Airport hub · CMH · Last reviewed 6 May 2026
Columbus John Glenn (CMH): The Complete Layover Guide
A manageable midsize airport with one quirk that matters: three concourses, each with its own security checkpoint, and a brand new terminal rising next door for 2029.
- Layover verdict
- Fine for short domestic connections within one concourse, with light security lines most hours. The catch is concourse changes, which can mean a fresh screening line, and an early airport night: all checkpoints close at 8:30 pm.
- Best lounge option
- The Escape Lounge in Concourse B by gate 32 is the only lounge in the building, and it earns its keep: Priority Pass gets you in, walk up entry runs 60 dollars, and Amex Platinum holders enter free.
- The one thing to know
- Each concourse has its own checkpoint and whether an airside corridor connects them is unclear even in official material. Treat a concourse change as a trip back through security until you confirm otherwise on the day.
Quick facts
Columbus John Glenn at a glance
| Terminals | 1 terminal, three concourses: A (Southwest), B (American, United, Air Canada, Spirit) and C (Delta, Alaska, Breeze, Frontier, Sun Country) |
|---|---|
| Airside transit between terminals | Unclear. Each concourse has its own checkpoint; an airside connector between concourses is to be confirmed, so assume a new screening line |
| Free wifi | Yes, free throughout the terminal with free power outlets at most gates. Exact network name to be confirmed |
| Sleep friendliness | Poor. The landside terminal is open 24 hours but all checkpoints run 4:00 am to 8:30 pm and there are no rest zones or 24 hour food |
| Lounge count | 1: the Escape Lounge in Concourse B by gate 32, per a June 2026 count |
| Nearest in terminal hotel | Residence Inn Columbus Airport, adjacent to the terminal on International Gateway, one of four hotels on airport grounds |
Orientation
How CMH is laid out and how long everything takes
John Glenn International is a two level terminal with three concourses fanning off it. Concourse A at the south end belongs to Southwest. Concourse B in the middle is the largest with 16 gates, hosting American, United, Air Canada and Spirit. Concourse C at the north end takes Delta, Alaska, Breeze, Frontier and Sun Country, and handles international arrivals and customs. Departures run on the upper level, arrivals and baggage claim below.
The layout quirk that matters for connections: each concourse runs its own security checkpoint, all three operating 4:00 am to 8:30 pm. Whether you can walk between concourses airside is genuinely unclear, with third party guides contradicting each other and no official statement either way. Until you confirm it at the airport, plan a concourse change as an exit and a fresh screening line. Same concourse connections are easy; cross concourse ones deserve a 90 minute buffer.
Security itself is gentle by big airport standards. Posted waits run under 25 minutes most hours, with the 6 to 9 am and 4 to 7 pm banks the busiest. The airport's own advice is 90 minutes before a domestic flight and 2 hours before international, and unlike the megahubs that advice is not padded much.
The lounge situation is short and sweet. The Escape Lounge in Concourse B by gate 32, open 5 am to 8 pm daily, is the only lounge at CMH. It takes Priority Pass including advance bookings, sells walk up entry at 60 dollars with prebooking from 45, and admits Amex Platinum cardholders free, plus Delta SkyMiles Reserve holders flying Delta. There is no United Club, no Admirals Club and no Sky Club anywhere in the building, so if your layover lands in A or C, the food court is your lounge.
Nights are early here. The landside terminal never closes, but with every checkpoint shut from 8:30 pm to 4:00 am, no rest zones and no 24 hour dining, an overnight at CMH means a landside bench under full lighting. The better answer sits just outside: four hotels stand on airport grounds along International Gateway and Sawyer Road, with the Residence Inn directly adjacent to the terminal. For a forced overnight, take the bed.
Getting downtown is straightforward if not fast. COTA's Route 7 stops at International Gateway and Sawyer Road and runs to downtown Columbus about 7 miles away; the standard COTA fare is around 2 dollars, exact 2026 fare to be confirmed. A rideshare covers it in 10 to 15 minutes for roughly 20 to 35 dollars. There is no dedicated airport express anymore, so do not search for the old AirConnect shuttle, which was discontinued.
The big story is next door. CMH Next, a 2 billion dollar replacement terminal with 36 gates, a single consolidated checkpoint and a central marketplace, broke ground in December 2024 and is on track to open in early 2029. Steel is going up through 2026 and traffic patterns around the terminal keep shifting, so follow the day's signage on the roads even if you know the airport well. The new building will retire the three checkpoint quirk for good.
Plan the hours
Your CMH layover, piece by piece
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FAQ
Columbus CMH layover questions
Do I have to go through security again to change concourses at CMH?
Plan on it. Each of the three concourses has its own checkpoint, and whether an airside corridor connects them is to be confirmed even in official material. Give cross concourse connections at least 90 minutes until you can verify the route on the day.
Does CMH have a Priority Pass lounge?
Yes. The Escape Lounge in Concourse B by gate 32 accepts Priority Pass, including advance bookings, and is open 5 am to 8 pm daily. It is the only lounge at the airport; walk up entry costs 60 dollars and Amex Platinum holders enter free.
Can you sleep overnight at CMH?
Only landside. The terminal stays open 24 hours but all checkpoints close from 8:30 pm to 4:00 am, and there are no rest zones or all night food. The Residence Inn sits adjacent to the terminal, one of four hotels on airport grounds.
How early should I arrive for a flight at Columbus?
The airport recommends 90 minutes for domestic and 2 hours for international flights. Security waits run under 25 minutes most hours, with the 6 to 9 am and 4 to 7 pm banks the busiest.
How do I get from CMH to downtown Columbus?
COTA Route 7 stops at International Gateway and Sawyer Road and runs downtown, about 7 miles, for the standard COTA fare of around 2 dollars. A rideshare takes 10 to 15 minutes and costs roughly 20 to 35 dollars.
Check lounge access at CMH
Columbus has exactly one lounge and four ways through its door. The directory below covers the Escape Lounge's hours, prices and every membership and card that works.
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