B737-900
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Distraction; Communication Breakdown; Human-Machine Interface; Workload; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Company Policy; Procedure; Human Factors
When checking in with SEA Tower; Tower told us 'Cleared to land on [Runway] 34L'; and he then asked us which gate we were parking at. We then heard him ask every other aircraft the same thing. Somebody said that's not important right now (which I wholeheartedly agree with); but Tower insisted that it was. I know they want to make their runway exit and taxi plan but asking us which gate we're going to is not necessary; and it's a huge distraction at a critical part of the flight. We're trying to complete our landing check; make sure we're landing on the correct runway; and flying the jet. I don't want my First Officer looking up a gate; or being distracted away from his monitoring duties; and I don't want that for myself when I'm the monitoring pilot. Another thing that SEA Tower is famous for is giving taxi and/or runway hold short instructions while we're slowing through 100 kts. after landing. That also is a critical time; and we're often transferring controls right about then. Tower needs to WAIT until the aircraft is clear or almost clear of the runway and SLOWED down before they start issuing instructions. Nothing further. Educate the tower controllers on critical phases of flight and the their taxi plan is NOT critical. They need to understand that they are there to help the pilots; but instead they're a huge distraction.
Air Carrier Captain reported SEA Tower Controllers were requesting gate information during a critical phase of flight. The reporter stated SEA Tower routinely transmits instructions during critical phases of flight.