2026 layover guide
Houston (HOU) connection time
At William P. Hobby Airport, plan on at least 45 min for a domestic connection, and 2 h 15 min if you're arriving from abroad. Here's why, step by step.
Verified Oct 17, 2026By Steven MoHow we check Report a correction
Comfortable: 1 h 15 min
Customs, bag recheck and security
No terminal changes
Quick answer
Plan on at least 45 min for a domestic connection at HOU and 2 h 15 min after an international arrival. You stay inside security for domestic connections.
- Domestic, same terminal
- 45 min (comfortable: 1 h 15 min)
- From abroad
- 2 h 15 min, including customs and bag recheck
- Hub airlines
- Southwest Airlines
How long a layover do I need?
- Get off the plane and walk to your next gate15 min
- Be at the gate before boarding closes15 min
- Buffer for a small delay15 min
Our estimate, rounded up, not the airline's official minimum connection time. If both flights are on one ticket, the airline will rebook you if a delay makes you miss the second one. How we calculate this
Recommended layovers at HOU
Our estimates for common connections, rounded up. Comfortable times leave room for a late arrival.
| Connection | MinimumRecommended minimum |
|---|---|
Domestic to domestic, same terminal Checked bags transfer automatically | 45 min Comfortable: 1 h 15 min |
International arrival, connecting domestically Customs, bag recheck and TSA | 2 h 15 min Comfortable: 3 h |
Same, with Global Entry and PreCheck Faster customs and security | 1 h 45 min Comfortable: 2 h 30 min |
Separate tickets with checked bags No protection if you miss it | 1 h 45 min Comfortable: 2 h 30 min |
Airlines' official minimum connection times can be shorter: if you booked both flights on one ticket, the airline has already checked that the connection is legal and will rebook you if a delay makes you miss it.
Getting around HOU
Terminals
One terminal, including the international concourse.
Changing terminals
All gates, international ones included, are in one secure area.
Customs and international arrivals
Arriving from abroad, you clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), collect your checked bags, drop them at the recheck belt and go through TSA security again before your connection.
Tips for connecting at HOU
- •Hobby is Southwest's gateway to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
Plan your trip through HOU
The airport guide, and the bag rules for the airlines you're likely to connect on here.
HOU connection FAQ
Airlines set their own official minimums at HOU and only sell connections that meet them, so a one-ticket itinerary is always "legal". In practice we recommend at least 45 min for a domestic connection and 2 h 15 min after an international arrival.
Other airports
Sources
Last verified Oct 17, 2026. Terminals and connection rules change, so check your airline's connection instructions before a tight layover.
Read how we collect and check this data, or tell us if something's out of date.
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