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
#407
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,703
#408
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: UA-1K MM, AA-Gold, DL-Silver, AS-MVP
Posts: 2,509
I was at IAH 4 weeks ago and I don't think the new Terminal D west is anywhere near passenger ready. The structure and cladding are up but no jetbridges and I don't think any of the interior is close to completion.
#409
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: STL
Posts: 1,546
Arriving on ANA then flying out on UA several hours later on a separate itinerary. Assuming ANA can't tag my bag through to my final destination, is there a United service desk outside customs where I can get it re-tagged and and drop it, or do I have to take it to a regular United check in counter?
#410
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,703
Arriving on ANA then flying out on UA several hours later on a separate itinerary. Assuming ANA can't tag my bag through to my final destination, is there a United service desk outside customs where I can get it re-tagged and and drop it, or do I have to take it to a regular United check in counter?
#411
Join Date: Feb 2024
Posts: 1
International transfer at IAH question
Hello all, searched and could not find an answer anywhere so thought I would try here. I am flying via IAH with United (arriving and leaving in terminal e) next month and have a lonnnnng layover so want to leave the airport and go to a hotel for a nap etc. I know I have to pick up my bag and normally I would just have to take it to the united bag drop and go through TSA again BUT am I able to Drop it off then leave the airport? (looking on the airport map and on youtube I may not be able to due to doors to the dropoff section) and when I come back do I go via TSA in terminal e or another terminal?
#412
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,419
Hello all, searched and could not find an answer anywhere so thought I would try here. I am flying via IAH with United (arriving and leaving in terminal e) next month and have a lonnnnng layover so want to leave the airport and go to a hotel for a nap etc. I know I have to pick up my bag and normally I would just have to take it to the united bag drop and go through TSA again BUT am I able to Drop it off then leave the airport? (looking on the airport map and on youtube I may not be able to due to doors to the dropoff section) and when I come back do I go via TSA in terminal e or another terminal?
There are no immigration-sterile areas in US airports. Once you've dropped off your bag, you can continue to exit the airport, or if you find yourself in a TSA line unexpectedly, you can always exit the airport after you go through security. Yes, you can't re-enter the secure customs area, but I'm 99.9% certain there's a separate exit you can take, as there are a number of people who recommend going to regular security rather than the line for connecting passengers anyway.
When you return to the airport, go to whatever terminal is convenient. Your boarding pass will get you through security in any of them, and the entire airport is connected airside if you happen to find yourself in a different terminal than your flight departure.
#413
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,162
International to Domestic, Domestic to International, or International to International? The baggage process will (likely) be different for each.
#414
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,419
#416
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: BOS/SFO
Programs: United 4MM GS, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 307
Hello all, searched and could not find an answer anywhere so thought I would try here. I am flying via IAH with United (arriving and leaving in terminal e) next month and have a lonnnnng layover so want to leave the airport and go to a hotel for a nap etc. I know I have to pick up my bag and normally I would just have to take it to the united bag drop and go through TSA again BUT am I able to Drop it off then leave the airport? (looking on the airport map and on youtube I may not be able to due to doors to the dropoff section) and when I come back do I go via TSA in terminal e or another terminal?
#417
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Catania, Sicily/South Jersey (PHL)/Houston, Texas/Red Stick/airborne in-between
Programs: United Global Svs, AA PlatPro, WN RR, AZ/ITA Freccia, Hilton Diam, Bonvoy Gold, Hertz Prez, IHG
Posts: 3,548
Int'l to int'l on UA at IAH normally does not require collecting and rechecking bags. Int'l to domestic of course does. There are UA bag counters as you exit customs in D/E but before exit or TSA reentry.
You can go back and go to the left and just exit the terminal after the bag recheck. There is still construction so exiting is a bit of a mess but you can take the subway to the Marriott or take a shuttle to get a rental car or to off site airport area hotels. There is also a minute suites in the airport post security.
How long is your layover?
You can go back and go to the left and just exit the terminal after the bag recheck. There is still construction so exiting is a bit of a mess but you can take the subway to the Marriott or take a shuttle to get a rental car or to off site airport area hotels. There is also a minute suites in the airport post security.
How long is your layover?
#419
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: IAH
Programs: UA
Posts: 605
Absolutely yes. Drop it off at the United bag drop after exiting customs and keep going left out the main exit doors to the landside terminal. From there, go down to the "basement" for the inter-terminal tram to the Marriott hotel. If you want another off-site hotel, because of construction I believe you'll still have to take the tram or walk to the Terminal C arrivals area to find a hotel shuttle, which could significantly eat into your layover time.
Due to construction, there is no Terminal E check-in lobby, so you'll have to go to C or D.
Due to construction, there is no Terminal E check-in lobby, so you'll have to go to C or D.
#420
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: CHI - LIS
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 453
It's been a few weeks since I've been through IAH, but I was there on Saturday and I don't believe that it's been reported that you can no longer walk airside between the eastern B North banjo and the C-D-E complex. I always enjoyed that option to avoid the train and for the uncrowded bathrooms. Here's hoping the ability to walk between these terminals will be restored when the work in B is complete.