Overview | IAH (BUSH) AIRPORT | Houston Airport System (2024)

FAQs

Is IAH airport easy to navigate? ›

At both HOU and IAH, plenty of marked signs make navigating your way through the airports easy. If you ever need clarification or are concerned that you are heading into the wrong terminal, plenty of friendly staff will be happy to direct you.

All five terminals at IAH are connected by an above-ground automated people-mover (Skyway) and an underground train (Subway).

If you're connecting between two domestic flights at IAH, you should aim to have at least a 45-minute to 1-hour layover. If you're connecting to or from an international flight, you should plan for a longer layover, ideally 2 to 3 hours.

There are 5 terminals at IAH (A, B, C, D, and E) that are all connected by Skyway and subway trains. Except for Terminal A, all the other terminals are connected via walkways inside the secure area.

Houston Airports is urging travelers to arrive to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) at least 3 hours before their flight this Memorial Day weekend, even for domestic flights. For context, the national rule of thumb is to arrive 2 hours before domestic flights, 3 hours before international flights.

To connect to another terminal inside the secure area, passengers can take the escalator to level 3 to ride the Skyway or walk to Terminals B, D, or E via the airside walkways. If exiting the secure area, passengers can ride the subway on level LL.

26 airlines currently connect George Bush Intercontinental Airport nonstop to 5 continents. *** United reserves its Terminal C North checkpoint for TSA Pre✓™, Premier Access and Global Services passengers.

It is owned by the City of Houston and serves as the second largest hub for United Airlines in the country, after Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. IAH served more than 46 million passengers in 2023, with 399,805 aircraft movements.

The recommended layover time for international flights is generally longer, as you will have to go through customs and immigration before boarding your next flight. In most cases, a 30-minute layover for domestic flights and an hour for international flights is considered a minimum, or short, layover.

Do I have to go through security again for connecting flight in Houston? ›

All connecting international passengers must go through TSA Security Recheck before proceeding to their onward flight (after processing through Immigration & Customs and collecting and rechecking baggage).

What is a good connection time? Travel advisers say there's a lot to take into account when booking connecting flights, but a general rule of thumb is 60-90 minutes between domestic flights and at least two to three hours for international itineraries.

Terminals. George Bush Intercontinental Airport has five terminals and 131 total gates, 101 with jet bridges and 30 hardstands. The Skyway automated people mover system provides airside connections between all five terminals. The Subway provides landside connections between the five terminals and the airport hotel.

If you are arriving internationally, review international arrivals to locate customs. International passengers who arrive at both Terminals D and E will proceed through Customs & Immigration to the Terminal E international arrivals hall.

Generally speaking, we like to err on the side of caution and suggest you print out your boarding pass, even if you already checked in online and have a mobile version on your phone.

For a short-haul flight where you are only taking hand luggage, checking in online saves a lot of time and is therefore much better than checking in at the airport. If, on the other hand, you have to check in bulky luggage, it is better to use the classic check-in at the airport for security reasons.

You need to show additional documents. Another reason that your boarding pass may say “see agent” is that certain travel documents need to be verified. If you had not previously selected a seat, some airlines cannot automatically issue a boarding pass with a seat assignment until the documents are checked.

As with any airport, it can be difficult to navigate Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) without some degree of difficulty. Bush IAH is composed of five Terminals (A-E) with Continental Airlines being its major airline.

Hobby Airport is the only North American airport with a 5-star Skytrax rating with George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) keeping its 4-star Skytrax rating for a seventh straight year. The announcement came during the 2024 Skytrax World Airport Awards in Frankfurt, Germany on Wednesday, April 17.

Is IAH a busy airport? ›

Houston, Texas has a couple of airports but the most busy is IAH/George Bush Airport. The other major airport in Houston is Houston/Hobby (HOU), which does have some international routes but not as many.

Distance: Think of it as a brisk stroll through a particularly long shopping mall. In reality, the distance depends on where you are in Terminal C and where you need to be in Terminal E. Worst case scenario, you're looking at a good 10-minute walk.