Raleigh–Durham International Airport (RDU)

RDU has two passenger terminals. Terminal 1, on the airport's south side, primarily serves Southwest, Frontier, and Breeze and uses a single concourse lined with gates A1–A12. Terminal 2 sits to the north with Concourses C and D branching from a central atrium; Concourse D handles most widebody and international operations. The two buildings are linked landside by a covered pedestrian walkway and shuttle-friendly curb, and the walk between ticketing halls typically takes 6–8 minutes. Airside connections between the terminals are not available, so passengers changing terminals must exit and re-clear security. Security checkpoints sit just beyond ticketing in each terminal. Terminal 1 operates one checkpoint feeding directly into the A concourse; Terminal 2 has two parallel checkpoints with CLEAR and TSA PreCheck lanes that open into the central atrium before the C/D concourses. Wait times are generally 10–20 minutes on weekday mornings and lighter midday, but queues can stretch past 30 minutes during peak business travel periods and holiday mornings—particularly for Terminal 2. International arrivals use the Federal Inspection Services facility on the lower level of Terminal 2 near Concourse D, where passengers proceed through immigration kiosks, collect bags on the carousels behind customs, and re-clear security for domestic connections. Global Entry kiosks and APC machines help reduce processing times, though evening bank arrivals can still produce 30–45 minute lines. Bags through-checked on the same ticket can be dropped at the re-check counter just outside customs before heading back to the checkpoint. Amenities are concentrated in Terminal 2: the Delta Sky Club near Gate C3 overlooks the ramp, and the American Airlines Admirals Club sits between Gates C3 and C7. Dining includes Carolina favorites such as 42nd St. Oyster Bar (C), Raleigh Taproom (D), La Farm Bakery pre-security, and fast options like Starbucks in both terminals. Retail covers convenience shops, local souvenirs, and tech vending; free Wi‑Fi blankets both terminals and power outlets are integrated into most seating clusters. Accessibility features include curbside ramps, elevators, and wide automatic doors throughout both terminals, with wheelchair assistance requestable via airlines. Mothers' rooms are located near Gate A4 in Terminal 1 and between Gates C9 and D5 in Terminal 2, and family restrooms sit adjacent to most checkpoints and concourse restrooms. Indoor pet relief stations are positioned near Gates A1 and C9, with outdoor areas at each end of the arrivals curb.