Situated in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport sits nine miles south of downtown Baltimore and thirty miles northeast of Washington, D.C. Spanning 3,160 acres, this busy facility serves as a primary regional gateway across the Mid-Atlantic. It is owned and operated by the Maryland Aviation Administration, providing an accessible travel hub for the entire metropolitan district.
The main terminal layout features concourses designated A through E, designed to simplify your journey between gates. Southwest Airlines operates its major base here out of integrated Concourses A and B, which connect seamlessly. Concourse E functions as the international terminal, welcoming flights from abroad, while Concourses C and D accommodate additional passenger routes.
01 Terminals & concourses
These expanded, integrated concourses house Southwest Airlines' primary operating base. They feature a direct connecting structure along with expanded hold rooms and dining options.
Concourse E handles international arrivals and departures for the airport. The facility offers dedicated international baggage handling systems and passenger security checkpoints.
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 BWI
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 BWI
These are the ground-transport options connecting the airport with the city. Fares and schedules change — check the operator before you travel.
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Rail | BWI Rail Station provides direct Amtrak intercity rail connections along the Northeast Corridor. |
| Road | Accessible via the nearby Baltimore–Washington Parkway. |
04 Lounges & amenities
Eligible military travelers can access the BWI USO facility, which serves service members traveling to and from global duty stations.
