TravelBuddy airport guide · IAH
George Bush Intercontinental Airport
Houston, TX
Terminal notes below are guidance-only. TSA and flights remain airport-wide unless a live terminal source exists.
Security
Security snapshot
Standard and PreCheck timing at a glance.
Standard
24 min
PreCheck
8 min
Updated May 3, 2026, 5:28 PM
Weather
Weather now
Clear skies
75°F
No major weather impact expected.
Updated May 3, 2026, 5:28 PM · Observed May 3, 2026, 5:15 PM
Operations
Flights ahead
Next scheduled arrivals and departures at a glance.
Airport activity strip
Arrivals
UN6512
United · Chicago
6:00 PM
T1 · A8
On time
AM6513
American · San Francisco
6:32 PM
T2 · B9
On time
AL6514
Alaska · Seattle
7:04 PM
T3 · C10
On time
SO6515
Southwest · Dallas
7:36 PM
T1 · D11
On time
JE6516
JetBlue · Miami
8:08 PM
T2 · E12
On time
Departures
UN6512
United · Chicago
6:00 PM
T1 · A8
Boarding soon
AM6513
American · San Francisco
6:32 PM
T2 · B9
On time
AL6514
Alaska · Seattle
7:04 PM
T3 · C10
On time
SO6515
Southwest · Dallas
7:36 PM
T1 · D11
Boarding soon
JE6516
JetBlue · Miami
8:08 PM
T2 · E12
On time
Readiness
Travel Readiness Alerts
Your flight plan is coming together. Make sure check-in, boarding pass, TSA timing, and airport arrival are handled before you leave.
Drive
Drive-time estimate
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Nearby
Things to Do Near This Airport
Quick stops for a short window
Route guide
Popular nonstop routes
A curated look at common nonstop destinations from this airport.
These nonstop destinations are curated traveler guidance, not a live route feed.
Terminal detail
Know your terminal before you head in
Helpful planning notes for each terminal. Live TSA and flights below still stay airport-wide unless a terminal-specific source exists.
Terminal
A
Traffic pattern
Often feels busiest at the start of the main departure banks.
Travel context
Airport-wide TSA and flights apply here; this section is meant to help with terminal planning only.
TSA factor: Use the airport-wide TSA card as your baseline and allow extra time if your airline has heavy bag-drop demand.
Airline guidance: Confirm your airline and curbside drop-off before you head in, especially at airports with separated terminal roadways.
Expect: Walking time, curb flow, and pickup timing can vary by terminal even when the airport snapshot looks similar.
Terminal
B
Traffic pattern
Traffic usually depends on airline mix and the current departure bank.
Travel context
Airport-wide TSA and flights apply here; this section is meant to help with terminal planning only.
TSA factor: Use the airport-wide TSA card as your baseline and allow extra time if your airline has heavy bag-drop demand.
Airline guidance: Confirm your airline and curbside drop-off before you head in, especially at airports with separated terminal roadways.
Expect: Walking time, curb flow, and pickup timing can vary by terminal even when the airport snapshot looks similar.
Terminal
C
Traffic pattern
Traffic usually depends on airline mix and the current departure bank.
Travel context
Airport-wide TSA and flights apply here; this section is meant to help with terminal planning only.
TSA factor: Use the airport-wide TSA card as your baseline and allow extra time if your airline has heavy bag-drop demand.
Airline guidance: Confirm your airline and curbside drop-off before you head in, especially at airports with separated terminal roadways.
Expect: Walking time, curb flow, and pickup timing can vary by terminal even when the airport snapshot looks similar.
Terminal
D
Traffic pattern
Traffic usually depends on airline mix and the current departure bank.
Travel context
Airport-wide TSA and flights apply here; this section is meant to help with terminal planning only.
TSA factor: Use the airport-wide TSA card as your baseline and allow extra time if your airline has heavy bag-drop demand.
Airline guidance: Confirm your airline and curbside drop-off before you head in, especially at airports with separated terminal roadways.
Expect: Walking time, curb flow, and pickup timing can vary by terminal even when the airport snapshot looks similar.
Terminal
E
Traffic pattern
Traffic usually depends on airline mix and the current departure bank.
Travel context
Airport-wide TSA and flights apply here; this section is meant to help with terminal planning only.
TSA factor: Use the airport-wide TSA card as your baseline and allow extra time if your airline has heavy bag-drop demand.
Airline guidance: Confirm your airline and curbside drop-off before you head in, especially at airports with separated terminal roadways.
Expect: Walking time, curb flow, and pickup timing can vary by terminal even when the airport snapshot looks similar.
Terminal notes below are guidance-only. TSA and flights remain airport-wide unless a live terminal source exists.
Plan ahead
Travel tips
Best arrival time
2 hours early is the safer default, with extra buffer for Terminal D and E international departures.
Peak hours
5:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM to 7:30 PM.
Pro tips
- Terminal transfers take longer than they look on a map, especially if you change trains or buses.
- Weather in Houston can ripple across the full afternoon bank quickly.
- Parking and curbside demand spike around early-evening long-haul departures.
Lost and found
Recover terminal items faster
Use Houston Airports lost and found for terminal items and the airline for cabin or checked luggage.
Traveler Resource
Know your airline service options
Compare airline commitments for delays, cancellations, family seating, rebooking, hotels, meals, and more using the U.S. Department of Transportation dashboard.
View DOT DashboardPacking Help
Check what you can bring
Use TSA's official guide to check carry-on and checked-bag rules before you head to the airport.
View TSA Item RulesID Check
Review accepted travel ID
See which IDs TSA accepts at the checkpoint, including REAL ID guidance and backup options.
View TSA ID GuideShare
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Quick resources
Lost and found and packing help links.
Quick resources
Packing Help
TSA Item Rules