Departing from Indianapolis International Airport is straightforward: one terminal, the Colonel H. Weir Cook Terminal, with an upper-level departures curb, a central ticketing hall, and two concourses (A and B) reached through two TSA checkpoints on either side of the Civic Plaza. Follow the signs from I-70 Exit 68 and you cannot go far wrong.
If you want a smooth indianapolis airport departures run — check-in, bag drop, security, and gates — here is the guide.
Related IND guides: TSA PreCheck at Indianapolis Airport · IND TSA Security Wait Times & Tips · Airlines at Indianapolis Airport
Check-in and bag drop
Drivers dropping off passengers use the departures-level curb for active unloading, and many airlines offer curbside check-in there. Inside, the ticketing hall holds eight airline counter groups, roughly organized as: Allegiant and Sun Country at Counter 1, Delta at 2, Frontier at 3, American at 4, Air Canada and United at 5, Aer Lingus, Alaska, and Avelo at 6, and Southwest at 7. Counter assignments can change, so confirm your airline’s location on the flight information displays when you arrive. The airport recommends arriving two full hours before your departure.
Security checkpoints
Two TSA checkpoints sit on opposite sides of the Civic Plaza: Checkpoint A opens around 3:30 AM and Checkpoint B around 3:45 AM, and both run until the last flight of the day. After security, the Concourse Connector walkway links Concourse A and Concourse B airside, so you can reach any gate without being rescreened. For current wait estimates and screening tips, see our TSA wait times guide.
Finding your gate
Concourse A (gates A3–A25) generally serves Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Alaska, Avelo, Delta, Frontier, Sun Country, and United, while Concourse B (gates B3–B25) serves Allegiant, American, and Southwest. Airline assignments shift over time, so follow the departure boards rather than memory. Both concourses are wide, well-signed, and lined with dining and shops — and thanks to the airside connector, it does not matter much which checkpoint you clear.
Before you leave for the airport
Check your flight status with the airline, download your boarding pass, and review the TSA 3-1-1 liquids rule before you pack your carry-on. If you are driving, the terminal garage is the closest parking to the ticketing hall — see our Indianapolis airport parking guide for lots and rates. And if someone is dropping you off, have them use the departures curb only for active unloading.
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