What You Can and Cannot Wear to Visit Someone at FDC SeaTac
Dress code problems are one of the fastest ways to lose a visit. Use the checklist below to avoid common clothing issues at FDC SeaTac.
FDC SeaTac has a specific list of clothing visitors can't wear. Think "courtroom appropriate" - nothing tight, short, revealing, or see-through. Certain shirt colors and styles regularly get people turned away. When in doubt, go more conservative. Better to feel slightly overdressed than to lose your visit at the door.
- ✓ Halter tops
- ✓ Tank tops or tube tops
- ✓ Open-toe shoes or open-heel shoes
- ✓ Sandals
- ✓ White T-shirts
- ✓ Brown T-shirts
- ✓ Orange T-shirts
- ✓ Spandex garments
- ✓ Form-fitting clothing
- ✓ Shorts
- ✓ Skirts or dresses shorter than 2 inches above the knee
- ✓ Hats, caps, or hoods
- ✓ Suggestive, revealing, or transparent (see-through) clothing
Some common items are clearly off-limits: halter tops, tank tops, tube tops, and shorts. Skirts and dresses must be no shorter than 2 inches above the knee - anything shorter gets you denied. There's also a color rule for T-shirts specifically: white, brown, and orange tees aren't allowed. Pick a different color or style.
Every visitor goes through a metal detector. The facility advises against wearing excessive metal on your clothing - including underwear with metal components. Too much metal slows you down at screening or can prevent you from getting through.
- ✓ Belts with large metal buckles
- ✓ Heavy jewelry (multiple rings, thick chains, stacked bracelets)
- ✓ Bras or undergarments with lots of metal hardware (for example, metal underwire or extra metal clasps)
- ✓ Clothing with a lot of metal snaps, studs, or big zippers
- Build your outfit around “low metal” clothing - pick simple pieces without lots of snaps, studs, or hardware.
- Keep accessories minimal - the less metal you’re wearing, the easier it is to clear the detector.
- Do a quick check before you head in - empty pockets and remove extra metal items so you’re not troubleshooting at the screening point.
For the smoothest check-in, keep it simple: a conservative outfit that avoids prohibited tops, shorts, short skirts or dresses, and restricted T-shirt colors. Choose clothes with minimal metal so you can clear the detector without hassle.
- ✓ Plain long-sleeve or short-sleeve shirt (not a halter/tank/tube top, and not a white/brown/orange T-shirt) + full-length pants that aren’t spandex/form-fitting + closed-toe/closed-heel shoes
- ✓ Modest blouse or top that isn’t low/see-through/revealing + straight-leg pants (not tight) + simple closed-toe shoes
- ✓ Knee-length (or longer) dress that is not see-through/revealing and falls at least within 2 inches above the knee + closed-toe/closed-heel shoes (no sandals)
- ✓ Knee-length (or longer) skirt that meets the 2-inches-above-the-knee rule + modest top (not tight or see-through) + closed-toe/closed-heel shoes
- ✓ Any of the above without hats, caps, or hoods, and with minimal metal accessories to help you clear the metal detector
Travel light. At FDC SeaTac, only your ID goes into the Visiting Room - nothing else. Lock personal items in your vehicle before you arrive. Anything you can't leave in your car goes in the Front Lobby lockers.
- Step out and fix the issue - if your clothing or items are a problem, change/remove what you need to so you can return compliant.
- Lock personal items in your vehicle - aside from basics like wallets, purses, and money, personal items are expected to be secured in your car.
- Use the Front Lobby lockers when you can’t use a vehicle - anything you should not or cannot lock in your vehicle can be placed in the lockers at the Front Lobby.
- Re-enter with only your ID - when you come back through, keep it simple: identification is the only personal item permitted in the Visiting Room.
Reminder: Only your ID goes into the Visiting Room. Everything else stays locked in your vehicle or in the Front Lobby lockers.
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