Southwest Rapid Rewards - HOU Questions

Did a quick search but didn't see anything that really addressed my issue. I'm heading to Houston from St Louis for a day trip next week (Friday 7/20). Get in around 10 am and the return flight is at 5:30 pm. Having never flown into HOU, I've got a few questions.

1. I'm renting a car (National) and it looks like it's an off site location. Are the shuttles to the rental car sites pretty efficient?

2. In the afternoon how long should I allow to drop off the rental car and get through security?

Thanks

Indy Racer

I live in Houston so I've never had to take a rental car bus but from my experience waiting for my parking lot bus I recall National coming around with good frequency. The arrivals area is semi enclosed so it's hot, humid, and though there are lots of air movers, smells of car exhaust. Fortunately, you shouldn't have to be be down there too long.

As for point two, I'd look to be returning your car no later than 3:30p. Normally, the car/bus/shuttle drop off departure lane is upstairs with arrivals downstairs but construction this summer means that ALL vehicle traffic is being routed downstairs through the arrivals area. As you can imagine, this can create a huge traffic jam during the rush periods so you will want to allocate some time for that. Second, the security line at HOU can be horrific at peak times (5a - 8a, evenings). I think you should be arriving just early enough to sneak in before the evening rush really gets into gear.

Did a quick search but didn't see anything that really addressed my issue. I'm heading to Houston from St Louis for a day trip next week (Friday 7/20). Get in around 10 am and the return flight is at 5:30 pm. Having never flown into HOU, I've got a few questions.

1. I'm renting a car (National) and it looks like it's an off site location. Are the shuttles to the rental car sites pretty efficient?

2. In the afternoon how long should I allow to drop off the rental car and get through security?

Thanks

Indy Racer

Shuttles run every few minutes. I can not remember a long wait ever. In fact, it is almost walkable from the terminal to the rental car lot if there were just sidewalks, so you need to ride. Check in has always been fast. Use google maps and serach on "Hobby Airport, HOU, Houston, TX" and the sat image will show that the rental car lot is close to the terminal. The Enterprise and some other lots are a bit of a haul, but National is right there on Airport Blvd. Zoom in and Google shows the National facility.

I live in Houston so I've never had to take a rental car bus but from my experience waiting for my parking lot bus I recall National coming around with good frequency. The arrivals area is semi enclosed so it's hot, humid, and though there are lots of air movers, smells of car exhaust. Fortunately, you shouldn't have to be be down there too long.

As for point two, I'd look to be returning your car no later than 3:30p. Normally, the car/bus/shuttle drop off departure lane is upstairs with arrivals downstairs but construction this summer means that ALL vehicle traffic is being routed downstairs through the arrivals area. As you can imagine, this can create a huge traffic jam during the rush periods so you will want to allocate some time for that. Second, the security line at HOU can be horrific at peak times (5a - 8a, evenings). I think you should be arriving just early enough to sneak in before the evening rush really gets into gear.

I'll chime in as well... Houston is my home airport and I fly out of there weekly. I also use the rental cars often.

National is located just down the street and is shared with Alamo. So board the National/Alamo green/blue shuttle. They come quickly and often and will be located in the first lane just outside of the baggage claim doors.

Personally, I drop off car one hour before my flight and still have plenty of time. but in your case 4pm (1.5 hour early) should be more than enough.

The person I quoted is correct in that all traffic is being routed downstairs, however, the shuttles now have their own lane that comes off a side road and blocked off from passenger vehicles. The shuttles are no longer affected by passenger vehicle traffic at all.

Security is usually a breeze... rare to see the non priority line to be > 15 minutes. Biggest factors for time needed at HOU is checking bags and if you get the seldom long security line. Terminal is small and distance to your gate is fairly short.

Rental car dropoff - very quick, you can be at the terminal in 10 minutes. However I disagree about security - the non-elite lines have always been 30m-1hr in the 6-7pm time frame. Of course, maybe that's changed the past few months, and maybe not as bad at other times of day? But it is one reason I won't fly out of HOU anymore unless I am using a BS ticket.

In sum: 1.5 hours should be sufficient. 1 hour if you are A-list or BS fare.

Thanks for all the info, really appreciate it.

Rental car dropoff - very quick, you can be at the terminal in 10 minutes. However I disagree about security - the non-elite lines have always been 30m-1hr in the 6-7pm time frame. Of course, maybe that's changed the past few months, and maybe not as bad at other times of day? But it is one reason I won't fly out of HOU anymore unless I am using a BS ticket.

In sum: 1.5 hours should be sufficient. 1 hour if you are A-list or BS fare.

The security line swings back and forth from >45 minutes to being able to walk up straight to the ID check podium depending on the time of day. Basically, mornings and evenings are major pains at HOU security.