• GREATER HOUSTON METRO AREA AIRPORTS

The Houston Region has three Airport choices: The biggest one by far is IAH Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport IAH, followed by Houston Hobby International Airport HOU, and their small reliever airport, Ellington Airport EFD. To widen the circle Austin-Bergstrom International Airport might be mentioned (far from Houston, but great ratings). Smaller Area Airports with mileage distance to Houston: Beaumont Jefferson County AP (79); College Station Easterwood Field (83); Victoria County-Foster AP (113).

1. Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport IAH is 15.3 miles from Houston's center. Even though not as big as Dallas-Fort Worth International, it is still Texas-size HUGE! Due to ever-ongoing construction, traffic to/from Houston can be challenging. Check-in lines move well, even during busiest times. Only fee-based Wi-Fi is available. Inter-terminal trains take you and your luggage quickly to your destination. Getting around the Airport can be a real challenge (wear comfortable shoes for the long walks), and security checks and lounges could stand an upgrade. Even though, the Airport gets high marks from both its passengers and airline crews. You are well advised to take into consideration the travel time between terminals. Note that Continental flies out of different terminals for its domestic and international flights. Always check your ticket to make sure you head for the right terminal. If you have, say, a 20-minute layover between flights, immediately head for your next departure gate, and if you cannot walk briskly, do take one of those little golf carts which zoom around shouting at everyone to get out of their way. If you are 'lost', use the nearest courtesy phone and ask for help, or try to find an Airport Ambassadors (in uniform) cruising the terminals. One advantage at this airport: Less of a chance of flight delays due to weather and more direct flights, thereby avoiding possible delays/cancelations at stopover airports.

2. Houston Hobby International Airport HOU is located on the north end of Houston, 8.7 miles from its center. One passenger's comments sums it up: 'Nice little airport...Southwest pretty much owns it....plain vanilla, ... easy in, easy out, nice people, short lines'. The Airport has received recently a facelift, and more and more passengers discover this gem as an alternative to Houston Bush. Southwest and JetBlue offer cheaper airfares, parking is easier and cheaper, and there are nice restaurants. Best of all, it is very clean and has spacious restrooms. However, being a smaller airport, it still cannot match the choice of airlines and direct flights of Houston Busch.

3. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, ranks high in passenger satisfaction, but is neither close to, nor has the airline and destination choices of Houston Bush.

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