Passengers say Sea-Tac Airport has best service in North America

If you hate flying, the good news is your home base, Sea-Tac Airport, is the best around.

The 2013 Skytrax World Airport Awards named Sea-Tac International Airport “Best Airport Staff Service in North America.”

It’s the airport’s first Skytrax World Airport Award, which is based on 12.1 million airline passenger surveys conducted at airports worldwide. They’re known as the “Passenger’s Choice Awards.”

Sea-Tac was also recognized at #10 for World’s Best Airport Staff and #9 for World’s Best Airport by Passenger numbers, which is 30 to 40 million per year.

“Aside from the product facilities an airport provides to customers, it is the quality of staff service that has the greatest impact on the overall travel experience, and all front-line staff at Sea-Tac Airport should be proud of this traveler recognition bestowed upon them,” said Edward Plaisted, Chairman of Skytrax.

He said respondents were very complimentary of “the overall friendliness of the airport staff, whether at immigration, security, or the various concessions.”

“We have up to 15,000 employees throughout the airport, and every one of them should be proud of their efforts,” Mark Reis, Managing Director of Sea-Tac Airport.

Vancouver International Airport finished in second in the same category.

Sea-Tac Airport, the 15th largest in the U.S, set a record for passengers last year with over 33.2 million.