Houston George Bush (IAH): The Complete Layover Guide
A United fortress that does the basics well. Two free trains, a real on airport hotel, and a surprisingly strong lounge cluster in Terminal D. Not exciting, but rarely painful, and for a connection that is exactly what you want.
Layover qualityGood for connections, average for long stays. Food and seating thin out at night and the city is too far for short layovers.
Best loungeThe United Polaris Lounge near E12 if eligible; otherwise the Amex Centurion Lounge in Terminal D.
One thing to knowThe landside Subway train shuts from 12:30am to 3:30am. Overnight, stay airside or get where you need to be before it closes.
Last reviewed: 14 May 2026
IAH at a glance
| Terminals | 5 (A, B, C, D, E); D and E consolidating into a new international terminal |
|---|---|
| Airside transit between terminals | Yes, Skyway train, every 2 minutes |
| Free wifi | Yes, all terminals |
| Sleep friendliness | Fair: Minute Suites airside, landside train closes overnight |
| Lounge count | About 14 |
| Nearest in terminal hotel | Houston Airport Marriott, between Terminals B and C |
How IAH actually works
Five terminals in a line: A, B, and C for United's domestic empire, D and E for international flights. The D and E complex is being consolidated into the new Mickey Leland International Terminal, with the international arrivals processor already partially open. Construction detours are a fact of life here for now.
Two free trains do the moving. The Skyway runs airside above the terminals, every 2 minutes, just over 4 minutes end to end, and means you never reclear security between gates. The Subway runs landside underground, every 3 minutes, from 3:30am to 12:30am, and adds a stop at the airport Marriott. Learn which is which and IAH gets much smaller.
Security and immigration
International arrivals clear the centralized federal inspection facility, which has a dedicated bag recheck for connections; after customs, the Skyway carries you airside to any terminal. Give an international to domestic connection 2 hours. Domestic to domestic on United is routinely fine at the published minimums because the Skyway is fast and frequent.
The lounge landscape
About 14 lounges, heavily United: United Clubs in A, C, and E plus the Polaris Lounge near E12 for qualifying international premium cabins. Terminal D is the dense block: the Amex Centurion Lounge on level 2, the Air France Lounge by D12, the KLM Crown Lounge by D7, and the Executive Club. Priority Pass opens the Air France and KLM lounges and Minute Suites. Full table in the IAH lounge directory.
Sleeping at IAH
Minute Suites in the Terminal D area rents private rooms around the clock and takes Priority Pass. Open seating overnight is tolerable rather than welcoming, and the Subway shutdown from 12:30am to 3:30am can strand you on the wrong side of the airport, so pick your spot early. The Marriott between B and C is the real answer. More in the IAH sleeping guide.
Getting to the city
Downtown Houston is over 20 miles south. The 500 Downtown Direct bus runs nonstop from Terminal E every 30 minutes, 5:30am to 8pm, for 4.50 dollars. A taxi is a flat rate of about 57 dollars, a rideshare about 44, roughly 30 minutes outside rush hour. With a layover under 6 hours, stay put; Houston traffic does not care about your boarding time.
The small print that helps
The wifi is free in every terminal and even reaches the parking garages. The Skyway runs every day, every 2 minutes, and it answers almost every connection question here; the Subway answers the hotel question, with its own stop at the Marriott and a walkable tunnel alongside it.
Terminal D rewards arriving early. The Centurion Lounge on level 2, the Air France Lounge by D12, the KLM Crown Lounge by D7, and the Executive Club sit within a few minutes of each other, the densest block of lounge doors in Texas. Priority Pass opens two of them plus Minute Suites, which quietly makes IAH one of the better US airports for the program.
Overnight, think in train schedules. The landside Subway stops at 12:30am and restarts at 3:30am; the Skyway's overnight schedule is to be confirmed. Decide before midnight which side of security your night happens on, and remember Minute Suites takes bookings through the small hours.
The IAH guides
IAH layover guide: 3, 5, 8 hours and overnight
Hour by hour plans built around the Skyway, the Terminal D lounges, and the overnight train gap. Three hours here is comfortable; eight needs a strategy, and the guide gives you one.
IAH lounges: every lounge and how to get in
Every United Club, the Polaris rules, and the Terminal D cluster where Priority Pass actually works.
Sleeping in IAH airport
Minute Suites, the quietest gate areas, and why the Marriott on the Subway line earns its rate. Includes the overnight timing trap that catches first time visitors.
Priority Pass lounges at IAH
Three doors the program opens here, their busy hours, and the honest value verdict against paid entry.
IAH transit and connection guide
Skyway versus Subway, the international recheck flow, and how tight is too tight at this airport.
IAH layover questions
How do I change terminals at IAH without leaving security?
Take the Skyway, the airside train above the terminals. It serves A, B, C, and the D and E complex, departs every 2 minutes, and the full ride end to end takes just over 4 minutes. The separate underground Subway is landside and also stops at the airport Marriott.
Can you sleep overnight at IAH?
It is doable but plan carefully. The landside Subway train stops running from 12:30am to 3:30am, so position yourself before it closes. Minute Suites in the Terminal D area rents private rooms around the clock and takes Priority Pass. The Houston Airport Marriott, between Terminals B and C on the Subway, is the comfortable option.
Which lounges accept Priority Pass at IAH?
The Air France Lounge near gate D12, the KLM Crown Lounge near gate D7, and Minute Suites. The United Clubs and the Polaris Lounge are not on the program. Terminal D is where Priority Pass earns its fee at this airport.
What is the best lounge at IAH?
The United Polaris Lounge near gate E12, with table service dining, showers, and daybeds, if you hold a qualifying international premium cabin ticket. For card holders, the Amex Centurion Lounge in Terminal D is the best everyday option.
How do I get from IAH to downtown Houston?
The 500 Downtown Direct bus runs nonstop from Terminal E to the convention center every 30 minutes from 5:30am to 8pm for 4.50 dollars. A taxi is a flat rate of about 57 dollars and a rideshare averages about 44, taking roughly 30 minutes outside rush hour. The local 102 bus costs 1.25 dollars but takes up to 90 minutes.
Where do international arrivals clear immigration at IAH?
At the centralized federal inspection facility in the international terminal complex, which has a dedicated bag recheck area for connecting passengers. After customs and the bag drop, ride the airside Skyway to your departure terminal. Give an international to domestic connection at least 2 hours.
Check lounge access at IAH
See which IAH lounges your cards, memberships, and day passes open before you fly.
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