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George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport (IAH)

The airport code for George Bush Intercontinental Airport is IAH.

There is one on-site hotel at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). The Houston Airport Marriott is located between Terminals B and C. An underground train service connects the hotel to all terminals, or you can access it via a walkable tunnel. The hotel has spacious rooms, an outdoor saltwater pool, a fitness center, room service, and an on-site restaurant. Rooms start at around $180.

Terminal A: In Terminal A, there is an American Airlines Admirals Club and a United Club. The Admirals Club has a buffet, full-service bar, conference room available for booking, seating with built-in power outlets, WiFi, and premium food for purchase. The United Club has a bar, coffee station, self-serve snacks, and newspapers and magazines.

Terminal B: Terminal B also has a United Club. This United Club has a full-service bar, business services, coffee station, self-serve snacks, TVs, and WiFi.

Terminal C: Terminal C has two United Clubs. They have the same services as United Clubs in Terminals A and B, including self-serve snacks, a bar, WiFi, power outlets, newspapers and magazines, and TVs. There are also Minute Suites in Terminal C, where passengers can book a shower and a bed.

Terminal D: The international terminal has an Air France Lounge, American Express Centurion Lounge, HAS Executive Club, KLM Crown Lounge, and USO Lounge. The Air France Lounge has self-serve snacks, a soup and salad bar, alcoholic drinks (self-serve), WiFi, and a VIP area for La Première members. The HAS Executive Club has a bar, a buffet, TVs, lounge chairs, and WiFi. In the Centurion Lounge, you’ll find locally-inspired menu and cocktail options, a health and wellness space, a dedicated work area, a tranquility area, a phone area, and showers. The KLM Crown Lounge has a coffee bar, snack bar, sandwiches, self-serve alcoholic drinks, luggage storage, TVs, and WiFi.

Terminal E: Terminal E has a United Club and a United Polaris Lounge. The United Club in Terminal E has a coffee station, snack bar, full-service bar, TVs, WiFi, and a children’s area. The Polaris Lounge has a more extensive hot and cold buffet, as well as an à la carte menu, a full-service bar, daybeds, and shower suites with shampoo and conditioner, as well as a shower cap, loofa, slippers, and other amenities.

Service animals must be leashed at all times. Non-service animals must be in a kennel, except when in relief areas. There are several pet relief areas throughout the airport, all inside security.

Pet relief areas:

• Terminal A near Gate A12 (inside security)
• Terminal B near Gate B1 (inside security)
• Terminal C across from Gate C2 (inside security)
• Terminal D across from Gate D12 (inside security)
• Terminal E across from Gate E12 (inside security)

George Bush Intercontinental Airport has five terminals: Terminal A, Terminal B, Terminal C, Terminal D, and Terminal E. You can transfer between terminals through an underground train or the Skyway.

Terminal A: Terminal A operates flights from Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, and WestJet. This terminal has dining options, including Blaze Pizza, Cadillac Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar, First Glass Bistro & Bar, Jack in the Box, Starbucks, and more. Shops include a Dylan’s Candy Bar, Houston gift shop, Duty Free, Benefit Cosmetics, and several electronics stores.

Terminal B: This terminal is for United Express domestic and international flights. Terminal B has several coffee options, a Whataburger, SugarLand Beer Garden, Hard Rock Cafe, Freshii, and more. There’s a magazine shop, TUMI store, electronics store, and Spanx store, among other shopping options.

Terminal C: Terminal C is United Airlines’ domestic terminal. It also has an Agave Taqueria, Alchemy Craft Cocktail bar, El Premio Tex-Mex Bar & Grill, Landry’s Seafood, Wendy’s, Starbucks, and many other restaurants. There’s a Sunglass Hut, M.A.C., Jo Malone London, TUMI, Space Corner store, chocolate store, Crew Outfitters, and more.

Terminal D: Most international flights depart from Terminal D, including those from Aeromexico, Air China, Air France, Air New Zealand, ANA, Avianca, British Airways, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, Interjet, KLM, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Viva Aerobus, adn Volaris. The international terminal has a Bayou City Bar, a Peet’s Coffee, and several grab-and-go food options. This terminal has a Duty Free, a TUMI, Johnston & Murphy, Benefit Cosmetics, Chanel, and several gift and magazine stores.

Terminal E: Another United terminal, Terminal E operates both domestic and international United flights. Terminal E has an Auntie Anne’s, Cinnabon, and Subway, as well as sit-down restaurants like Gavi, El Premio, Livefire Burger, Ruby’s Diner, and more. There’s also a Duty Free shop, Brookstone, L’Occitane, several electronics stores, Pandora, and a Sports Corner.

CLEAR is available in Terminal A, Terminal B, and Terminal C.

TSA PreCheck is available at all IAH security checkpoints in Terminals A, B, C, and E.

Global Entry is available for international arrivals at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Enrollment is available by appointment at the Global Entry Office at Terminal E arrivals or at Terminal E near Ruby’s Diner. Passengers can also participate in enrollment on arrival.

IAH recommends that passengers arrive at least two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight. But this is one of the largest and busiest airports in the United States, so actual times depend on a few factors.

Where is your gate? IAH is a big airport, and getting across it can take upwards of 20 minutes. Look at what gate you’re flying from and estimate how long it will take you to walk or take the SkyTrain from the check-in area. If you’re driving, factor in an extra 10 minutes or so for walking from your parking spot.

Try to check in online. Most airlines cutoff check-in 30-60 minutes before the flight departs. If you check in online, you can do it hours ahead and not have to worry. If you can’t, make sure you get to the airport before that window.

Are you checking luggage? Airlines also implement baggage check cutoffs, typically 45-60 minutes before the flight is scheduled to take off. If you plan to check a bag, make sure to arrive before this time.

How busy is the airport? The average security line wait time at IAH is about 20 minutes. But if you’re traveling during peak times and on weekends, it can be much, much longer.

We recommend arriving at IAH 1.5-2 hours before your flight or 2.5 hours before on a busy travel day.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is about 20 miles from downtown Houston, depending on where in the city you’re departing from.

There are several options for traveling from Houston to IAH.

By taxi or ride share: Downtown Houston is about 20 miles from the airport, which is a 25-minute drive on a good day, but it could be up to an hour if traffic is bad. We suggest allowing at least 45 minutes to be safe. Costs range from about $45-60, depending on demand.

By public transportation: Take Bus 102, which serves the airport and surrounding vicinity, then continue to the METRO station in downtown Houston. The bus is $1.25 and cash only. The ride to downtown takes 50-90 minutes, depending on the time of day.