It's (fortunately) been a year since I've had to travel through AA's part of IAH, but it was a colossal dump then, and no AC.
I'd try to time my airport arrival down to the minute so I wouldn't have to spend any more time than necessary in that awful airport. (Or if work takes you to Houston, I found Hobby to be a much nicer experience, even if it meant an ERJ and a stop at DFW.)