Past Galveston cruisers

[SailingSeas]

How early do you feel comfortable booking your return flight? I have not yet booked mine; I am a Southwest fan and they go from HOU which is closer, but may consider flying out of IAH, which I understand is a wee bit further out.

I am hoping they are doing express walk-off, but I understand they don't get into port until 8:30am. is that true?

 

[SonicGuy]

How early do you feel comfortable booking your return flight? I have not yet booked mine; I am a Southwest fan and they go from HOU which is closer, but may consider flying out of IAH, which I understand is a wee bit further out.

I am hoping they are doing express walk-off, but I understand they don't get into port until 8:30am. is that true?

Our last cruise out of Galveston (December 2013) we got in to port around 6:30 am, but didn't get off the ship until 8:30 or so. Getting through customs took awhile, but they did off express walk off - if you don't turn your bags in the night before. Depending on what day you get in, Houston traffic is a BEAR. Allowing for the 90 minute "get there early rule" I personally would not book a return flight before 2:00. But thats just me.

 

[texas disney mom]

Our last cruise out of Galveston (December 2013) we got in to port around 6:30 am, but didn't get off the ship until 8:30 or so. Getting through customs took awhile, but they did off express walk off - if you don't turn your bags in the night before. Depending on what day you get in, Houston traffic is a BEAR. Allowing for the 90 minute "get there early rule" I personally would not book a return flight before 2:00. But thats just me.

Definitely agree. Houston traffic is very unpredictable. Plan for the worst.

 

[SailingSeas]

I've never been to the area, and thought "eh, 40 minutes to Hobby, how bad could it be?" I've got that Port Canaveral to MCO commute in my head, and Barcelona, and I don't know what made me ask about this, but i'm glad I did. OK, 2pm or later, it is. Now, to find a private car service...

 

[orion2185]

Definitely agree. Houston traffic is very unpredictable. Plan for the worst.

Houston traffic is unpredictable and can be a nightmare.

My mother lives in Houston
on a perfect day takes just over an 1 hour to get to IAH from her house.

But that's never happened. On average it takes about 2hour 45 min to be at the airport parked. Depends what airline your flying as well.


give yourself plenty of time


IAH (Bush International Airport) is also very unpredictable.
Security check lines can be extremely long and take 45min or longer to get through. Other times the airport manages everyone better...with multiple lines/xray machines and so forth
or, it could be one of those days they want everyone to go through the full body scan machines..and not the metal detectors. In which case...expect delays

But I guess the same can be said at any airport these days. It only takes a few people to forget to pull out their laptop or remove the water from their bags...then the next thing you know the line comes to a dead stop.