2026 layover guide
Houston (IAH) connection time
At George Bush Intercontinental Airport, plan on at least 50 min for a domestic connection, 1 h if you change terminals, and 2 h 20 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 30 min
By Skyway train, inside security
Customs, bag recheck and security
Inside security, by Skyway train
Quick answer
Plan on at least 50 min for a domestic connection at IAH, 1 h if you change terminals and 2 h 20 min after an international arrival. You stay inside security for domestic connections.
- Domestic, same terminal
- 50 min (comfortable: 1 h 30 min)
- Changing terminals
- 1 h by Skyway train
- From abroad
- 2 h 20 min, including customs and bag recheck
- Hub airlines
- United Airlines
How long a layover do I need?
- Get off the plane and walk to your next gate20 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 IAH
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 | 50 min Comfortable: 1 h 30 min |
Domestic to domestic, changing terminals By Skyway train | 1 h Comfortable: 1 h 30 min |
International arrival, connecting domestically Customs, bag recheck and TSA | 2 h 20 min Comfortable: 3 h 15 min |
Same, with Global Entry and PreCheck Faster customs and security | 1 h 50 min Comfortable: 2 h 45 min |
Separate tickets with checked bags No protection if you miss it | 1 h 50 min Comfortable: 2 h 45 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 IAH
Terminals
Terminals A, B, C, D and E.
Changing terminals
The Skyway train connects all terminals inside security, so you can change terminals without another TSA check.
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. International flights arrive at Terminals D and E.
Tips for connecting at IAH
- •United flies mostly from Terminals B, C and E.
Plan your trip through IAH
The airport guide, and the bag rules for the airlines you're likely to connect on here.
IAH connection FAQ
Airlines set their own official minimums at IAH and only sell connections that meet them, so a one-ticket itinerary is always "legal". In practice we recommend at least 50 min for a domestic connection, 1 h when you change terminals and 2 h 20 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.
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport official website
- Houston Airports: is Houston a good airport to connect through?
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