Last time I arrived on CO51 into IAH the baggage was sent to terminal C. I would also advise your party to pick you up upstairs (at the customer dropoff) of terminal C as this is much less congested than the other areas.
Reason #1-All the international arrivals from Mexico coming into terminal D at the 6-8PM hour will congest an already congested area. IT WILL BE CHAOS.
Reason #2-With all the construction on the approach to terminals C & D, you are going to experience some serious grief trying to flag down your ride.
Reason #3-It is always less congested at the top of the hill (customer dropoff) than at the baggage claim areas during the peak hours of the day.
Reason#4-As soon as your ride picks you up, you can easily exit the airport as the terminal C dropoff is in a horseshoe shape (enter up the hill, exit down the hill) and this feeds directly to the US59/I45 exits.
Hope this helps...
Scolli01
(edited to add reason #4)
[This message has been edited by scolli01 (edited 09-08-2003).]