Ruth Haines
At some airports, terminals are connected airside, while others are not. For example, at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), there is a secure connector between Terminal 2 and part of Terminal 1, allowing passengers to transit without additional security checks. However, at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), travellers have reported being unable to switch terminals, particularly for lounge access. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) offers a two-mile pedestrian path connecting Terminal 1 to Terminal 8, enabling easy access to various amenities. Understanding the layout and connectivity of airport terminals can enhance the travel experience, especially when utilising lounges or connecting flights.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Are Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 connected airside? | It depends on the airport. At LAX, Terminals 1 and 2 are not connected airside. However, at SFO, there is a secure connector between the two terminals, but it only connects the D gates in Terminal 2 with the C gates in Terminal 1. |
| Are there airports where terminals are connected airside? | Yes, some airports such as LAX, SFO, DFW, CLT, MIA, SEA, and PHX have terminals that are connected airside. |
| Can passengers move between terminals airside? | It depends on the airport and the specific circumstances. Some airports, like JFK, may allow passengers to go through security at a different terminal, but it might not be worth the hassle. At SFO, passengers can move between terminals airside, but it is recommended to have enough time to clear TSA twice. |
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What You'll Learn
LAX Terminals 1 and 3 are not connected airside
LAX has nine separate terminals, including Terminals 1–8, as well as the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT). Each terminal has its own security checkpoint. In the past, there were limited options for transferring between some terminals without taking a bus or exiting security. However, there have been significant improvements, including the opening of airside walkways between terminals.
Terminals 4, 5, and 6 are connected by underground tunnels, while Terminals 6, 7, and 8 are connected by above-ground tunnels. Terminal 4 is connected to International Terminal B via an airside connector bridge with moving sidewalks on level 4. Terminal 5 is connected to Terminals 4 and 6 via underground airside walkways. Terminal 6 connects with Terminal 7 via an above-ground airside walkway and with Terminal 5 via an underground airside walkway.
Following the completion of modernisation projects at LAX in 2023, ticketed passengers and airport employees gained unimpeded pedestrian access across the airport's terminals post-security. As a result, passengers can now conveniently walk from Terminal 1 to Terminal 8 while remaining inside the secure area. However, it is important to note that it can take a significant amount of time to walk between terminals, especially those that are farther apart.
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You can enter any terminal with a same-day boarding pass
If you have a same-day boarding pass, you can enter any terminal at the airport, even if your flight is departing from a different terminal. However, it is important to note that this may vary depending on the airport and the TSA officer on duty. While some airports, such as Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), have terminals that are connected airside, allowing passengers to walk between them without needing to go through security again, other airports may require transferring between terminals.
At LAX, Terminals 1 and 3 are connected inside and outside the secure area, so passengers walking between these terminals do not need to reclear security unless they need to collect checked luggage. Terminal 4 is connected to the International Terminal B via an airside connector bridge, and Terminal 5 is connected to Terminals 4 and 6 via underground airside walkways. Terminal 6 connects to Terminal 7 via an above-ground airside walkway, and passengers can continue airside from these terminals to Terminals 8, 5, 4, and B without re-clearing security. Additionally, there is a frequent courtesy shuttle service between terminals for flight connections.
At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), once you clear security, you can access almost the entire airport via the underground train. Each terminal has different types of restaurants, and passengers can access them without any issues.
At General Mitchell International Airport (MKE), you can access any concourse with a boarding pass and valid ID as long as your flight has not departed.
However, some airports, such as John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), have conflicting information regarding the ability to transfer between terminals. While some travellers have been allowed to enter another terminal with a valid boarding pass, others have been refused, even with a same-day boarding pass. Similar experiences have been reported at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), where there are no airside connections between terminals, and Orlando International Airport (MCO), where passengers have been turned away when trying to access restaurants in other concourses.
It is always a good idea to check with the airport or your airline beforehand to understand the specific terminal transfer policies and layout of the airport to ensure a smooth journey.
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LAX Terminals 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and B are connected airside
To connect from American Airlines in Terminal 4 to any other airline in Terminals 5 or 6, passengers can head to Gate 44 and go down the first escalator. To get to Terminal 5, take the escalator up. To continue to Terminal 6, head to the left and follow the signs until you reach an escalator leading up to Terminal 6.
Passengers can also access Terminals B, 3, or 1 from Terminal 4 via airside connectors. From Terminal 6, passengers can access Terminal 7 via an above-ground airside walkway and Terminal 5 via an underground airside walkway. Terminal 7 is connected to Terminal 8 via an above-ground walkway, and passengers can continue airside to Terminals 5, 4, and B without reclearing security.
In addition to the airside walkways and tunnels, LAX also offers a frequent courtesy shuttle service between terminals for passengers needing to make airline connections. The LAX-it landside shuttle bus runs on a loop every few minutes and stops at all terminals.
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Some airports have terminals connected airside, some do not
At some airports, terminals are connected airside, while at others, they are not. The landside-airside boundary is a defining aspect of terminal architecture. Landside functions like ticketing and check-in are relatively stable, while the airside is subject to rapid technological and operational changes.
Some airports, like Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), have terminals connected airside. Terminals 4 and 6 at LAX, for example, are connected by an airside connector bridge with moving sidewalks on level 4. Terminal 5 is also connected to terminals 4 and 6 via underground airside walkways. Terminal 6 connects to terminal 7 via an above-ground airside walkway, and passengers can continue airside to terminals 8, 5, 4, and B without having to go through security again.
On the other hand, some airports have terminals that are not connected airside. For instance, at JFK airport, a user reported being unable to switch terminals to use the AmEx Centurion Lounge because they were not flying through Terminal 4. Similarly, at LAX, while some terminals like T4, T5, T6, T7, and T8 are connected via underground walkways, terminals T1, T2, and T3 are not connected to these.
It is important to note that some airports, like ORD, have a mix of connected and non-connected terminals airside. Additionally, while it is common for security personnel to inform passengers that they cannot enter a terminal that isn't their departure terminal, this may not always be the case. At some airports, like JFK and SFO, passengers can go through security at a terminal other than their departure terminal, and some terminals may have airside connections through shuttles.
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At SFO, Terminals 1 and 2 are connected pre-security
At San Francisco International Airport (SFO), passengers can enter through any checkpoint at any terminal, as long as they have a valid boarding pass for the same day of travel. This means that at SFO, Terminals 1 and 2 are connected pre-security. Once a passenger has passed through security at any terminal, they can walk to all the gates. However, it is important to note that arriving international passengers who are connecting to onward flights must go through the federal inspection process and exit and re-enter security, unless their international flight has been pre-cleared.
In addition to SFO, some other airports also allow travellers to go through security at a terminal other than the one they are flying out of. For example, at JFK airport, a passenger recently cleared TSA at Terminal 4 with a Terminal 2 boarding pass. However, it is not always possible to switch terminals at JFK, and some travellers have been told by TSA agents that they cannot enter a terminal that isn't their departure terminal.
At some airports, such as ORD, some terminals are connected airside, while others are not. This means that it is possible to go between certain terminals without having to go through security again, but not between all terminals within the same airport.
At SFO, there is a secure connector between Terminal 2 and part of Terminal 1 that allows passengers to move between the two terminals without going through security again. Specifically, this connector links the D gates in Terminal 2 with the C gates in Terminal 1 (formerly known as gates 40-48). To access the B gates in Terminal 1 (formerly gates 20-39), passengers would need to go through security again.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3 at LAX are not connected to the other terminals. However, you can walk between the terminals outside of the secure area.
Yes, there is a secure connector between Terminal 2 and part of Terminal 1 at SFO that allows you to walk between the terminals without going through security again.
No, you cannot switch terminals within JFK.
