Jul 12, 2016, 7:59 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Checking in and departing from IAH:
Terminal C has the most reliably open Precheck and Premier Access security lanes. Consider checking in and clearing security in at Terminal C even if departing from another terminal.
There are no UA check-in counters in Terminal A, even though UA has a few flights that depart from Terminal A. Check in at Terminal B or C.
There is an underground, somewhat slow landside tram system (the Subway) that runs between the basement level of all terminals (plus the on-site Marriott hotel) outside of security. (The Subway was built by Disney and modeled after their PeopleMover ride. It's worth a look if you're into that sort of thing.)
Recommended practices for transiting IAH:
IAH is a huge airport, but all terminals are very conveniently connected by a very frequent, fast airside tram system (the Skyway) inside security. You can pretty much get from any point in the airport to any other point in the airport within about 15 minutes (with a combination of Skyway and a brisk walk) without reclearing security. UA publishes as low as a 35-minute minimum connect time (MCT) at IAH, and while you shouldn't dilly-dally, this is doable on a typical domestic-domestic connection. (It helps if your inbound is not delayed and you're seated towards the front of the plane, of course; your departure flight will be almost fully boarded by the time you get there, but you'll make it.)
Note that the higher-numbered C gates (C29-C45, aka "C South") are directly connected to the E terminal by a walkway. It is usually faster to walk from C South to E (especially the low E gates) than it is to take the train. Similarly, C North (C14-C27) are directly connected to the D terminal, though the Skyway is not really out of the way and is useful if going from a low C gate to a high D gate (C24 to D10, for example). Terminal A and Terminal B are not connected by any walkways, and you must use the Skyway to change to or from these terminals.
For international arrivals: after clearing customs, stay to the left of the baggage re-check belts and follow signs to exit to arrivals (like you're going to curbside). Once in the arrivals lobby, take the elevator or escalator up one floor to find a PreCheck checkpoint and a usually-less-crowded regular checkpoint. If you ignore this advice and proceed up the escalator behind the baggage re-check area, the transit security checkpoint there is often congested and does not have a separate PreCheck checkpoint.
While perhaps not usually recommended, in a pinch, with Global Entry, no checked bags, and PreCheck, it is possible to make a one-hour (or even slightly less) connection by following the above instructions specifically (on a good day, it can take less than 30 minutes from flight arrival to sitting in the Terminal E United Club, as one member reported in the thread). Without Global Entry and with checked luggage (which must be retrieved to go through customs and dropped back off after clearing customs), especially if you are a foreign resident, expect the immigration and customs process to take longer, so allow enough time accordingly. For UA-UA international-international connections (ITI), there is a special immigration line that usually moves pretty quickly, and your baggage will be checked through and does not need to be retrieved to go through customs. No need to collect checked luggage while transiting through IAH. [OneStop]
Again, do not follow signs for international connections up the escalator behind the baggage re-check area; exit to the arrivals waiting area and re-enter one floor above through normal airport security. A map follows for visual learners:
Terminal E arrivals level / departures level:
The marked elevator will spit you out literally directly in front of the PreCheck checkpoint.
Standard UA-UA MCT table for IAH:
Results from ExpertFlyer.com
There are lots of exceptions, though, and some specific flights have as low as a 35-minute MCT, which is doable as mentioned above. IAH is a very efficiently designed airport, and you should not worry about what appears to be an abnormally low connection time; if UA says your connection is valid, it is almost certainly doable within the allotted time (notwithstanding delays, of course, and standard advice regarding allowing longer connections for mission-critical travel or travel on separate tickets still stands).
Airport map, courtesy of United Airlines:
Map displays Star Alliance partners only; most non-Star Alliance airlines have domestic operations in Terminal A or international operations in Terminal D
Archive posts - Consolidated Connection time/logistics-Domestic & International at IAH [ARCHIVE]
Terminal C has the most reliably open Precheck and Premier Access security lanes. Consider checking in and clearing security in at Terminal C even if departing from another terminal.
There are no UA check-in counters in Terminal A, even though UA has a few flights that depart from Terminal A. Check in at Terminal B or C.
There is an underground, somewhat slow landside tram system (the Subway) that runs between the basement level of all terminals (plus the on-site Marriott hotel) outside of security. (The Subway was built by Disney and modeled after their PeopleMover ride. It's worth a look if you're into that sort of thing.)
Recommended practices for transiting IAH:
IAH is a huge airport, but all terminals are very conveniently connected by a very frequent, fast airside tram system (the Skyway) inside security. You can pretty much get from any point in the airport to any other point in the airport within about 15 minutes (with a combination of Skyway and a brisk walk) without reclearing security. UA publishes as low as a 35-minute minimum connect time (MCT) at IAH, and while you shouldn't dilly-dally, this is doable on a typical domestic-domestic connection. (It helps if your inbound is not delayed and you're seated towards the front of the plane, of course; your departure flight will be almost fully boarded by the time you get there, but you'll make it.)
Note that the higher-numbered C gates (C29-C45, aka "C South") are directly connected to the E terminal by a walkway. It is usually faster to walk from C South to E (especially the low E gates) than it is to take the train. Similarly, C North (C14-C27) are directly connected to the D terminal, though the Skyway is not really out of the way and is useful if going from a low C gate to a high D gate (C24 to D10, for example). Terminal A and Terminal B are not connected by any walkways, and you must use the Skyway to change to or from these terminals.
For international arrivals: after clearing customs, stay to the left of the baggage re-check belts and follow signs to exit to arrivals (like you're going to curbside). Once in the arrivals lobby, take the elevator or escalator up one floor to find a PreCheck checkpoint and a usually-less-crowded regular checkpoint. If you ignore this advice and proceed up the escalator behind the baggage re-check area, the transit security checkpoint there is often congested and does not have a separate PreCheck checkpoint.
While perhaps not usually recommended, in a pinch, with Global Entry, no checked bags, and PreCheck, it is possible to make a one-hour (or even slightly less) connection by following the above instructions specifically (on a good day, it can take less than 30 minutes from flight arrival to sitting in the Terminal E United Club, as one member reported in the thread). Without Global Entry and with checked luggage (which must be retrieved to go through customs and dropped back off after clearing customs), especially if you are a foreign resident, expect the immigration and customs process to take longer, so allow enough time accordingly. For UA-UA international-international connections (ITI), there is a special immigration line that usually moves pretty quickly, and your baggage will be checked through and does not need to be retrieved to go through customs. No need to collect checked luggage while transiting through IAH. [OneStop]
Again, do not follow signs for international connections up the escalator behind the baggage re-check area; exit to the arrivals waiting area and re-enter one floor above through normal airport security. A map follows for visual learners:
Terminal E arrivals level / departures level:
The marked elevator will spit you out literally directly in front of the PreCheck checkpoint.
Standard UA-UA MCT table for IAH:
Results from ExpertFlyer.com
Code:
Minimum Connect Times: Connecting at IAH Incoming airline UA Outgoing airline UA STANDARD.D/D...D/I...I/D...I/I. ONLINE .45 1.00 1.00 1.15 OFFLINE .45 1.00 1.00 1.15
Airport map, courtesy of United Airlines:
Map displays Star Alliance partners only; most non-Star Alliance airlines have domestic operations in Terminal A or international operations in Terminal D
Archive posts - Consolidated Connection time/logistics-Domestic & International at IAH [ARCHIVE]
Consolidated IAH connection time/logistics-Domestic & International
Jan 21, 2019, 6:43 am
#16
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 4,124
Bag arrives at IAH from CUN. Two things can happen:
1) Next flight is INTL --> bag goes to next flight
2) Next flight is Domestic --> bag goes to customs carousel
I seriously doubt the decision process accommodates any more complex and extraordinarily rare possibilities than this.
Jan 21, 2019, 10:21 am
#17
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You could be overthinking this. Case in point:
Bag arrives at IAH from CUN. Two things can happen:
1) Next flight is INTL --> bag goes to next flight
2) Next flight is Domestic --> bag goes to customs carousel
I seriously doubt the decision process accommodates any more complex and extraordinarily rare possibilities than this.
Bag arrives at IAH from CUN. Two things can happen:
1) Next flight is INTL --> bag goes to next flight
2) Next flight is Domestic --> bag goes to customs carousel
I seriously doubt the decision process accommodates any more complex and extraordinarily rare possibilities than this.
Don't recall anyone posting about that.
Jan 21, 2019, 2:15 pm
#18
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chicago
Programs: United 1P
Posts: 30
I would expect them to print the NH information, but I'm not 100% sure. I think you're overthinking this, though. 
What will happen is that the baggage handlers will take the bag off of the belt, scan it, and their scanner will tell them that the next flight designation is LIM and that it should bypass customs / baggage claim. I don't think the baggage handlers spend a lot of time manually inspecting each tag to see where it should go, or whether or not the flight numbers are codeshare flights.
What will happen is that the baggage handlers will take the bag off of the belt, scan it, and their scanner will tell them that the next flight designation is LIM and that it should bypass customs / baggage claim. I don't think the baggage handlers spend a lot of time manually inspecting each tag to see where it should go, or whether or not the flight numbers are codeshare flights.
Jan 21, 2019, 2:26 pm
#19
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 4,124
Frankly, I suspect the percentage of passengers making the far more simple I --> I connection is already extremely small though obviously dwarfs this other obtuse double connection.
Jan 22, 2019, 12:36 pm
#22
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ut at the carousel in the customs arrival hall after the international arrival. No subsequent flights are going to be considered.
Jan 28, 2019, 8:16 am
#24
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Jan 28, 2019, 8:17 am
#25
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Can it be done? Sure. UA wouldn't sell it otherwise. It meets the minimum connect time. But a lot of people would say it doesn't meet the minimal sensible time. What's your final destination? Are you okay with missing the flight for whatever reason? Just remember that the door is supposed to close 10 minutes before departure for domestic departures, so 45 minutes is really 35.
Jan 28, 2019, 8:18 am
#26
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Jan 28, 2019, 8:23 am
#27
Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: Continental
Posts: 1,589
It's a 787-900 Sfo to Iah, I'm in the second row of Y.
Second flight is to Lga.
I'm traveling very lightly, anticipating having to run.
I've been following the flights for the past week. One time the first flight came into the E gates, but mostly C.
I'm in FC on a mileage upgrade for the LGA flight.
If I miss that one due to bad connection, and they don't upgrade me on the next (and last) flight to LGA, I'll ask for he miles back.
Would I qualify for downgrade compensation also? GG OVS DOWNGRADE?
Second flight is to Lga.
I'm traveling very lightly, anticipating having to run.
I've been following the flights for the past week. One time the first flight came into the E gates, but mostly C.
I'm in FC on a mileage upgrade for the LGA flight.
If I miss that one due to bad connection, and they don't upgrade me on the next (and last) flight to LGA, I'll ask for he miles back.
Would I qualify for downgrade compensation also? GG OVS DOWNGRADE?
Jan 28, 2019, 8:27 am
#28
Join Date: Jul 2011
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Posts: 2,262
It's doable but it is certainly a fairly long way from C7 to E15. And I have had some very long taxis at IAH that have turned 45 minute connections to 30 minute connections. Be ready to run/walk very fast, but most days you would make it.
Jan 28, 2019, 8:27 am
#29
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C7 to E15 is nearly the worst case C to E transit. The United App gives a 21 minute travel time and suggests making use of SkyTrain. If OP were to run, it's likely possible to shave a couple of minutes off of that, and the train isn't a requirement; it's faster to take the train if it happens to be departing just as one arrives, but if there's much of a wait for the next train, it's likely faster to run.
You would not qualify for downgrade compensation; the F cabin isn't oversold.
Jan 28, 2019, 8:36 am
#30
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The risk tolerance question to OP is what the consequences are of a misconnect. There are eight nonstops a day IAH-LGA and an additional five to EWR. Thus, likely that if OP misconnects, he will find something.
But, if there is a mission critical event on the other end, this is not a connection I would book, given that there are five nonstops/day SFO-IAH, not to mention six nonstops SFO-EWR.
I book these sorts of connections, but I also understand that there is a risk. Be particularly attentive to the note above from jsloan regarding the T-15 gate deadline. While UA may not offload until T-10 or even later, if the flight is ready to go at T-15, it's unlikely to sit there. In addition, if the flight is overbooked and there is an oversale, UA will offload at T-15 to avoid paying IDB/VDB.
But, if there is a mission critical event on the other end, this is not a connection I would book, given that there are five nonstops/day SFO-IAH, not to mention six nonstops SFO-EWR.
I book these sorts of connections, but I also understand that there is a risk. Be particularly attentive to the note above from jsloan regarding the T-15 gate deadline. While UA may not offload until T-10 or even later, if the flight is ready to go at T-15, it's unlikely to sit there. In addition, if the flight is overbooked and there is an oversale, UA will offload at T-15 to avoid paying IDB/VDB.