Houston George Bush Intcntl Airport (IAH) Flights & Flight Status

George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) – sometimes referred to as just Houston Airport – is the larger of the city’s two airports. To the north of the sprawling city, it’s a major hub for United Airlines. The other, William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), is to the south of the city and is mainly used by Southwest Airlines.

The 5 IAH terminal buildings stretch across more than a mile of distance, so this is definitely one airport where you really want to know what terminal you’re flying into and out of, especially if you’re arriving from an international flight, traveling with a good amount of luggage or have family members with you. Read on more for more expert tips on flying through George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

IAH layout

IAH is an enormous airport with 5 separate terminal buildings laid out in a long line. From east to west they’re simply labeled Terminal A through Terminal E. All are connected by a pre-security (landside) subway train and by a post-security (airside) elevated skyway.

Terminals C, D and E are also linked to each other by walkway connectors, but you’ll need to use either the subway train or the skyway to travel to or between Terminals A or B.

The airport Marriott hotel is also connected to the terminals via its own station on the subway but not the skyway. You’ll pay quite the premium for the convenience, but a wide variety of other airport hotels are clustered around the airport. Most have a free shuttle, but even if you end up taking an Uber or Lyft for ease and speed, they’re still likely to end up being cheaper.

It might sound counterintuitive, but IAH is actually easiest to navigate if you’re not flying the hometown airline, United Airlines. Other airlines will use a single terminal (maybe a second if they fly internationally) but United sprawls across all 5 when you take into account its regional United Express flights and Star Alliance partners.

Arriving at Houston Airport

If you’re arriving domestically, you’ll enter whichever terminal you arrive into and head through baggage claim within that terminal, then onto ground transportation from there.

If you’re arriving from an international flight, you’ll need to go through US immigration first, then collect any checked bags, go through US customs, and either head to ground transportation or recheck any bags for an onward flight.

Remember, the US does not currently allow checked-through bags from international flights to domestic flights, with very few exceptions, so you will almost surely need to collect and re-check your bags before heading to your onward gate.

And if you’re arriving internationally in Terminal D, be aware that you’ll actually end up in the arrivals hall at Terminal E after you clear customs.

Getting to and from IAH by public transportation

Houston is a city that primarily travels by car and its airport operates accordingly. While there is a very inexpensive public bus (METRO bus 102) it takes about an hour and stops at only a few downtown locations. If you’re traveling elsewhere, a few shuttle buses serve regional cities and cruise line passengers.

Hotel shuttle buses pick up and drop off at specific doors outside Terminals A, B and C. From Terminal E, you’ll want to call for pickup. There are direct dial phones at baggage claim in Terminals A, B and C, and in the arrivals level of Terminal E. I always make sure to check the details with my specific hotel before booking and keep a note in my calendar for my arrival.

Rental cars are consolidated at the IAH Rental Car Center offsite. Shuttles run every 5 minutes during the day and every 10 minutes overnight and take roughly 5 minutes. Note that not all terminals are served all the time – check the airport rental car shuttle page for details.

Getting to and from Houston Airport by car

If you’re being collected by a friend or family member in their own vehicle, you’ll probably find the pickup and cell phone waiting lot page on the airport website useful. There are specific spots for each terminal and in some cases for specific airline passengers, as well as multiple cell phone waiting lots. Again, remember that international passengers arriving into Terminal D will actually emerge from the Terminal E arrivals hall.

Prebooked limousines and black car services will wait for you in a specific area, and some drivers are allowed to meet in a designated spot at your arrivals terminal. Make sure you confirm the precise location and terminal with your driver.

Terminals A, B, C and E have metered taxi pickup areas, with a small surcharge for the airport and an extra one at night, but there’s a 10 percent senior citizen discount. Look for the transportation agent or use the courtesy phone to call for a cab if they’re not there when you arrive.

Rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft operate in Houston and are my usual go-to unless I’m arriving internationally, because there’s no pickup area at terminal E. Instead, you need to head over to Terminals A or C by subway or skyway.

There’s one rideshare pickup point at each of Terminals A, B and C: Door A-113 on Terminal A’s west side, Door 102-S in Terminal B and Door C-105 on the south side of Terminal C.

Security lines and departures at Houston Airport

Security at IAH works as it does everywhere TSA operates. The usual liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes rules are in effect: 1 quart-sized transparent resealable bag must contain all these items you’re carrying, with no single item larger than 3.4 ounces.

Terminals A, B, C and D each have at least one security line and the airport website lists the current wait time. Unless the difference is more than 20 to 30 minutes I don’t bother terminal-hopping.

The CLEAR fast-track program has lines at Terminal A South. If you have TSA Pre-Check, you’ll find your fast-track lines at Terminal A North and Terminal C North. That Terminal C North checkpoint is reserved for TSA Pre-Check and United Premier Access/Global Services passengers – others in Terminal C use the Terminal C South checkpoint, which can back up at peak times. It’s worth double-checking whether you’ll save time heading in via another terminal.

Once you’re past security you can move between terminals using the skyway, which has 4 stops: 1 each at Terminals A, B and C and 1 combined for Terminals D and E.

Lounges and free Wi-Fi at IAH

Houston Airport is home to quite the range of lounges. Most of these are operated by hometown hub airline, United, which has United Clubs for members of its lounge program and the Polaris Lounge for some premium cabin passengers.

Terminal A is home to a United Club near gate A9 and also to the American Airlines Admirals Club near gate A25. Terminal B has its own United Club, near the security check area on the mezzanine level. Terminal C has 2 separate United Clubs – one near gate C1 and one near gate C33.

Terminal D has a lot of international-focused lounges. The Air France lounge is near gate D18, while the KLM Crown Lounge is near gate D15 and the British Airways Executive Club lounge is near gate D10. You’ll also find the Centurion Lounge by American Express (for Platinum or Centurion members) on the mezzanine level near gate D12.

There’s also a USO lounge for members of the US military and their families near gate D8. Terminal E is home to the United Polaris Lounge near gate E12 and the United Club nearby.

Of all these lounges, the only one I’d travel between terminals for is the United Polaris lounge. You can get in if you’re flying United Polaris Business Class (not regular United Business branded flights, such as to Guam, Canada and some destinations in Central or South America) or first class with a Star Alliance member airline – even if that airline wants to send you to one of the other lounges.

Priority Pass offers access to the Terminal D Air France and KLM lounges. In Terminal C, they can also use the Minute Suites rest spaces. The Priority Pass dining benefit is available at Landry’s Seafood in Terminal C and Cadillac Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar in Terminal A. Lastly, if the United Clubs aren’t busy then you may be able to buy a day pass.

There is free Wi-Fi across the airport terminals. Look for the “Free Airport WIFI” network.