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
Sep 20, 2019, 10:21 pm
#91
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And, just like IAD, try to get from any C gates to A gates. Soooo impressed.
Soooo great!
Not.
David
Sep 20, 2019, 11:47 pm
#92
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Over time I have become fond of IAH for international connections and the airport has become much nicer over time. The addition of Clear in the UA terminals and expanded Precheck hours plus renovated lounges are a big plus. But all that said, it doesn't hold a torch to SFO. As Mr. Lee notes, some of the UA connections are quite laborious. At SFO they are all pretty easy, though I suppose Gate 90 to Gate 100 is a bit of a hike (but that's about as bad as it gets).
Sep 21, 2019, 7:33 am
#93
Join Date: Mar 2011
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Hah. Just like if you fly into Gate C7 and have to connect out of C45 - a mile plus walk. Or even better, C7 to E24. But you still have to pass C45 and keep going for another almost mile. Oh, and wait, when did I pass any D gates? Never if you're doing C to E. Even stupider - try to get from C28 to any B gate. Physical connections? No.
And, just like IAD, try to get from any C gates to A gates. Soooo impressed.
Soooo great!
Not.
David
And, just like IAD, try to get from any C gates to A gates. Soooo impressed.
Soooo great!
Not.
David
Sep 21, 2019, 9:59 am
#94
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
Walking in straight lines, it's about four fifths of a mile from C7 to C45.You passed the entrance to D twice on your C7 to E24 walk; once at the main intersection where the C North addition was added, and again near the D/E security. (Admittedly, you'd have to go a bit out of your way to get to D/E security on your walk).
The difference between IAH and IAD, though, is stark; the trains at IAH are actually convenient, not built for a location that might have a terminal in 20 years.
None of these long walks you've mentioned are actually necessary, because you can take the train. Which.. the United app will tell you, if you ask it.
None of this is germane to SFO, though, except to say that I agree, the current numbering system is bad, and this sounds like a massive improvement.
Last edited by jsloan; Sep 21, 2019 at 8:19 pm
Sep 21, 2019, 10:31 am
#95
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Sep 22, 2019, 1:49 am
#96
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):
Just less than a mile (total, not a mile past C45). And you don't need to pass by C45 if you don't want to. You can go through D terminal.
You passed the entrance to D twice on your C7 to E24 walk; once at the main intersection where the C North addition was added, and again near the D/E security. (Admittedly, you'd have to go a bit out of your way to get to D/E security on your walk).
You passed the entrance to D twice on your C7 to E24 walk; once at the main intersection where the C North addition was added, and again near the D/E security. (Admittedly, you'd have to go a bit out of your way to get to D/E security on your walk).
This one is true; A isn't physically connected to the others.
The difference between IAH and IAD, though, is stark; the trains at IAH are actually convenient, not built for a location that might have a terminal in 20 years.
None of these long walks you've mentioned are actually necessary, because you can take the train. Which.. the United app will tell you, if you ask it.
The difference between IAH and IAD, though, is stark; the trains at IAH are actually convenient, not built for a location that might have a terminal in 20 years.
None of these long walks you've mentioned are actually necessary, because you can take the train. Which.. the United app will tell you, if you ask it.
The trains at IAH are only convenient if you're switching terminals. With the IAH gate numbering system, why should a traveler need to take the train if they're going from C7 to C29 through C45? And, as shown above, the path length and travel time of using trains going between C North gates and E anywhere gates is ill defined. Again, the UA connecting traveler can't necessarily depend on the "awesome" gate numbering system at IAH because they have to know the difference between which gates in a given terminal are north or south.
David
Sep 22, 2019, 11:13 am
#98
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So, by your own statement, the gate "numbering" system at IAH requires you to know that there is a difference between the C North addition gates and the C South gates. For me this is the biggest problem of having to navigate the IAH - knowing which gates are "North" versus "South".
The trains at IAH are only convenient if you're switching terminals. With the IAH gate numbering system, why should a traveler need to take the train if they're going from C7 to C29 through C45? And, as shown above, the path length and travel time of using trains going between C North gates and E anywhere gates is ill defined. Again, the UA connecting traveler can't necessarily depend on the "awesome" gate numbering system at IAH because they have to know the difference between which gates in a given terminal are north or south.
Sep 25, 2019, 9:06 am
#99
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Eh, as long as you're healthy and have a reasonable connection time, it's a good idea to walk a bit between flights in the name of reducing chances for blood clots, helping you sleep better on a red eye, etc.
Sep 25, 2019, 6:23 pm
#100
Join Date: Jun 2014
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Over time I have become fond of IAH for international connections and the airport has become much nicer over time. The addition of Clear in the UA terminals and expanded Precheck hours plus renovated lounges are a big plus. But all that said, it doesn't hold a torch to SFO. As Mr. Lee notes, some of the UA connections are quite laborious. At SFO they are all pretty easy, though I suppose Gate 90 to Gate 100 is a bit of a hike (but that's about as bad as it gets).
Daily flights:
SFO -- 290
IAH -- 501
Sep 27, 2019, 6:02 am
#101
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 4,130
Follow up post:
I was making a connection at IAH yesterday. Inbound flight arrived at C9 and it only took me about 11 or 12 minutes to walk to B81. The interesting part is coming off the Jetbridge at C9, there was an airport employee holding an electronic sign, looking for two deplaning passengers that were making a connection out of E9 (listing the destination city). He was there to bring them all the way over to E9 in an electric cart. Anyone know if this done on a semi-routine basis for trekking to far away gates or might this have been something pre-arranged by the passengers (a motorized wheel chair service of some sort)?
I was making a connection at IAH yesterday. Inbound flight arrived at C9 and it only took me about 11 or 12 minutes to walk to B81. The interesting part is coming off the Jetbridge at C9, there was an airport employee holding an electronic sign, looking for two deplaning passengers that were making a connection out of E9 (listing the destination city). He was there to bring them all the way over to E9 in an electric cart. Anyone know if this done on a semi-routine basis for trekking to far away gates or might this have been something pre-arranged by the passengers (a motorized wheel chair service of some sort)?
Sep 27, 2019, 7:10 am
#102
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Follow up post:
I was making a connection at IAH yesterday. Inbound flight arrived at C9 and it only took me about 11 or 12 minutes to walk to B81. The interesting part is coming off the Jetbridge at C9, there was an airport employee holding an electronic sign, looking for two deplaning passengers that were making a connection out of E9 (listing the destination city). He was there to bring them all the way over to E9 in an electric cart. Anyone know if this done on a semi-routine basis for trekking to far away gates or might this have been something pre-arranged by the passengers (a motorized wheel chair service of some sort)?
I was making a connection at IAH yesterday. Inbound flight arrived at C9 and it only took me about 11 or 12 minutes to walk to B81. The interesting part is coming off the Jetbridge at C9, there was an airport employee holding an electronic sign, looking for two deplaning passengers that were making a connection out of E9 (listing the destination city). He was there to bring them all the way over to E9 in an electric cart. Anyone know if this done on a semi-routine basis for trekking to far away gates or might this have been something pre-arranged by the passengers (a motorized wheel chair service of some sort)?
Must be pre-arranged, unless it’s some GS thing.
Nov 22, 2019, 7:50 pm
#103
Join Date: May 2018
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Looking into booking a flight from SAL-IAH-LAX
It will be ticketed through United with a 1hr 35 layover.
SAL - IAH 12:35p - 4:40p
IAH - LAX 6:15p - 8:00p
I will have checked-in baggage.
I don't have Global Entry, though do have Mobile Passport app
Will this be enough time to go through customs, deal with luggage, and get my flight back to LAX?
It will be ticketed through United with a 1hr 35 layover.
SAL - IAH 12:35p - 4:40p
IAH - LAX 6:15p - 8:00p
I will have checked-in baggage.
I don't have Global Entry, though do have Mobile Passport app
Will this be enough time to go through customs, deal with luggage, and get my flight back to LAX?
Nov 23, 2019, 11:02 am
#104
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 343
Is the wiki still correct about MCT on I/I? There was a schedule change for my flight, YYZ - IAH - CUN. Unless that's considered a D/I because of the preclearance at YYZ, I have a 1.13 connection time, which wiki suggests is illegal. Am I interpreting this correctly?
Nov 23, 2019, 11:20 am
#105
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Looking into booking a flight from SAL-IAH-LAX
It will be ticketed through United with a 1hr 35 layover.
SAL - IAH 12:35p - 4:40p
IAH - LAX 6:15p - 8:00p
I will have checked-in baggage.
I don't have Global Entry, though do have Mobile Passport app
Will this be enough time to go through customs, deal with luggage, and get my flight back to LAX?
It will be ticketed through United with a 1hr 35 layover.
SAL - IAH 12:35p - 4:40p
IAH - LAX 6:15p - 8:00p
I will have checked-in baggage.
I don't have Global Entry, though do have Mobile Passport app
Will this be enough time to go through customs, deal with luggage, and get my flight back to LAX?
This is considered D/I because of preclearance at YYZ. Again, somewhat tight, but very doable.