Seattle skyline with the Space Needle and Mount Rainier, seen from Queen Anne Hill. Flights from Houston to Seattle

Route guide

Cheap Flights from Houston to Seattle

Search Houston to Seattle fares from IAH to Sea-Tac, with the Terminal B check-in workaround, PreCheck hours and how to reach Link light rail on arrival.

IAH to SEA · 1,872 mi · 4h 34m est.

IAH to SEA
1,872 miles
4h 34m nonstop (estimated)
3 airlines in our fare results

Photo: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Houston to Seattle flight insights

Average flight time

~4h 34m (estimated)

IAH → SEA

Cheapest cached price

$258

Checking live fares…

Last checked Oct 19, 2026

Planning a trip from Houston to Seattle? The average flight time on this route is ~4h 34m (estimated). The lowest fare we recorded on this route recently was $258 (last checked Oct 19, 2026); today's live fare for your dates can differ.

Houston to Seattle covers a straight-line distance of about 1,872 miles. Based on that distance, a nonstop flight would take approximately ~4h 34m (estimated). Actual flight time varies by airline, aircraft and routing.

Houston to Seattle at a glance

IAH to SEA is about 1,872 miles in a straight line. The curved line is an illustration; the route your airline flies may differ.

Route Quick Facts

Quick facts for flights from Houston to Seattle on Eazair
Origin	Houston (IAH)
Destination	Seattle (SEA)
Average Flight Time	~4h 34m (estimated)
Current Lowest Fare	$258
Fares Last Checked	Oct 19, 2026
Distance	1,872 miles (IAH to SEA)
Time in Seattle	2 hours behind Houston
Airlines in our fare results	3

Local time in Seattle is 2 hours behind Houston. Houston is on Central Time, Seattle on Pacific Time.

Flight deals from Houston to Seattle

Flights on this page leave Houston from George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) and land at Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA). Houston Hobby (HOU), about 11 miles southeast of downtown, is a separate airport, and so is Paine Field (PAE) in Everett, north of Seattle. United, American and Delta have appeared in EazAir's fare checks for this route. A Sea-Tac underground train guide dated 2 Sep 2025 places Delta and United at the S and A gates, but gates can change.

IAH's alerts page says the Terminal B ticketing lobby will stay shut until late 2026, while Gates B3 to B31 remain in use. If your gate is in Terminal B, do your check-in, bag drop and security screening at Terminal C, and take the Skyway train across. IAH lists TSA PreCheck at Terminal C North from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. and at Terminal E from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. By bus, METRO Route 500 stops at Terminal E, Level 2, outside Door E201.

Sea-Tac has one terminal with six concourses, and SEA says the N and S concourses can be reached only on the SEA Underground train, which arrives every three minutes. For Link light rail, go up to the fourth floor from baggage claim, cross the skybridge into the parking garage and follow the signs. Lyft and UberX pick up on the 3rd floor of that garage, where taxis also wait at the north and south curbs.

EazAir ran 2 fare checks for IAH to SEA between 14 Sep and 16 Sep 2026, its first for this route. Each one asked for the lowest one-way economy fare for one adult on a flight 30 days after the check, and the results stayed within a narrow range. American Basic Economy includes a carry-on, but United Basic Economy does not on domestic flights. Search your own dates, and check the final price, bags and fare rules on the partner site before you pay.

Airports for Houston to Seattle flights

Departure · Houston

George Bush Intercontinental (IAH)

Central Time

Other airports near Houston: William P. Hobby (HOU)

Arrival · Seattle

Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA)

Pacific Time

About Seattle

Areas to know in Seattle

Capitol Hill
Ballard
Fremont

Weather in Seattle

Mild, wet winters and dry, mild summers. The Pacific Northwest's rainy reputation is strongest from October through April.

Houston to Seattle: airport and fare guide

Checked on 17 Oct 2026 against the airport, airline and transit pages listed under Sources. Airports and airlines change these details, so confirm them with your airline before you fly.

EazAir searches Houston with the IAH code, and Houston has more than one airport, so check the airport code on every result.

Paine Field (PAE) in Everett, north of Seattle, is a separate airport with its own passenger terminal. Check that your ticket says SEA if you plan to use Sea-Tac.

Houston Hobby (HOU) is a separate airport about 11 miles southeast of downtown.

Leaving from Houston George Bush Intercontinental (IAH)

METRO Route 500 IAH Downtown Direct links downtown Houston, including the George R. Brown Convention Center, with IAH, stopping at Terminal E, Level 2, outside Door E201.
IAH lists drop-off on Departures Level 2 at Terminals A, C and E, and on Level 1 at Terminal D.
Terminal B passengers check in, drop bags and clear security at Terminal C while the Terminal B ticketing lobby is closed, according to the airport's alerts page.
IAH lists TSA PreCheck at Terminal A North from 4 a.m. to 6 p.m., Terminal C North from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Terminal E from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m., with CLEAR at Terminal A North and Terminal C.
The Terminal D checkpoint has modified hours that vary by day, so check IAH's security page, which also shows checkpoint wait times.

Arriving at Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA)

Airline	SEA gates
Delta	S and A gates
United	S and A gates
Other airlines	Check your boarding pass or airline app.

From SEA's SEA Underground guide dated 2 Sep 2025, which says Delta, United and almost all international airlines use the S and A gates. Gates can change, so check your boarding pass.

SEA has one terminal with six concourses: A, B and S at the south end, and C, D and N at the north end.
The N and S concourses are not connected to the other gates, so you reach them on the SEA Underground train. SEA says a train arrives every three minutes.
The Blue Line links the S, B and A concourses, the Green Line links N, C and D, and the Yellow Line shuttles between the A and D stations only.
SEA says every security checkpoint gives access to all gates.

Getting from SEA	Where to board	Where it goes
Link light rail 1 Line	From baggage claim, go up to the fourth floor, cross the skybridge to the parking garage and follow the signs to SeaTac/Airport station. A free Train-to-Plane shuttle runs from 5 a.m. to midnight. A fare applies on the train.	Downtown Seattle, with the line running from Federal Way to Lynnwood. SEA says the ride from downtown Seattle takes 38 minutes.
Rideshare (Lyft, UberX)	3rd floor of the parking garage. Cross a skybridge, one level below ticketing and one level above baggage claim, then go down one level.	Wherever you booked.
Uber Black and other premium rides	The baggage claim level door you choose in the app.	Wherever you booked.
Taxis	3rd floor of the parking garage, at the north and south curbs.	Metered taxis have three-digit numbers and one color. Flat-rate taxis charge by zip code and have four-digit numbers and two colors.

What the lowest fares include

Fare	Carry-on	Checked bag	Seat	Changes
Delta Main Basic	Delta says every passenger can bring one carry-on and one personal item free.	Delta charges for checked bags on domestic flights unless you qualify for a waiver, such as Medallion status or an eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express card.	Assigned after check-in. You may be able to buy a seat ahead of time for a fee.	Refunds are not allowed after the 24-hour risk-free cancellation window. Delta says a change or cancellation may be possible for a fee, with any value left as an eCredit.
American Basic Economy	Included, plus a personal item.	Not included, except for some AAdvantage status members and eligible cardmembers.	A free seat is assigned at check-in, or you can pay to choose one.	Generally not allowed. American describes a 24-hour window and some credit options on its Basic Economy page.
United Basic Economy	Not included on domestic flights. One personal item only, unless you are a MileagePlus Premier member, travel with one, or hold a qualifying MileagePlus card.	Not included; check United's bag fee calculator.	Assigned by United before boarding.	Changes may not be allowed. Refund if cancelled within 24 hours of booking, under United's 24-hour policy; after that, partial travel credit.

Based on the airlines' own pages, checked on 17 Oct 2026. Fees are left out because they change often. Check the final price, bags and fare rules on the partner site before you pay.

How EazAir measured fares on this route

EazAir's first 2 fare checks from Houston to Seattle ran from 14 Sep to 16 Sep 2026. For the return direction, Seattle to Houston, EazAir's first 2 checks ran from 14 Oct to 17 Oct 2026. Each check asked partner travel sites for the lowest one-way economy fare for one adult, departing 30 days after the check. Results can include connecting flights. Results stayed within a narrow range across these checks. With only 2 checks, this cannot show a pattern. Search your own dates for current prices.

Sources

Houston Airports: IAH alerts (Terminal B lobby) (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Houston Airports: METRO Downtown Direct (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Houston Airports: IAH security (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Houston Airports: IAH pick up and drop off (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
METRO: Airport bus nonstop (Route 500) (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
SEA: Security screening and checkpoints (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
SEA: All aboard the SEA Underground (September 2, 2025, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
SEA: Terminal overview (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
SEA: Public transit, Link light rail (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
SEA: App-based rideshare (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
SEA: Metered and flat rate taxis (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Sound Transit: 1 Line, Lynnwood to Federal Way (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Delta: Delta Main Basic (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Delta: Fares and discounts (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Delta: Carry-on baggage (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Delta: Bags (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
American Airlines: Basic Economy (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
United: Basic Economy FAQ (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
EazAir fare checks for IAH to SEA, 14 Sep 2026 to 16 Sep 2026; SEA to IAH, 14 Oct 2026 to 17 Oct 2026

Frequently asked questions

Is this page searching Bush Intercontinental or Hobby?

Bush Intercontinental (IAH). Hobby (HOU) is a separate Houston airport about 11 miles southeast of downtown, so check the airport code before you compare results.

Where do I check in at IAH if my gate is in Terminal B?

At Terminal C. The airport's alerts page says the Terminal B ticketing lobby is closed until late 2026, so Terminal B passengers check in, drop bags and clear security at Terminal C, then take the Skyway.

How do I reach Link light rail from Sea-Tac baggage claim?

Go up to the fourth floor, cross the skybridge to the parking garage and follow the signs to SeaTac/Airport station. SEA says a free Train-to-Plane shuttle also runs from 5 a.m. to midnight.

Where do taxis and rideshares pick up at Sea-Tac?

Lyft, UberX and taxis are on the 3rd floor of the parking garage. Uber Black meets riders at the baggage claim door chosen in the app, SEA says.

Do basic fares from Houston to Seattle include a carry-on?

American Basic Economy and Delta Main Basic include a carry-on plus a personal item, according to the airlines. United Basic Economy allows only a personal item on domestic flights, unless you are a MileagePlus Premier member, travel with one, or hold a qualifying card.

How far apart are IAH and SEA?

IAH and SEA are about 1872 miles apart in a straight line. Flight times vary by airline, direction and routing, so check the scheduled time shown with each result.

Airline bag fees

Baggage allowances differ significantly between fare classes (Basic/Light vs. Standard/Flex) and can change over time. Always verify the exact allowance for your specific fare with the airline before you fly.

Checked bag fees from each airline's own website
Airline	Carry-on, basic economy	1st checked bag	2nd checked bag	Source
American Airlines	Included	$45	$55	aa.com, Sep 24, 2026
United Airlines	Not included	$40	$50	united.com, Sep 24, 2026
Delta Air Lines	Included	$45	$55	delta.com, Sep 24, 2026
JetBlue	Included	$45	$59	jetblue.com, Sep 24, 2026
Alaska Airlines	Included	$45	$55	alaskaair.com, Sep 24, 2026
Frontier Airlines	Not included	Varies	Varies	flyfrontier.com, Sep 24, 2026
Sun Country Airlines	Not included	Varies	Varies	suncountry.com, Sep 24, 2026

Domestic US fees per bag, each way, when paid online in advance. "Varies" means the airline prices bags by route and date.

Travel tips

Arrive early for domestic flights

TSA generally recommends arriving at least 2 hours before a domestic departure, more at larger hub airports during peak travel periods.

Pack a mixed carry-on

Keep a change of clothes, chargers, and any essentials in your carry-on rather than only your checked bag, in case of a delay or a bag that doesn't arrive with you.

Ease jet lag on longer routes

On longer cross-country flights, adjusting your sleep schedule a day or two before departure and staying hydrated in flight can reduce jet lag on arrival.

Screenshot your confirmation

Save a screenshot or PDF of your booking confirmation and boarding pass before you travel, in case you lose signal or battery at the airport.

Check in online when it opens

Most airlines open online check-in 24 hours before departure. Checking in early can help with seat selection and, on some airlines, boarding group assignment.