George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is the busiest airport serving Houston and the second-largest airport in Texas after Dallas Fort Worth (DFW). Although it is sometimes called Houston International Airport, it is not to be mistaken with Houston’s oldest airport and second in passenger traffic - Houston Hobby Airport (HOU).
It is situated approximately 23 miles north of downtown Houston and is managed by the Houston Airport System.
George Bush Airport is a world hub with direct flights to over 180 destinations in 5 continents. In 2024, IAH served over 63 million passengers, of whom 12 million were international. This put it among the 15 busiest airports in the US.
Major Airlines - United Airlines, United Express, Spirit Airlines
IAH serves as a major hub for United Airlines and its regional subsidiary United Express. They offer direct flights to over 170 destinations in the USA and beyond.
The other two major US Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, also have several daily flights to bigger cities across America.
Spirit Airlines, an American ultra-low-cost airline, uses George Bush Airport as an operating base. It flies to more than 20 domestic destinations and a few others in countries across North America.
Other low-cost airlines serving IAH include the American Frontier Airlines and the Mexican Viva and Volaris.
As an important international hub, IAH also sees some of the world’s most prominent carriers daily. Some of them include Air Canada, Air France, Air New Zealand, Lufthansa, KLM, British Airways, and Emirates, among others.
Click here to see a full list of the airlines serving George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
Terminal Layout and Gates of IAH
George Bush Intercontinental is one of the few airports in the world with five functioning passenger terminals.
They are ordered alphabetically and on the ground form a line from east to west.
Terminal A: Has 20 gates for domestic flights of non-United carriers.
Terminal B: Has 30 gates dedicated to United Express regional flights.
Terminal C: Has 29 gates that serve United Airlines' domestic flights.
Terminal D: Has 18 gates that cater to non-United international flights.
Terminal E: Has 24 gates that handle United Airlines' international flights.
Only Terminals D and E have international arrivals.
An automated people mover, the Skyway, connects all terminals airside, making transfers without the need to re-clear security seamless.
Additionally, the Subway train system provides landside connections between terminals and the airport hotel.
Connecting Flights and Transit at IAH
The Skyway people mover offers a way to move between all terminals of IAH airside, i.e., without passing Security.
This means that those transferring between domestic flights can remain airside.
However, if you’re coming from abroad, you will first need to clear Security, Immigration, and Customs at George Bush Airport before proceeding to your domestic flight.
Note that US airports require foreign arrivals to re-check their luggage at the first point of entry, even if flying the second leg with the same airline.
Wi-Fi at George Bush Intercontinental Airport
The airport offers free Wi-Fi everywhere throughout the premises, including the parking garages.
The network is called "Free Airport WIFI," and connecting does not require any significant input besides accepting the terms of service.
The Wi-Fi network speed is not stellar, but sufficient for non-internet-intensive tasks like browsing, social media, and checking emails.
Dining Options at George Bush Intercontinental
A bustling airport deserves a bustling array of culinary experiences. IAH delivers on this promise with both Houston flavors and international options. There is something for everyone at each of the terminals, and here are some notable dining establishments.
In Terminal A:
Hubcap Grill & Beer Yard near Gate A26. If you’re craving comfort food and alcohol, there is no better place to be.
The Breakfast Klub near Gate A7 for big Southern-style breakfasts and then some.
Great American Bagel near Gates A1-A15.
Mockingbird Distillery & Smokehouse near Gate A15 for booze, pulled pork, and nachos. What a combo!
In Terminal B, you should go to:
3rd Bar Eating House near Gate B1 for fresh seafood.
Q Bar near Gate B11 serves amazing Texas barbecue.
Tagliare is well-known for its Sicilian-style oven pizzas. Find it near Gate B1.
In Terminal C, the best restaurants are:
Pala near Gate C5 for both creative and classic traditional pizzas.
Vida Taqueria is a famous local place known for Tex-Mex like fajitas, tacos, enchiladas, and guac.
Poppy’s Bagels / Little Purse: Two in one: in the morning it’s a bagel breakfast place, for lunch and onwards it transforms into an Asian-cuisine special (think ramen, dumplings, etc.). Find it near the Security checkpoint.
Southern Belle: Arguably the best place for fried chicken. It’s near Gate C44.
Terminal D has fewer options than the first 3 terminals, but enough to make it hard to choose:
Hugo’s Cocina near Gate D6 for a classy restaurant experience and some surprising flavors.
The Annie: an iconic Houston restaurant serving a mix of American and Tex-Mex cuisine. Find it in the West Pier.
Ciao Gourmet Market: Grab a quick snack or a sandwich to go. It’s next to Gate D8.
Finally, Terminal E also has some good dining establishments within:
Pappasito’s Cantina near Gate E1 for margaritas and cheesy chips.
Pappadeaux’s Seafood Kitchen: A local Houston chain specializing in Cajun and Creole dishes. It’s located next to Gate E3.
Yogen Fruz: Offers frozen yogurt in a variety of ways (smoothies, bowls, ice cream, etc). Find it near Gate E1.
Houston Wheelhouse: Go to Gate E19 for the full bar, stay for the nachos and fajitas.
These are just some of the over 100 bars and restaurants at the IAH airport - enough to find something new even if you’re the most frequent traveler!
Lounges at IAH
George Bush Intercontinental offers 13 lounges, including the most premium lounges by American and European carriers.
Each terminal of IAH has at least 2 lounges. Terminal D has the largest selection of lounges with 5 under its roof.
Here is a summary table of the lounges at IAH:
Terminal | Lounge | Location | Opening times |
Terminal A | American Airlines Admirals Club | near Gate A25 | 4:15 AM to 7:45 PM |
United Club | Opposite Gate A9 | 7:30 AM to 6 PM | |
Terminal B | United Club | South Mezzanine | 5 AM to 9:15 PM |
United Club Fly | Near Gates B12 to B20 | 5:30 AM to 8 PM | |
Terminal C | United Club (North Concourse) | near Gate C1 | 5:30 AM to 9 PM |
United Club (South Concourse) | Near Gate C33 | 5:30 AM to 9 PM | |
Minute Suites | near Gate C14 | 24/7 | |
Terminal D | Air France Lounge | Opposite Gate D12 | 12 PM to 5 PM |
Centurion Lounge | near Gate D12 | 6 AM to 9:30 PM | |
HAS Executive Club | near Gate D5 | 1 PM to 1:45 AM | |
KLM Crown Lounge | near Gate D7 | 6 AM to 9 PM | |
USO Lounge | near Gate D2 | 6 AM to 9 PM | |
Terminal E | United Club | between Gates E11 and E12 | 5:30 AM to 9 PM |
United Polaris Lounges | near Gate E12 | 5:30 AM to 9 PM |
Access is generally reserved for first and business class travelers and premium members, but a day pass can be purchased to enter most of the lounges (except for the HAS club, Air France Lounge, United Polaris, and the USO Lounge, which is reserved for active and retired military personnel and their families).
You can expect similar amenities like complimentary food and drinks, comfortable seating, exclusive Wi-Fi, TV, and reading materials in all lounges.
Showers are only available in:
The Centurion Lounge.
Minute Suites (for an additional fee).
United Polaris Lounge.
Do you want to know which is the best lounge in George Bush Intercontinental Airport? The consensus is that the United Polaris Lounge offers a more elevated and premium experience than the rest. Why? Let’s just say day beds, a full-service bar, shower suites, and a la carte dining are big reasons for this.
Transportation options at IAH Airport
George Bush Airport is one of the largest airports in the USA, not connected to the city by train. While Houston’s light rail network does not reach either of the airports (IAH included), it is still quite easy to travel around using the public buses.
Namely, the recently introduced METRO Bus Route 500 connects IAH (Terminal C) to Downtown Houston. It is a nonstop service that operates daily from 5:30 AM to 8:00 PM at 30-minute intervals. A single ticket costs 4.50 USD.
An alternative METRO bus is the 102 line, which makes multiple stops in the area around the airport before continuing towards the city and terminating at the METRO station in downtown. It takes between 50 and 90 minutes to reach the city center, and a single ticket is just 1.25 USD.
Use this bus (METRO 102) to travel between IAH and HOU airports. Get off the 102 just before the METRO Transit Center and walk to the corner of McKinney and Main. There, catch the METRO Bus 40, which terminates at HOU Airport. Total price for this journey is only 2.50 USD (though note that the bus drivers don’t give change).
Other transport options at George Bush Intercontinental include:
Ride-Sharing: Uber, Lyft, and Wingz (among other app-based taxi platforms) operate at IAH. They have designated pickup zones at each terminal with signs pointing the way. Drop-off is possible at all terminals, on the Departures level.
Taxis: Available curbside at all terminals. All taxis are licensed and trustworthy - just don’t accept unsolicited rides from touts. A taxi ride to downtown Houston typically costs around 60 USD before tolls and tips.
Rental Cars: A consolidated rental car facility is accessible via a dedicated shuttle service from the terminals. These shuttles depart every 5-10 minutes, 24/7. More than 10 rental car companies serve IAH with big names like Hertz, SIXT, Thrifty, and Avis.
See options for private transfers from IAH to downtown Houston.
Parking at George Bush Airport
IAH offers 5 parking lots suitable for different budgets and near the terminals.
They can be summarized as follows:
Terminals C, D & E Parking: Costs 25 USD per day but offers exceptional convenience if flying from these terminals.
Terminals A & B Parking: Because the other terminal parking lot often gets full, this one presents a suitable alternative. It also costs 25 USD/day.
Ecopark (uncovered): Yes, it’s farther from the terminals, but it’s connected by a free shuttle and only costs 7.39 USD plus tax per day.
Ecopark (covered): A bit more expensive because you get a roof above your vehicle. Still very budget-friendly at 9.24 USD plus tax per day.
Ecopark 2 (covered): This is usually the first of the economy parking lots to get filled up. Understandable - it’s even closer to the terminals (although you still need the shuttle bus) and comes at only 8.31 USD plus tax per day.
Parking is not permitted at the curbside of any of the terminals, but you can drop off passengers there. Picking up travelers can only be done outside the Arrivals area at the designated spots.
Hotels near George Bush Airport
The only hotel on the airport’s property is the Houston Airport Marriott. It is connected to all terminals via the Subway train system, to which there is an underground walkway tunnel from the hotel. For its unprecedented convenience, top-notch amenities like an outdoor pool, a well-equipped fitness center, a great lobby, and a marvelous restaurant, it’s undoubtedly the best hotel near IAH Airport.
There are several other hotels outside the airport grounds, on the east side of the terminals. These include the Ramada by Wyndham for the mid-range to high-class travel sector and the La Quinta Inn & Suites for the more budget-conscious travelers.
Discover even more airport hotels near George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
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