Houston airport shuttle, explained
Houston airport shuttle service covers both of the city's airports — George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) and William P. Hobby (HOU) — and the difference between them shapes every ride. IAH is the larger international hub north of downtown; Hobby is the compact Southwest hub southeast of the city. A flat-rate shuttle fixes the one variable that makes Houston ground transportation unpredictable: the price. The quote you get at booking is the fare you pay, whether the ride runs to The Woodlands, Katy, Sugar Land or Galveston's cruise terminal, with a named driver tracking your flight in the arrivals direction.
IAH vs Hobby: what changes for your pickup
At IAH, arrivals sit on the lower level of each terminal (A through E), and Terminal D handles international arrivals — add the extra 15 minutes of passport and customs time when you book. At Hobby, everything happens in one terminal: arrivals, baggage claim and ground transportation share a single lower level, so pickup timing is simpler but the curb gets busy during Southwest arrival waves. In both cases a prearranged shuttle puts your driver inside the terminal past baggage claim with a name sign, staged before you land.
How long after landing does pickup take?
The same rules at both airports: 30 minutes after you land for domestic flights, 45 minutes for international arrivals. Traveling carry-on only? You can schedule pickup 15 minutes after a domestic landing. The clock runs off the actual landing — if your flight is early or late, the pickup adjusts automatically, which is why booking with your flight number matters.
Where Houston shuttle riders go
| Destination | From IAH | From Hobby |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Houston | North side run | Short southeast run |
| The Woodlands / Katy | Direct north / west routes | Cross-town — flat rate beats the meter |
| Galveston cruise port | Long run — fixed fare matters most | Common cruise pairing |
| College Station | Long run | Long run |
Booking a Houston airport shuttle
Enter your addresses and flight details in the booking tool for an instant flat quote — no account, no phone call, though a human answers if you want one. Round trips save 10% off each way. Departing travelers set the pickup time backwards from the airline's check-in cutoff: two hours for domestic, three for international.