How early should I get to BUR?
Hollywood Burbank Airport, Burbank, CA · Checked Oct 26, 2026
The short answer
BUR recommends arriving at least 1 hour before your flight. During peak holiday travel times, it says the airlines recommend at least 2 hours.
Those are blanket rules. Your real number depends on your terminal, the time of day, traffic from your door, and whether you have PreCheck or a bag. Leave By works out your exact leave time.
Source: hollywoodburbankairport.com
Security lines at BUR
BUR does not publish typical peak times. In TSA's hourly screening counts for Sep 13-19, 2026 (before the move to the new terminal), BUR was busiest from 5am to 7am, peaking 6-7am. There was a second rise from 9am to 1pm, peaking 11am-noon. Traffic was much lighter after 7pm, with very little screening after 9pm. Friday and Thursday were the busiest days that week, followed by Sunday and Monday; Tuesday and Saturday were the quietest.
Busiest times: 5:00-7:00am (peak 6:00-7:00am), 9:00am-1:00pm (peak 11:00am-12:00pm), Fridays and Thursdays, then Sundays and Mondays (TSA counts, week of Sep 13, 2026).
Nationally, TSA checkpoints are busiest from 5 to 7 AM local time. See TSA's hourly numbers and the busiest days to fly.
TSA PreCheck: TSA PreCheck is not mentioned on BUR's own pages or in the opening coverage of the new terminal that this research found. This research could not confirm how many PreCheck lanes the new checkpoint has or their hours.
Touchless ID: BUR is not on Southwest's list of TSA PreCheck Touchless ID airports, and it was not in The Points Guy's May 2026 table of Touchless ID airports. This research found no Touchless ID at BUR.
Terminals and checkpoints
Passenger Terminal (opened October 13, 2026)
Alaska, Allegiant, American, Breeze, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United
- All airlines share one ticketing hall, one TSA checkpoint and one indoor baggage claim
- The terminal replaced the old Terminals A and B on October 13, 2026. It is on the opposite side of the airfield from the old building.
- You still board and leave the plane outdoors, not through jet bridges
- Ticket counters do not accept cash
Between terminals: BUR now has one terminal with 14 gates and one security checkpoint, so every gate is reached from the same checkpoint.
Terminals are connected after security, so you can walk between them without re-screening.
Getting to BUR
Rideshare and taxi: BUR says rideshare pickup and drop-off are just steps from the new terminal. Pickup is at the ground transportation island in front of the main entrance of the parking structure. No waiting is allowed at the terminal curb.
Transit: Metrolink Burbank Airport-North station (Antelope Valley Line, 3600 N. San Fernando Blvd.) is about half a mile from the new terminal; walk via Cohasset Street or call the free on-demand shuttle at 818-729-2245. Metrolink Burbank Airport-South station (Ventura County Line, 3750 W. Empire Ave.) is also served by Amtrak; cross Empire Avenue to the Regional Intermodal Transportation Center (RITC) and take the free airport shuttle from its ground-floor bus area. Metrolink lists both shuttles as running 4:45am-1am. Metro Bus and BurbankBus (weekdays only) stop at the RITC.
Driving and parking: The main entrance is now at Winona Avenue and Hollywood Way, not the old entrance off Thornton Avenue. Rates: Terminal Garage self-park $9 for the first hour, $5 per extra 30 minutes, $49/day; valet in the Terminal Garage $59/day; Lot F $28/day and Lot G $24/day, with shuttles to and from both. Lot E has closed permanently. Parking pre-booking is not available while BUR changes parking operators, but BUR says drive-up parking is always available. All lots are open 24 hours, with a 30-day maximum stay.
Construction and changes in 2026
- The replacement terminal opened October 13, 2026, with a new main entrance at Winona Avenue and Hollywood Way. The old terminal is to be demolished; AirlineGeeks reports demolition is expected in 2027.
Checking a bag
Southwest: check bags at least 45 minutes before a domestic flight's scheduled departure, and check in at least 30 minutes before. Alaska: check in at least 50 minutes before a domestic flight; American and United: check in and check bags 45 minutes before most domestic flights (AP, May 2025). Delta: bags 45 minutes before domestic departure, check-in 30 minutes without bags. Allegiant: check in at least 45 minutes before departure; bags must be checked 1 hour before.
BUR tips first-timers miss
- The new terminal opened October 13, 2026. Use the new main entrance at Winona Avenue and Hollywood Way, not the old Thornton Avenue entrance.
- All airlines now share one ticketing hall and one TSA checkpoint, so there is no terminal to pick
- Early mornings are the crunch. In TSA's counts for mid-September 2026, screening peaked 6-7am, and Fridays and Thursdays were the busiest days.
- Parking pre-booking is paused while BUR changes parking operators. Drive-up parking is available in all lots, and Lot E has closed.
- Coming by Metrolink's Antelope Valley Line? Burbank Airport-North station is about half a mile from the terminal, or call 818-729-2245 for the free shuttle.
Leaving for BUR?
Pick your flight and where you're starting. Leave By checks live traffic, security lines and your terminal, and tells you the minute to walk out the door.
Free. No account.
Questions travelers ask
How early should I get to Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR)?
BUR recommends at least 1 hour before your flight, and at least 2 hours during peak holiday travel. Security is busiest from 5am to 7am.
Which terminal is my airline at BUR?
BUR has one terminal since October 13, 2026. All eight airlines use the same ticketing hall and TSA checkpoint.
Where is the entrance to the new Burbank terminal?
The main entrance is at Winona Avenue and Hollywood Way. It moved there from the old entrance off Thornton Avenue when the new terminal opened.
Can I take the train to Burbank airport?
Yes. Metrolink's Burbank Airport-North station is about half a mile from the terminal, with a free on-demand shuttle. Metrolink and Amtrak trains also stop at Burbank Airport-South, which has a free shuttle from the RITC across Empire Avenue.
Does BUR have TSA PreCheck and CLEAR?
This research could not confirm PreCheck lanes or CLEAR at the new checkpoint. BUR's site does not list either.
Sources
- BUR - FAQ (arrival advice, one terminal, airlines, curb, trains)
- BUR - Airlines
- BUR - New terminal opening press release (Oct 13, 2026)
- BUR - Parking (pre-booking paused, hours, max stay)
- BUR - Short-Term Parking (Terminal Garage rates)
- BUR - Long-Term Parking (Lots F and G)
- BUR - Valet Parking
- BUR - Ridesharing
- BUR - Buses & Trains
- BUR - General Services (cashless ticket counters)
- BUR - December 2025 passenger statistics (2024 total of 6.5 million)
- Elevate BUR - Replacement terminal project
- Metrolink - Burbank Airport-North station (new terminal connection)
- Metrolink - Burbank Airport-South station (RITC shuttle)
- Amtrak - Burbank (Hollywood Burbank Airport) station
- Alaska Airlines - Step inside Hollywood Burbank Airport's new terminal (Oct 13, 2026)
- NBC Los Angeles - New Hollywood Burbank Airport terminal opens (Oct 13, 2026)
- Spectrum News - Hollywood Burbank Airport opens terminal (Oct 13, 2026)
- Airways - Hollywood Burbank new terminal opens (Oct 14, 2026)
- AirlineGeeks - Hollywood Burbank opens new terminal (Oct 14, 2026)
- Southwest - TSA PreCheck Touchless ID (participating airports)
- The Points Guy - TSA PreCheck Touchless ID airports (May 2026)
- Southwest - When to arrive for your flight (check-in and bag deadlines)
- Delta - Check-In Times at U.S. Airports
- Allegiant - Travel advisory (check-in and bag deadlines)
- AP via MyNorthwest - United narrows check-in window; airline comparison (May 27, 2025)
- TSA throughput data, September 13-19, 2026
Airport conditions change. Always follow your airline's check-in and bag-drop deadlines.