Is 45 minutes enough at IAH? 17% of inbound flights landed too late for it, allowing 30 minutes to reach the next gate. Book 70 minutes to keep the risk under 1 in 10, or 120 in July.
Separately, 1.3% of flights into IAH were cancelled or diverted (4.1% in July). That isn't a missed connection in the same sense: on one booking the airline rebooks you, though it can still cost you the day.
Check your exact itinerary through IAH →
Missed-connection risk by layover and month
Share of flights that landed at IAH too late for the connection (cancellations not included), pooled over 2023–2026. Read across your travel month.
| Layover | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 min | 23% | 17% | 22% | 21% | 30% | 31% | 31% | 23% | 18% | 19% | 19% | 22% | 22% |
| 50 min | 16% | 11% | 16% | 15% | 22% | 23% | 24% | 16% | 12% | 12% | 12% | 15% | 15% |
| 60 min | 12% | 8% | 12% | 11% | 18% | 19% | 19% | 13% | 9% | 8% | 9% | 11% | 12% |
| 75 min | 9% | 6% | 9% | 8% | 13% | 15% | 15% | 9% | 6% | 6% | 6% | 8% | 9% |
| 90 min | 7% | 5% | 8% | 6% | 11% | 12% | 12% | 7% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 7% |
| 120 min | 5% | 3% | 5% | 4% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 5% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 4% |
Counts flights that landed; cancelled and diverted inbound flights are reported separately above. Assumes 30 minutes to get off the plane and reach the next gate, and that the onward flight leaves on time. A terminal change or re-checking bags needs more.
Late in the day is riskier
Share of flights that would miss a 60-minute connection, by scheduled arrival time at IAH (past 12 months). Delays pile up through the day.
Riskiest flights in
| From | Flights | Miss 60 min |
|---|---|---|
| DFW Dallas | 6,085 | 19% |
| ORD Chicago | 6,141 | 16% |
| LGA New York | 4,267 | 16% |
| ATL Atlanta | 5,279 | 15% |
| BWI Baltimore | 1,367 | 14% |
| MIA Miami | 3,667 | 14% |
| DCA Washington | 3,351 | 14% |
| HSV Huntsville | 1,479 | 14% |
| LIT Little Rock | 1,653 | 13% |
| EWR Newark | 3,714 | 13% |
| JAN Jackson | 1,603 | 13% |
| FLL Fort Lauderdale | 2,919 | 13% |
Safest flights in
| From | Flights | Miss 60 min |
|---|---|---|
| PDX Portland | 1,208 | 7% |
| ABQ Albuquerque | 1,187 | 7% |
| MCI Kansas City | 1,525 | 8% |
| SFO San Francisco | 3,578 | 8% |
| JAX Jacksonville | 1,279 | 8% |
| ELP El Paso | 1,938 | 8% |
| IND Indianapolis | 1,410 | 9% |
| OKC Oklahoma City | 2,608 | 9% |
| SLC Salt Lake City | 2,182 | 9% |
| SAT San Antonio | 2,871 | 9% |
| PNS Pensacola | 1,506 | 9% |
| LAX Los Angeles | 5,143 | 9% |
Last flights of the day from IAH
If your inbound runs late and you miss one of these, the next flight is usually the next morning. Typical last scheduled departure over the past three months:
| To | Last departure | Flights / day |
|---|---|---|
| CLT Charlotte | 6:12 p.m. | 8 |
| FLL Fort Lauderdale | 6:26 p.m. | 7.3 |
| BOS Boston | 6:26 p.m. | 6.3 |
| LGA New York | 6:35 p.m. | 11 |
| SEA Seattle | 6:45 p.m. | 7.1 |
| DTW Detroit | 7:29 p.m. | 7.5 |
| MCO Orlando | 7:50 p.m. | 8.2 |
| DCA Washington | 7:50 p.m. | 8.9 |
| EWR Newark | 7:55 p.m. | 9.6 |
| PHX Phoenix | 7:57 p.m. | 7.5 |
| ATL Atlanta | 8:02 p.m. | 14.3 |
| SLC Salt Lake City | 8:25 p.m. | 5.7 |
| MSP Minneapolis | 8:35 p.m. | 6.5 |
| MIA Miami | 8:37 p.m. | 8.7 |
| LAS Las Vegas | 8:43 p.m. | 8.5 |
| OKC Oklahoma City | 9:35 p.m. | 7.4 |
| MFE Mission | 9:35 p.m. | 6.3 |
| DFW Dallas | 9:37 p.m. | 16.2 |
| SAT San Antonio | 9:40 p.m. | 7.7 |
| BTR Baton Rouge | 9:40 p.m. | 5.8 |
| TUL Tulsa | 9:42 p.m. | 5.7 |
| LFT Lafayette | 9:50 p.m. | 4.8 |
| CRP Corpus Christi | 9:55 p.m. | 6.9 |
| SFO San Francisco | 9:59 p.m. | 9.5 |
| LAX Los Angeles | 10:03 p.m. | 12.8 |
| MAF Midland | 10:04 p.m. | 6.4 |
| ORD Chicago | 10:08 p.m. | 17.4 |
| DEN Denver | 10:10 p.m. | 13.9 |
| MSY New Orleans | 10:15 p.m. | 7.8 |
| AUS Austin | 10:15 p.m. | 7.9 |
Questions
Is 45 minutes enough for a connection at IAH?
Often, not always. Over the past year 17% of flights into Houston landed too late to leave 30 minutes to reach the next gate on a 45-minute layover. With 60 minutes it was 12%; with 90, 7%. Separately, 1.3% of inbound flights were cancelled or diverted; on one booking the airline rebooks you.
How long a layover do I need at IAH?
To keep the risk of a late inbound below 1 in 10, about 70 minutes on an average month and 120 minutes in July, the worst month. Add time if you change terminals or need to re-check bags.
An estimate from past arrival delays, not a guarantee. On one ticket, the airline will rebook you if you misconnect. On separate tickets you're on your own, so leave far more time. Method.