Whether you’re flying into or out of John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH), the whole experience runs through one compact terminal with two levels: departures on the upper level, arrivals on the lower level. Three concourses (A, B, C) handle all flights, each with its own security checkpoint. Here’s how arrivals and departures work, where to go for pickup and drop-off, and tips to move through CMH with confidence.
Arriving at CMH
Your arrival flow is straightforward: deplane into your concourse, follow the signs to the terminal, and take the escalators or elevators down to baggage claim on the lower (arrivals) level. Checked bags arrive on the carousels there — flight information screens show which carousel serves your flight.
Once you have your bags, you’re steps from everything: the ground transportation area is just outside the building on the arrivals level, with taxis, Uber/Lyft pickup zones, the rental car shuttle, and COTA bus stops. Drivers picking you up meet you at the arrivals curb — or wait free in a cell phone lot until you call. Our CMH baggage claim guide covers the carousels, services on the level, and what to do if a bag goes missing.
Departing from CMH
Departures work in reverse, all on the upper level:
- Arrive at the terminal. Drivers drop you at the departures curb outside the upper level; parkers walk in from the garage via covered walkways or ride the shuttle from the Red or Green lots. Aim to arrive 2 hours before a domestic flight.
- Check in. Ticketing desks sit in the central area of the upper level, along with self-service kiosks, a small selection of cafes and shops, ATMs, and an information desk.
- Clear security at your concourse’s checkpoint. Each concourse (A, B, C) has its own TSA checkpoint — make sure you enter the right one for your airline, because the concourses are not connected past security and you’d have to exit and reclear to switch. Checkpoints are reported open 4:00 AM–8:30 PM, with TSA PreCheck and CLEAR lanes at all three.
- Walk to your gate. CMH’s concourses are short: roughly 1–3 minutes of walking in Concourses A and B, 2–5 minutes in Concourse C.
Know Your Concourse Before You Go
CMH’s airlines are generally grouped by concourse (assignments can shift, so confirm on your boarding pass and the departure boards):
- Concourse A (south end, gates A2–A6) — Southwest Airlines.
- Concourse B (gates B19–B36) — American Airlines and United Airlines; also home to the airport’s only standard passenger lounge, the Escape Lounge near gate B32.
- Concourse C (north end, gates C46–C56) — Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Breeze Airways, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Sun Country, and Viva Aerobus. International arrivals are processed through Concourse C’s customs facility.
Heading to a specific gate? Our CMH terminal guide breaks down the gates, airlines, and layout in more detail.
Pickup and Drop-Off Basics
Drop-offs happen curbside on the upper (departures) level — pull up, say a quick goodbye while staying with your car, and your traveler walks straight into ticketing. Pickups happen on the lower (arrivals) level: drivers should wait in one of the two free cell phone waiting lots (the newest sits between the air traffic control tower and the terminal) and drive to the curb when their traveler has bags in hand. Everything — curb rules, lot locations, taxi and rideshare zones — is covered in our CMH pick-up and drop-off guide.
Flight Tips for a Smooth CMH Experience
- Watch the boards, not just your boarding pass. Gate assignments at CMH can change — confirm on the departure screens after security.
- Use the right checkpoint the first time. With no airside connection between concourses, the wrong checkpoint costs you a full exit-and-reclear.
- Eat before or after security strategically. Pre-security options are limited (Charleys Cheesesteaks, Hangar 815, Starbucks); post-security you’ll find Bob Evans Express, BrewDog, Donatos Pizza, Starbucks, Vino Volo, and Jeni’s ice cream vending machines — but many outlets keep limited hours, so check ahead for early-morning or late-night flights.
- Connect to “CMH Public Wi-Fi.” Free throughout the terminal and concourses, with power outlets available across the terminal.
- Driving yourself? Compare garage vs. economy lot rates, then follow the parking-to-gate route. Prefer not to drive? See ground transportation options instead.
Keep planning: CMH lost & found guide · Columbus airport food & restaurants guide · Columbus Airport Guide for every CMH guide in one place
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