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Houston, a city that draws a considerable Vietnamese community to settle in the U.S., is the largest city in Texas and the fourth-largest in the entire country. In the article below, Mytour will provide you with the most detailed and engaging information about the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.
General Introduction to George Bush Intercontinental Airport
George Bush Intercontinental Airport, or IAH, is a Category B international airport located in Houston, Texas, USA. The airport is situated approximately 32 kilometers north of downtown Houston.
George Bush Airport is located about 32 kilometers north of downtown Houston.
2. How many passenger terminals does George Bush Airport have?
The terminals at George Bush Intercontinental Airport are quite large in scale. Currently, the airport has a total of five passenger terminals, which include:
Terminal A
Terminal A handles domestic flights and short-haul flights to/from Houston, operated by domestic airlines, except for United, Canadian Airlines, and some departures both domestic and international by United Express.
Terminal A is one of the first two terminals at Houston Airport, which opened in 1969.
The structure of Terminal A features four levels:
- Basement: Subway station area
- Level 1: Arrivals hall
- Level 2: Departure hall and check-in counters
- Level 3: Skyway
Terminal B
Terminal B at the airport mainly serves domestic flights operated by United Express and international departures.
Terminal B was opened in 1969, the same year as Terminal A, and its design has remained largely unchanged since its inception.
The structure of Terminal B includes the North and South waiting areas, dividing the terminal into two sections, and it also features four floors:
- Basement: Subway area
- Floor 1: Arrivals hall
- Floor 2: Departures hall and check-in counters
- Floor 3: Skyway
Terminal B is one of the first two terminals at George Bush Airport
Terminal C
Terminal C, also known as the Lewis W. Cutrer Terminal, primarily serves domestic flights operated by United Airlines and United Express, along with some international departures.
Terminal C has 31 gates and is divided into two sections: the North and South areas.
The terminal building consists of four floors:
- Basement: Subway area
- Floor 1: Arrivals hall
- Floor 2: Departure hall
- Floor 3: Skyway
Terminal D
Terminal D, also known as Mickey LeLand Terminal, is designated for international flights, excluding those operated by United and some international flights by United Express.
Terminal D features two departure halls and a 5-story terminal building.
- Basement: Subway station.
- Ground Floor: International arrivals and check-in counters.
- Mezzanine Level: Home to the Centurion Lounge by American Express, with access to the 1st and 2nd floors.
- 2nd Floor: Departure hall.
- 3rd Floor: Skyway.
Currently, Terminal D is closed for repairs and expansion, with services expected to resume by 2021. As a result, all international flight operations previously handled by Terminal D are now transferred to Terminal E.
Terminal E
Terminal E is located on the east side of the airport, next to Terminals C and D, and serves international flights relocated from Terminal D.
The Terminal E building consists of 4 floors:
- Basement: Subway area
- Ground Floor: International arrivals
- 2nd Floor: Departure hall and check-in counters
- 3rd Floor: Skyway
Terminal D - Mickey Leland Terminal serves international flights
Transportation at George Bush Intercontinental Airport
Getting Around Between Terminals
The five terminals at George Bush Intercontinental Airport are all connected by the subway and skyway (high-speed rail).
- The Skyway connects Terminals A, B, C, D, E, and the International Arrivals building, providing a convenient link for passengers with connecting flights between terminals. This service is free and operates daily.
- The Subway offers shuttle service between terminals, running from Terminals A, B, C, D/E, and the Marriott Hotel. The subway operates daily from 3:30 PM to 12:30 AM, with a break in service between 12:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
All passenger terminals at the airport are directly connected to both the subway and skyway stations. The subway station is located in the basement of each terminal, while the Skyway station is situated on the 3rd floor of every terminal.
All airport terminals are connected by the subway and skyway systems.
Getting to and from the airport and downtown Houston
- Houston Metro Bus Service: The airport is served by the Houston Metro 102 bus route, which operates between the southern part of Terminal C (baggage claim area) and the subway station in downtown Houston.
- Hotel Shuttle Service: Several hotels in the city offer complimentary shuttle services. Please contact the hotel where you have made a reservation for assistance.
- Shared Ride Service: SuperShuttle is a well-known provider of shared ride services. Passengers can use this service or hire a private car for travel between the airport and various locations in Houston, including William P. Hobby Airport. Reservations can be made online, by phone, or directly at the SuperShuttle desk at the airport.
- Amtrak Connection:
+ To travel from the airport to the Amtrak station, passengers can take the 102 bus from terminal C. The bus stops at Milam St & Preston St, and after a 10-minute walk, you will reach the Amtrak station. The shuttle operates approximately every 20 minutes, with a travel duration of around 54 minutes.
+ To travel from the Amtrak station to the airport, passengers should walk to the 102 bus stop at the intersection of Travis St and Franklin St and board the bus to the airport, terminal C. The shuttle runs every 15 minutes, and the journey takes about 54 minutes.
- Taxis and car rentals: In addition to the other transport options, passengers can also choose to take a taxi or rent a car to travel between the airport and various city destinations.
Houston Metro Bus Line 102
Operating Hours of George Bush Airport
If passengers have purchased their flight ticket, are inside the terminal, or have a connecting flight, they are allowed to stay overnight even if arriving late. However, if coming from outside the terminal, the airport is closed during the night.
Passengers should also be aware that the check-in and baggage claim procedures may vary depending on the airline and flight schedule. Please check with your airline beforehand.
Below are the security check hours for the passenger terminals at the airport:
- Terminal A North: 4:00 AM - 7:00 PM
- Terminal A South: 3:15 AM - 11:00 PM
- Terminal B: 5:00 AM - 9:15 PM
- Terminal C North: 4:00 AM - 10:00 PM
- Terminal C South: 5:00 AM - 8:00 PM
- Terminal D: 4:30 PM - 1:00 AM (next day)
- Terminal E: 4:00 AM - 12:00 AM (next day)
Hotels near the airport
Here are some hotels near the airport that you may consider:
- Houston Airport Marriott at George Bush Intercontinental: This hotel can be easily reached via the subway from all terminals. It offers a complimentary airport shuttle service.
- SpringHill Suites Houston Intercontinental Airport: Located just a 6-minute drive from the airport. It provides a free airport shuttle service, with prior reservation required.
- La Quinta Inn & Suites Houston Bush IAH South: Located just a 4-minute drive from the airport. It offers a free airport shuttle service that runs from 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Houston Intercontinental Airport: Situated a 5-minute drive from the airport, with a complimentary airport shuttle service available.
- Red Roof Inn Houston IAH Airport: A 5-minute drive from the airport, this hotel offers a free airport shuttle service that operates from 5:00 AM to midnight.
Houston Marriott Hotel
Amenities at George Bush Intercontinental Airport
WiFi/ Internet
The airport offers free WiFi. Please connect to the network named 'Free Airport WIFI'.
ATM Machines
Locations: Available at the landside area (5 locations) and the departure gate area (12 locations).
Currency Exchange Services
The International Currency Exchange branch provides currency exchange services at 6 different locations within terminals B, C, D, and E. The operating hours vary by location, but most are between 6:30 AM and 7:30 AM.
Art Exhibitions at George Bush Airport
The airport features various art exhibitions and occasional free art performances.
These events are mainly held at Terminal A, in the North Atrium, and Terminal D, near Gate D8.
Facilities for Child Care
The airport offers Nursing Rooms equipped with rocking chairs and baby cribs.
Location:
- Terminal B, near gates B85-88.
- Terminal D, opposite gates D8-D9.
Nursing rooms are available at the following locations:
- Terminal C, near Gate C4.
- Terminal C, next to the women's restroom near Gate C4.
Baby care rooms at the airport are equipped with rocking chairs and cribs
Luggage Trolley
Luggage trolleys are available at baggage claim and drop-off areas in all passenger terminals.
Free luggage trolleys are provided at the international terminal.
Chapel at the Airport
The Interfaith Chapel is located at two different spots:
- Terminal C, near the waiting area for boarding, close to gates C29-33.
- Terminal D, on the right side, near gate D8.
Baby Crib Services
In certain exceptional situations, such as bad weather or large-scale flight cancellations, airports provide baby crib services. However, passengers should note that this service is not available for overnight stays at the airport, meaning it cannot be reserved in advance.
Duty-Free Shopping
All terminals feature duty-free stores, except for Terminal C.
In addition to the retail stores at the airport, various items can be purchased 24/7 from vending machines located throughout the airport.
Food and Beverages
Airport food stores operate at different hours, with the earliest opening at 5 AM. Currently, there are no stores open 24/7. Vending machines are available at all terminals.
Duty-free shopping stores can be found at all airport terminals, except for Terminal C
Airport Information Desks
There are 4 locations where airport information desks are available:
- Terminal A, landside area, baggage claim zone.
- Terminal C, landside area, baggage claim compensation section.
- Terminal D/E, boarding gate waiting area, international arrivals hall.
- Terminal E, landside area, right after the security checkpoint.
Additional Services at the Airport
- Luggage wrapping services: Available at ticket counters.
- Massage chairs: Located at the ticket counters (landside), dining areas (boarding gate waiting zones), and gate areas of Terminals A, B, C, D, E.
- Mobile charging stations.
- Shower rooms: Available at the Centurion Lounge (Terminal D).
- Smoking area: Smoking is not permitted inside the airport. Passengers can only smoke in designated outdoor areas, at least 25 feet away from the exit.
- Traveler’s Aid non-profit support: Open from 6 AM to 9 PM.
Flights from Vietnam to Houston
From Vietnam, only the domestic airline Vietnam Airlines operates flights to Houston (USA). However, this is not a direct flight. Passengers will need to make 1 to 2 stopovers before landing at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
For these flights, passengers may have to stop at 1 or 2 airports before continuing their journey on Vietnam Airlines or transferring to another airline to reach Houston.
We hope that these detailed reviews will provide you with an overall understanding of George Bush Intercontinental Airport and help you prepare for your upcoming flight to Houston.
If you have any questions or need assistance with booking flights to the United States, feel free to reach out to Mytour!
T.Ba, 14/01/2025 07:25 AM
