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George Bush Intercontinental Airport [IAH] – Ultimate Terminal Guide

BY 

Amar Hussain

- UPDATED: August 24, 2021   |    8

1. Travel  / 
2. Airports

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In 2019, George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) served over 45 million passengers, making it the 17th-busiest airport in the U.S.

IAH is the second-largest hub for United Airlines and is a focus city for Spirit Airlines.

Quick Information

Airport: George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
Terminals: 5 terminals — A, B, C, D, and E
Airport Address: 2800 N. Terminal Rd., Houston, TX 77032
Distance From Downtown Houston: Approximately 23 miles (37 km)
Website: fly2houston.com
Phone Number: 281-230-3100
Destinations Served: 118 domestic, 69 international
Flight Information: Departures and arrival information can be viewed here

IAH Terminal Map

Airlines Operating From IAH

IAH Airport Terminals

IAH consists of 5 terminals (A, B, C, D, and E) that are all connected by the Skyway and subway train services.

Terminal A is separate from the other terminals with no access via any walkways; Terminals B to E are all connected via walkways inside the secure area.

Access to the airport is through roadway systems on the east or south ends of the airport looping all terminals and parking facilities.

Terminals A, B, and C operate domestic flights (Spirit Airlines also has international departures from Terminal A) and Terminals D and E operate domestic and international flights.

For all terminals apart from D, arrivals are on level 1 and departures on level 2. Terminal D utilizes Terminal E’s arrival hall.

A Marriott hotel is situated in the central area of the airport (outside of the secure area).

Terminal A

Departures

Terminal A has 2 departure concourses at the north and south ends. The north concourse serves 18 gates numbered A1, A2, and A3A to H, and the south concourse serves 11 gates numbered A17 to A20 and A24 to A30.

There are security checkpoints at the north and south ends of the terminal leading into the departure concourses. The north concourse has a United Club and the south concourse has an Admirals Club.

To connect to another terminal inside the secure area, passengers can take the escalator to level 3 to ride the Skyway. If exiting the secure area, then passengers can ride the subway on level LL.

Arrivals

Arrivals is on level 1 of Terminal A with baggage claim and access to ground transportation and parking.

Terminal B

Departures

Terminal B also has north and south departure concourses with 1 security checkpoint to access the secure area. The south concourse has 30 gates numbered B1 to B12 and B14 to B31.

The north concourse has 9 gates numbered B76/A, B77/A, B79/A, B80, B81/A, B83/A, B85A/B, B87, and B88.

To connect to another terminal inside the secure area, passengers can take the escalator to level 3 to ride the Skyway or walk to Terminal C from near gate B85. If exiting the secure area, passengers can ride the subway on level LL.

Arrivals

Arrivals is on level 1 of Terminal B with baggage claim and access to ground transportation and parking.

Terminal C

Departures

Terminal C has a security checkpoint that provides access to the secure area and the north and south concourses. The north concourse serves 14 gates numbered C1 to C12, C14, C15, and the south concourse serves 16 gates numbered C29 to C37 and C39 to C45.

There’s a United Club lounge in both the north and south concourses along with a good range of shops and restaurants.

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.

Arrivals

Arrivals is on level 1 of Terminal C with baggage claim and access to ground transportation and parking.

Terminal D

Departures (Ticketing)

Terminal D is the main international terminal serving flights all over the world with airlines such as Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, and Qatar Airways.

Level 1 is the ticketing level that has 1 security checkpoint leading through to escalators up to the departures level.

Departures (Gates)

Terminal D’s departure area is on level 2 with 12 gates numbered D1 to D12. On this level, there is the KLM Crown Lounge, British Airways Lounge, Air France Lounge, Executive Club, and USO Lounge.

There is a small selection of shops and restaurants in Terminal D, including duty-free shopping.

Arrivals

Terminal D shares its arrival level with Terminal E for baggage claim and ground transportation.

Passengers arriving on international flights must clear Customs and Immigration so will end up outside of the secure area in Terminal D/E arrivals. To connect to another terminal, you can ride the subway train on level LL.

Terminal E

Departures

Terminal E is operated exclusively by United Airlines for domestic and international flights. Ticketing/check-in is on level 1 along with a security checkpoint leading through to the departure areas.

In the departure concourse, there are 23 gates numbered E1 to E12 and E14 to E24.

There is a United Club and United Polaris Lounge in the center of the concourse along with a range of restaurants and shops (including Duty Free).

Update: Due to the construction of a new international terminal, passengers departing from Terminal E must now check-in and use the TSA security checkpoints at Terminals B, C, or D. United passengers will be provided with their specific terminal check-in location.

Arrivals

Arrivals is on level 1 and is used for Terminal D and E arrivals. For international flights, Customs and Immigration is on this level leading through to the central arrivals area for onward ground transportation.

Inter-Terminal Transport

IAH is one of the few U.S. airports that has a passenger train inside and outside of the secure area, making terminal connections quick and easy.

Skyway Automated People Mover (Inside Security)

The Skyway is an above-ground train that runs between all terminals inside of the secure area. Trains depart every 2 minutes with a total journey time of 4 minutes 15 seconds from Terminal A to the Terminal D/E station.

Subway Train (Outside of Security)

The subway is a below-ground train that runs the length of the airport outside of the secure area. Stations are positioned in every terminal, as well as at the Marriott hotel. Trains operate every 3 minutes from 3:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Security & Customs at IAH

IAH has the following security checkpoints:

• Terminal A North serves gates A1 to A15 and is open from 4 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Terminal A South serves gates A17 to A30 and is open from 3:45 a.m.to 10 p.m.
• Terminal B is after ticketing on the west side of the airport and is open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Terminal C North is open from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Terminal C South is open from 5 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Terminal D is open from 4:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.
• Terminal E is open from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. (currently closed due to construction)

If arriving on an international flight, passengers or friends and family waiting for passenger collection can view the international Immigration and Customs processing times on the airport website.

TSA PreCheck

IAH has dedicated TSA PreCheck lanes at the below checkpoints with these hours of operation:

• Terminal A North serves gates A1 to A15 and is open from 4 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Terminal B is after ticketing on the west side of the airport and is open from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Terminal C North is open from 4 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Terminal E is open from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. (currently closed due to construction)

IAH has a TSA PreCheck Enrollment Center located in the baggage claim of Terminal C operating from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Hot Tip: TSA PreCheck can be especially helpful if you regularly fly out of IAH as it officially ranks in the 5 U.S. airports with the worst average security wait times. 

Global Entry

IAH has Global Entry kiosks for preapproved, low-risk travelers arriving into the U.S. All applicants are required to attend an interview that they can arrange at 1 of 2 Enrollment Centers at IAH:

• Terminal E arrivals (outside of the secure area) open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Terminal E near Ruby’s Diner (inside the secure area) open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

IAH also participates in Enrollment on Arrival, so conditionally approved passengers may fulfill the interview portion of their application on arrival at IAH with a CBP agent.

Hot Tip: For more information, check out these frequently asked questions about Global Entry along with our helpful advice. 

Mobile Passport

Passengers can use Mobile Passport Control when arriving at IAH from an international flight.

Just download the free app, answer the questions about your trip, and present your electronic receipt to a CBP agent.

CLEAR

There are dedicated CLEAR security program lanes at IAH available for eligible passengers. These are located at:

• Terminal A North checkpoint open daily from 4 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Terminal A South checkpoint open Sunday-Friday from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m.

IAH Airport Lounges

IAH has 14 lounges, with 7 of those lounges available for passengers to purchase day passes. The remaining lounges are for eligible passengers or credit cardholders, excluding the USO Lounge which is reserved exclusively for active military.

*Hours are subject to change without notice. Lounge access may be restricted at times due to capacity.
**Day Pass for any passenger. Lounges marked as N/A only allow entry for eligible passengers in their premium cabins, frequent flyer programs, or participating credit card programs.

Hot Tip: Want access to lounges without paying the day-pass fee? Here are the best credit cards for complimentary lounge access to avoid entry fees to airport lounges.

Priority Pass Access

Subject to availability, Priority Pass holders can access the following lounges in Terminal D:

• Air France Lounge
• KLM Crown Lounge

Selected Priority Pass holders can use their membership to receive a discount at:

• Cadillac Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar: Open daily from 6 a.m. to10 p.m., located in Terminal A
• Landry’s Seafood: Open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., located in Terminal C

Find out more about Priority Pass memberships as well as the best cards for Priority Pass access.

Airport Dining & Drinks at IAH

There are over 100 restaurants, cafes, and food stations at IAH. Most are located inside the secure area, with only 3 Starbucks and 1 restaurant pre-security.

Plan ahead and view the range of restaurants available on the airport website.

IAH Airport Wi-Fi & Charging Stations

Free Wi-Fi is available in each terminal and the parking garages. To connect, select “Free Airport WIFI” from the available connections, agree to the terms and conditions, and click “Connect.”

For any technical issues, you can contact the Wi-Fi help desk at 844-310-990.

Charging Stations: Charging stations are available in each terminal with the option of rapid charging for a small fee.

Hot Tip: To ensure you’re connected at all times, check out the best mobile Wi-Fi hotspots.

IAH Airport Lost & Found

IAH advises passengers to contact the following departments, depending on where an item was lost:

• On an Airplane: Contact the applicable airline
• Rental Car Center: Call 281-233-1013 or email [email protected]
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Call 281-230-4672
• TSA: Call 281-443-5301 or email [email protected]
• Other Public Areas: Contact the lost and found office at 281-230-3299 or visit the office on the arrivals level of Terminal E; passengers can report a lost item using this form

Additional Airport Information

Information Services

IAH has 4 information booths located in the baggage claim of Terminal A and C, in the D/E international arrivals hall, and just past the security checkpoint in Terminal E. These are open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Airport volunteers can be found throughout the airport and are identifiable by their bright red tops.

Interactive information kiosks are also positioned throughout the airport.

Children’s Play Areas

There are no children’s play areas at IAH. Keep the kids entertained with regular live music held in Terminals A or D, ride the Skytrain, or visit one of the airport’s art exhibits.

Given that there isn’t a dedicated children’s play area, IAH doesn’t rank as one of the top kid-friendly U.S. airports.

Baby Facilities

IAH has private nursing rooms throughout the airport, located at:

• Terminal A near gates A1 and A17
• Terminal B near gate B21
• Terminal C near gates C4 and C34
• Terminal E near gate E11

2 nurseries with a crib and rocking chair are available in Terminal B en route to gates B85 to B88 and in Terminal D opposite gates D8 and D9.

Traveling With a Pet

While IAH didn’t make it into our top pet-friendly U.S. airports, IAH does offer pet relief areas. Pet relief areas can be found at the following locations:

• Terminal B near gate B1
• Terminal C across from gate C2
• Terminal D southeast of the terminal entrance and across from gate D6
• Terminal E across from gate E12

Duty Free

IAH has several duty-free shops, located in Terminals A, B, D, and E.

Smoking Areas

Designated smoking areas are located outside of the airport and must be at least 25 feet from the exits:

• Terminal A at the north side on level 1, outside door A-113
• Terminal A at the east side on level 2, north and south of the entrance
• Terminal B at the south side on level 1, near the taxi pick-up point
• Terminal B at the east side on level 2, north and south of the entrance
• Terminal C at the south side on level 1, outside door C-105
• Terminal C at the east side on level 2, north and south of the entrance
• Terminal D at the west and east of the entrance on level 1
• Terminal E, northwest of the terminal exit on level 1 outside door E-101
• Terminal E at the west side on level 2, north of the entrance

Prayer

IAH has 2 interfaith chapels located in Terminal C near gates C29 to C33 and Terminal D near gate D8. Both are open 24/7.

Money

ATMs can be found throughout all terminals at IAH, mostly on level 2, and currency exchange kiosks are in Terminals B, C, D, and E.

Luggage Storage

There are no luggage storage facilities at IAH.

Important IAH Phone Numbers

General Inquiries: 281-230-3100

Lost and Found: 281-230-3299

Parking: 281-233-1730

Travel to & From IAH

Transport Options

Buses

METRO bus 102 runs from IAH through to the downtown Houston METRO station with the journey taking 50 to 90 minutes. Buses pick up and drop off from the south side of Terminal C on the baggage claim level. The fee for 1 ride is $1.25.

Shuttles

The airport recommends SuperShuttle to book shared-ride and non-stop shuttles to/from IAH. Although advance reservations are recommended, passengers can also book on arrival at one of the ticket counters located in the baggage claim of Terminals A, B, and C and the Terminal E arrivals area.

Hotel shuttles pick up and drop off at Terminal A, B, and C south side and Terminal E west side.

Taxi

Taxis are available from outside baggage claim at Terminals A, B, C, and E. For all destinations within the Houston city limits, the flat zone rate or meter rate is charged (whichever is cheaper). Approximate rates are:

• Downtown: $57
• Galleria/Medical Center area: $65
• Hobby Airport: $78
• Space Center Houston: $102
• NRG Park: $70

Ride Services

GetMe, GreenLight, Lyft, Uber, and Wingz are all approved ride apps that operate at IAH. Drop off for all terminals is on the departure level, and pick up is permitted at:

• Terminal A south side, door A-115
• Terminal B south side, door B-103
• Terminal C south side, door C-106
• Terminal E west side, door E-102

Directions by Car to IAH

Arriving From Downtown Houston

Take I-69 North and use the right 2 lanes to take the Beltway W./Sam Houston Parkway exit. Merge onto Beltway W./N. Sam Houston Parkway and then take the exit towards JFK Boulevard for access to the airport.

Arriving From Austin (Northwest)

Take US-290 East (toll road), then use the right lane to merge onto TX-36 S/US-290 east via the slip road to Houston/Bellville. Use the right 2 lanes to merge onto Sam Houston Tollway North (toll road) and then take the exit towards Bush Intercontinental Airport.

IAH Airport Parking Information

Official Airport Parking

Terminal parking is available at Terminals A, B, and C, with each parking lot charging a daily rate of $15. The Terminal D/E garage is permanently closed.

Valet parking is also available from the ground level of the Terminal A and B parking garages and on level 4 of the Terminal C garage.

The rates are $14 for 0 to 2 hrs and $28 for 2 to 24 hours.

Long-Term Parking

There are 2 ecopark parking lots at IAH that offer cheaper rates than terminal parking. These are located further away from the terminals and require passengers to ride a shuttle bus that picks up and drops off on level 1 outside of baggage claim at each terminal.

Update: Due to construction, the ecopark shuttle no longer accesses Terminal E; customers must go to Terminal C or D to access an ecopark shuttle.

Rates

ecopark (JFK Boulevard)

ecopark2 (Will Clayton Parkway)

• 0 to 3 hrs: $4.62 plus tax
• 3 to 24 hrs: $6.47 plus tax

You can guarantee a space in the terminal lots by pre-booking parking online. If you park regularly in the ecopark parking lots, then you can join the Parking Plus frequent parking program to earn award points towards free parking. 

Pick-up or Drop-off Parking

IAH has 2 cell phone waiting lots that family and friends can use to park for free until the passenger is ready for curbside pick up. These are located at:

• 16834 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Houston, TX 77032
• 6135 Will Clayton Parkway, Humble, TX 77338 (covered)

Off-Site and Hotel Parking

Off-site lots such as hotels can offer cheaper parking than what is available at the airport.

Prices start at $4 per day when booking on airportparkingreservations.com, which is a handy site for comparing prices and distances from the airport.

Parking for Passengers With Disabilities

Parking for passengers with disabilities is available on each level of all official airport parking lots, including ecopark and ecopark2. Wheelchair-accessible shuttle buses are also available to transport passengers to/from the non-terminal parking lots.

Parking Contact Number

General parking inquiries: 281-233-1730

Car Rental at IAH Airport

The rental car center is located on airport property, around 5 minutes from the terminals. Blue and white shuttle buses depart every 5 to 10 minutes from outside of Terminal A, B, C, and E arrivals, marked “Rental Car Shuttle.”

Hot Tip: Want to avoid paying for expensive insurance through the rental company? Find out which credit cards include car rental insurance as a benefit.

IAH Airport Hotels

The Houston Airport Marriott at George Bush Intercontinental is a 4-star hotel situated on airport property. There is also a range of 2- to 4-star hotels from 2.2+ miles away, with most offering an airport shuttle service.

IAH Airport Hotels – Sorted by Distance

Top 3 Hotel Stays Using Points

The Sheraton North Houston at George Bush Intercontinental Airport offers guests both comfort and convenience. Guests have access to the airport shuttle, outdoor pool, and fitness center. Those guests who have Platinum Elite status or higher with the Marriott Bonvoy program will receive a complimentary hot breakfast each morning.

The Holiday Inn Houston Intercontinental offers guests access to a fitness center, basketball and tennis courts, a sand volleyball court, and an outdoor pool. The hotel is perfect for traveling families as up to 4 kids ages 11 and under eat free any time of the day in any on-site restaurant. When it’s time to head home you can load everyone up into the free shuttle back to the airport.

Stay rejuvenated at the DoubleTree Houston Intercontinental Airport hotel with a fitness room equipped with cardio machines and weights, an outdoor pool, a hot tub, quiet gardens, and a complimentary airport shuttle. Hilton Gold and Diamond members can enjoy a hot breakfast each morning of their stay.

Hot Tip: If you’re looking to top off your points to stay at any of these options, see our guides on the best ways to earn more Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, or IHG Rewards points.

Final Thoughts

George Bush Intercontinental Airport is the busiest airport in Houston and the second largest in Texas after Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).

It’s a well-laid-out airport, with easy connections between terminals due to the Skyway and subway trains that run inside and outside of the secure area. Passengers also have the option of walking between most terminals inside of the secure area if connecting from a domestic flight.

The airport began construction in Terminal E in August 2021 as part of the IAH Terminal Redevelopment Program. At its completion, the new international terminal will have a modernized ticketing and arrivals hall and additional international gates.