. I have friends in Bothell who swear by Paine Field now.
From Downtown Seattle: SeaTac is closer, probably 20-30 minutes. Paine Field is 35-45 minutes. Unless you’re really trying to avoid SeaTac crowds, just go to SeaTac.
From Bellevue/Eastside: SeaTac is definitely closer and easier. Paine Field requires you to go north and then cut over, which is kind of annoying. Stick with SeaTac.
From South Seattle/Tacoma/Federal Way: SeaTac all the way. Paine Field would be at least an hour, maybe more. Doesn’t make any sense.
The I-5 factor matters too. If you’re heading to SeaTac during rush hour – basically 6-9 AM or 3-7 PM on weekdays – add 20-30 minutes to whatever time you think it’ll take. I-5 southbound in the morning is a parking lot. Heading to Paine Field, you’re going north or east on 526, which usually flows better.
🅿️ Parking Costs and Reality
Parking at Paine Field is slightly cheaper than SeaTac, but not by as much as you’d think.
Paine Field rates:
- Premium parking (close to terminal): $34/day, $204/week
- Economy parking (5-minute walk): $24/day
- First 15 minutes free
- Cell phone lot – 1 hour free
SeaTac rates:
- Parking garage: $39/day, $273/week
- Economy lot (with shuttle): $23/day, $161/week
- Cell phone lot – free
So Paine Field’s premium is $5 cheaper than SeaTac’s garage. Not huge. The economy lots are basically the same price – $24 at Paine versus $23 at SeaTac.
Here’s the catch with Paine Field parking: there are only about 250 spaces total. I’ve never had trouble finding parking there, but during busy travel times – Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring break – I could see it filling up. SeaTac has over 12,000 parking spaces. Yeah, they sometimes fill up too during holidays, but you’ve got way more options.
The economy lot at Paine Field doesn’t have a shuttle. It’s a five-minute walk to the terminal. Honestly not a big deal – you’re still probably getting to your gate faster than at SeaTac where you take a shuttle then walk through a massive terminal.
One thing I like about Paine Field: valet parking is available right at the terminal. Haven’t used it myself but I’ve seen people do it. Seems smooth.
For folks who’d rather skip parking entirely, using SeaTac airport transportation makes sense for either airport, especially during busy travel periods or if you’re gone for more than a week.
🏠 Why North End Residents Love Paine Field
If you live anywhere from Northgate up through Everett and Mill Creek, Paine Field is kind of a game-changer for the destinations it serves.
Time savings are real. I did the math on my last Phoenix trip. Door to gate at Paine Field: 45 minutes total, including the 20-minute drive. When I fly out of SeaTac, it’s usually 90 minutes minimum – 40 minutes driving, 20-30 minutes parking and getting to terminal, 20-30 minutes through security, then the walk to my gate. That’s an extra 45 minutes of my life I get back.
Less stressful. The small terminal means you can’t really get lost. Security is one checkpoint, easy to find. Gates are right there. No trains between terminals, no hiking a mile to gate N16. My mom is in her 70s and she way prefers Paine Field because it’s not overwhelming.
Easier with kids. I’ve seen families with young kids at Paine Field and they look way less frazzled than families I see at SeaTac. Shorter security lines, less distance to walk, fewer crowds. Makes a difference.
Feels more… civilized? That’s the word Paine Field uses in their marketing and honestly, it fits. It’s quiet, clean, not chaotic. You can actually hear yourself think.
The downside: limited flight times. Alaska usually has maybe two or three flights per day to each destination from Paine Field. If those times don’t work for your schedule, you’re out of luck. SeaTac has way more flexibility with multiple flights throughout the day.
🍽️ Food, Shopping, and Amenities
Okay, this is where Paine Field falls short and there’s no way around it.
Food at Paine Field: There’s a small cafe that serves sandwiches, salads, and Starbucks coffee. That’s basically it. It’s fine – the food is decent, locally sourced and all that – but you’ve got one option. If you don’t like sandwiches, too bad.
Food at SeaTac: Like 45+ restaurants. Everything from seafood at Salty’s to Hawaiian poke to Vietnamese food to pizza to gourmet burgers. Multiple Starbucks, bars, sit-down restaurants. You’ve got options.
Shopping: Paine Field has a tiny news stand with snacks, magazines, travel stuff. SeaTac has dozens of shops – designer stores, bookstores, gift shops, Pike Place Market outpost, you name it.
If you need to kill two hours before your flight, SeaTac is better. At Paine Field, you’ll run out of things to do after about 20 minutes. I usually just show up an hour before my flight at Paine, get through security in ten minutes, grab a coffee, and wait at the gate.
⚠️ Honest Downsides of Paine Field
Let me be real about the problems with Paine Field because they’re not making this stuff up.
Limited destinations. This is the biggest issue. If Alaska doesn’t fly there from Paine Field, you can’t go. No connections through Paine – every flight is direct to one of their eight destinations.
Fewer flight times. Need a 6 AM flight? Might not be available from Paine. Want a red-eye? Definitely not happening. Alaska has maybe 2-3 flights per day to each city. If those don’t work for your schedule, too bad.
No international flights. Well, Hawaii counts as domestic, so I guess there’s Honolulu in summer. But no flights to Canada, Mexico, Europe, Asia, nothing. SeaTac has tons of international options.
Flight cancellations hit harder. If your Paine Field flight gets cancelled, there might not be another one that day. At SeaTac with dozens of airlines and hundreds of flights, you’ve got more options to get rebooked.
Airlines keep leaving. United started at Paine Field in 2019, left in 2020. Frontier came in June 2025, leaving January 2026. Makes you wonder about the long-term stability. Alaska seems committed though.
Weather delays. This is something I learned the hard way. Paine Field has a shorter runway than SeaTac and in bad weather, flights get delayed or cancelled more often. I had a flight delayed three hours once because of fog that wouldn’t have been an issue at SeaTac.
💡 So Which Airport Should You Actually Choose?
Choose Paine Field if:
- You live north of Seattle (Lynnwood, Everett, Bothell area)
- You’re flying to one of Alaska’s destinations (Phoenix, Vegas, LA, etc.)
- You value convenience over options
- You hate crowds and long security lines
- You’re traveling with elderly parents or young kids
- The flight times work for your schedule
Choose SeaTac if:
- You’re flying anywhere Paine Field doesn’t serve (which is most places)
- You need multiple flight time options
- You want food and shopping choices
- You’re flying international
- You live south or east of Seattle
- You want more airline options and loyalty program choices
For me personally, I check Paine Field first now when I’m booking a trip. If Alaska flies there from Paine and the times work, I’ll take it over SeaTac every time. The convenience factor is just too good. But probably 60% of my flights still end up being out of SeaTac because Paine doesn’t go where I need to go.
🔮 The Future of Paine Field
There are big expansion plans for Paine Field – adding more gates, bigger terminal, more parking. They’re projecting 4 million passengers per year by 2040. That would be huge growth from the current 580,000.
But here’s my skepticism: airlines keep leaving. The airport opened in 2019 with big expectations – over 1 million passengers that first year. Then pandemic hit, then numbers dropped, and they’ve struggled to get back to those levels. Frontier just left after seven months because demand wasn’t there.
I think Paine Field has a solid niche for North Sound residents flying to Western U.S. cities. But becoming a major regional airport competing with SeaTac? I’m not sure I see it. SeaTac is too well established, and most people don’t live close enough to Paine Field to make it worth the limited destinations.
Still, I hope it succeeds because competition is good and having options is good. Even if Paine Field stays small, it serves an important purpose for people like me.
❓ Questions People Keep Asking
Can I fly on airlines other than Alaska from Paine Field?
As of January 2026, no. Alaska is the only carrier. Frontier is pulling out. That could change in the future but right now it’s Alaska only.
Are flights from Paine Field more expensive than SeaTac?
Not really. Alaska charges basically the same fares from both airports. Sometimes Paine is a bit cheaper, sometimes SeaTac is. Shop both and compare.
What if I miss my flight or it gets cancelled?
Alaska will rebook you, but there might not be another Paine Field flight that day. They might put you on a SeaTac flight, which means you need to get there somehow. Plan accordingly.
Is there TSA PreCheck at Paine Field?
Yes. There’s one security checkpoint and TSA PreCheck is available. The line is usually short anyway though.
Can I connect through Paine Field?
No. All flights are direct to/from Paine Field. No connections.
What time should I arrive before my flight?
I usually get there an hour early and that’s plenty of time. Security rarely takes more than 10-15 minutes. Alaska recommends arriving 90 minutes before departure but honestly that seems excessive unless it’s a holiday.
Is Paine Field closer to downtown Seattle than SeaTac?
No, SeaTac is closer to downtown. Paine Field is in Everett, about 30 miles north of Seattle. It’s only better if you live in the north end.
✈️ My Final Take
Paine Field isn’t trying to be SeaTac and it shouldn’t try to be. It’s a small, convenient airport that works really well for a specific group of people flying to a specific set of destinations.
If you live in Everett, Lynnwood, or anywhere in North King or Snohomish County, and you’re flying to Phoenix, Vegas, LA, or any of Alaska’s other Paine Field destinations – absolutely give it a try. The convenience factor is legit. Faster, easier, less stressful.
But don’t expect it to replace SeaTac for most of your travel. The limited destinations and flight times mean you’ll probably still use SeaTac more often than not. That’s fine. Having both options is good.
I’ve converted to being a Paine Field fan for the trips where it works. My neighbor was right – I should have tried it sooner. But I’m also realistic about its limitations. It’s a nice regional airport that serves its niche well, and that’s enough.
