IAH connection from international
 

In a couple of weeks I will be arriving at IAH from Qatar on QR and have 1 hour 20 minutes to connect to a UA flight to SNA. I do have Global Entry.

Any advice for making this connection? Maybe I will get lucky and my departure will be in Terminal E, but I saw a YouTube video about taking the rail line between terminals. It looks like this is doable if Global Entry is quick. I will be arriving in business class and departing in first class, if that matters. Carry-on only.

Follow signs for connections, ride the elevator up and get back through security after customs exit at Terminal E. Going through security will be the most time-consuming part with the whole connection.

If your flight departs from any E gate or C43-45, walk. If it's C14-27, take the TerminaLink train. If it's C29-42, it's a wash between walking and taking the train.

Thanks rk. Should I expect to see a Premier Line at that security checkpoint?

That I have no first hand experience. Supposed to have one, but you may want to search on Flyertalk or Milepoint to double check.

When we came back from Costa Rica, connecting through IAH last summer, there wasn't a Premier Line at the security check point. I don't know what criteria they use to open the Premier Line, but it isn't open all the time.

There was a premier line and it may have helped. I did not see how to use the train so I took one of the aiport buggies.

It was about 40 minutes after arrival when I got to my departure gate, C36, at almost exactly at departure time - which means of course that I missed the flight.

The QR flight was 40 minutes late but I probably would have still been SOL if it had arrived on time. Would have been showing up at the gate 40 min before departure without a bp or being checked in.