Located 23 miles north of Downtown Houston, George Bush Intercontinental Airport spans 10,000 acres between Interstate 45 and Interstate 69. As a massive international gateway with five runways, you will find extensive domestic and long-haul connections here. It stands as one of the busiest passenger hubs in the United States and serves as a primary international anchor for Texas air travel.
Navigating the airport involves five distinct terminals labeled A through E. United Airlines operates its massive hub across several terminals, including Terminal E for international arrivals and Terminal B for regional flights. Other international carriers predominantly utilize Terminal D for arrivals, while Canadian arrivals via Air Canada and WestJet operate out of Terminal A. Highway access conveniently links all terminals to surrounding expressways.
01 Terminals & concourses
You will find flights from Canada on carriers such as Air Canada and WestJet arriving at Terminal A.
Terminal B preserves elements of the original 1969 design while undergoing a major modern overhaul for United Airlines flights.
Terminal C opened in 1981 to support the airport's expanding domestic route network.
Terminal D serves as the arrival point for all international flights, excluding United services.
Terminal E accommodates United Airlines' international arrivals alongside centralized international check-in desks.
Airport map
The free OpenStreetMap layer below shows the whole airport — terminals, concourses, access roads and the parking garages. Zoom in for gate-level detail.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free). Official gate/terminal maps are copyrighted — we link to them.
02 Which terminal does my airline use?
Airlines are grouped by alliance and region. Always confirm the concourse printed on your boarding pass — assignments can change seasonally.
Show all airlines by terminal ›
Grouped by terminal — check the concourse on your boarding pass before you fly; assignments can change seasonally.
Lost, delayed or damaged baggage at IAH
If your checked bag doesn't turn up on the belt, act before you leave the baggage-claim area — that's where every airline keeps its Baggage Service Office.
- Go to your airline's Baggage Service Office in the baggage-claim hall of your arrival terminal.
- File a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) and get your file reference (WorldTracer) number. Keep your bag-tag receipt and boarding pass.
- Track it online using that reference on your airline's baggage-tracking page — most bags are located within 24–48 hours.
- Claim your essentials. On delayed bags airlines reimburse reasonable interim purchases (toiletries, clothing) — keep receipts. International trips are covered by the Montreal Convention.
- If it's truly lost (generally after 21 days) or damaged, file the claim at the same office — damage must be reported before you leave the airport.
Left something in the terminal (not a checked bag)? That's handled by the airport Lost & Found. Items left at a TSA security checkpoint are held by the TSA, not the airline.
03 Getting to & from IAH
These are the ground-transport options connecting the airport with the city. Fares and schedules change — check the operator before you travel.
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| road | Interstate 45, Interstate 69/U.S. Highway 59, Hardy Toll Road expressway, and Will Clayton Parkway. |
04 Lounges & amenities
United Airlines operates lounges including a United Club within the terminal complex.
