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IAHUnited StatesTPL: fare-hacker-playbook

George Bush Intercontinental Airport

Houston, United States

Drop-off

Downtown Houston (George R. Brown Convention Center area)

Pin before customs

Fastest

METRO 500 IAH Downtown Direct

bus · 30m

Data

Nov 28

Audit

Quick verdict

Fastest into town

Service
METRO 500 IAH Downtown Direct
bus
Headway
30
Backup
METRO 102 Bush IAH Express · 15-30m

Note

Non-stop bus between IAH Terminal C (baggage claim level, west curb, door C-104) and the George R. Brown Convention Center in Downtown Houston, adjacent to the Convention District METRORail Green and Purple lines. Operates daily roughly 5:30 a.m.–8:00 p.m. with buses every 30 minutes; standard local METRO tickets and passes are accepted and buses have luggage space and Wi‑Fi.

Budget focus

Houston: Fare Hacker Playbook

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Cheapest viable route

Brief

Usually slower but dramatically cheaper than the flagship airport express.

Service
METRO 102 Bush IAH Express
Mode
bus
Freq
15-30m
Note
Local/express bus linking IAH (Terminal C, baggage claim level, south side METRO stop) with Downtown Houston via the Greenspoint area and I‑45, terminating at a downtown transit center with connections to METRORail and other local routes. Typical headways are around every 15 minutes in weekday peaks and up to about every 30 minutes off‑peak; journey time is about 50–90 minutes depending on traffic.

Passes and bundles

Brief

Look for day passes that include the airport zone plus metro, tram, or ferry transfers. Load value online to avoid kiosk surcharges.

When to splurge

Brief

Worth the premium when you have back-to-back meetings or tight onward connections downtown.

Service
METRORail Green & Purple Lines (via GRB from Route 500)
Mode
metro
Freq
6-15m
Note
From the George R. Brown Convention Center stop of Route 500, walk to Convention District Station to board the Green or Purple METRORail lines, which cross central Downtown Houston including Main Street Square and Theater District. Trains generally run every 6–12 minutes in daytime and around every 12–15 minutes evenings, providing fast distribution across downtown from the airport bus terminus.
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FAQs

KB
01Can I tap with a foreign bank card?
A
Most systems now support open-loop contactless. Keep a backup paper ticket when traveling with a group to avoid tapping each person manually.
02Any luggage fees?
A
Buses rarely charge extra, but airport expresses may require storing big bags in designated racks.