Houston has two commercial airports: George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) north of the city, and William P. Hobby (HOU) on the southside. They are very different operating environments, and which one you fly into materially changes your luxury ground transportation experience.
Quick comparison
| Factor | IAH | HOU | | --- | --- | --- | | Terminals | 5 (A, B, C, D, E) | 1 (Main) | | Distance to Galleria | 22 mi | 14 mi | | Distance to Downtown | 23 mi | 11 mi | | Drive time (no traffic) | 25 min | 18 min | | Drive time (rush hour) | 35–45 min | 25–35 min | | Hub airline | United Airlines | Southwest Airlines | | International flights | Yes | Limited | | Luxury Luxe Auto flat rate | from $95 | from $85 |
IAH (George Bush Intercontinental)
IAH is Houston's primary international airport and the United Airlines Houston hub. Five terminals, an inter-terminal train, and a heavy international flight schedule out of Terminal D and E. If you're flying intercontinental, you're flying IAH.
Advantages: more flight options, more lounges, more international connectivity.
Disadvantages: farther from the city, larger to navigate, more variable arrival-curb traffic.
Houston Luxe Auto IAH transfers: flat-rate from $95 (S-Class to Galleria/Downtown). Live flight tracking and 30 minutes of complimentary wait after touchdown. Standard meet is curbside at baggage claim; VIP meet-and-greet at the gate with placard and luggage assist is a $50 add-on.
Best for: international arrivals, business travel on United, group arrivals (the larger curb makes Sprinter loading easier).
See IAH transfer details and flat rates.
HOU (William P. Hobby)
Hobby is Houston's domestic-only airport (with a small Caribbean/Mexico flight schedule) and the Southwest Airlines hub. Single terminal, much faster on/off the airport grounds, closer to downtown.
Advantages: faster end-to-end (deplane to car is typically 10 minutes faster than IAH), closer to most Houston destinations, easier for first-time visitors to navigate.
Disadvantages: limited international service, fewer lounges, fewer flight options.
Houston Luxe Auto Hobby transfers: flat-rate from $85 (S-Class to Galleria/Downtown). Same flight tracking and wait window as IAH.
Best for: domestic business travel on Southwest, late-night arrivals (the curb is quieter), and Medical Center/southside destinations.
See HOU transfer details and flat rates.
Which to choose if you have the option
Most arrivals to Houston don't have a meaningful airport choice — you fly into the one your airline serves. But for the ~20% of trips where both airports are options (Southwest vs United on a domestic route), here's our practical breakdown:
- Staying at a downtown hotel → Hobby. 11 miles vs 23 miles is meaningful.
- Staying in the Galleria → roughly equivalent. Pick by airline.
- Staying in The Woodlands or Spring → IAH. 15 miles to The Woodlands from IAH vs 50+ miles from Hobby.
- Staying in Sugar Land or southwest Houston → Hobby. Shorter and avoids downtown traffic.
- You have luxury luggage or a group → IAH (Sprinter access is easier at the bigger curb).
What to expect either way
Houston Luxe Auto handles both airports identically from a service standpoint:
- Flight tracking begins 24 hours before scheduled landing.
- Chauffeur stages 30 minutes before scheduled arrival regardless of delays.
- SMS dispatch with chauffeur name, vehicle make/model/color, and license plate.
- 30 minutes of free wait time after touchdown.
- Bottled water, climate control, USB-C charging in every vehicle.
- $2,000,000 commercial liability coverage.
What changes by airport
A few small operational details differ:
- Terminal E at IAH (international arrivals) has a longer customs process. Add 30–45 minutes to your scheduled arrival before expecting to clear the doors.
- Hobby curb is shorter and gets very tight at peak hours. Our chauffeurs typically text 10 minutes before you land with a specific terminal section pickup point.
- IAH inter-terminal walk between A/B/C/D/E can be 10–15 minutes. If you're connecting between terminals, factor that in.
Cost difference, real talk
The dollar difference between IAH and Hobby Luxe Auto transfers is small — $10–20 either way. The time difference can be 30+ minutes during rush hour. Optimize for time, not money, on airport transfers.
Book an airport transfer or call dispatch at +1 (832) 555-0100.