Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) – Terminal Guide & Travel Tips

Raleigh–Durham, United States · RDU · North America

Terminal Guide

TerminalAirlinesNotes
Terminal 1Southwest,Spirit,Frontier,Allegiant
Terminal 2American,Delta,United,Alaska,British Airways,Air France,Lufthansa

Lounge Directory

LoungeLocationAccess
American Admirals ClubAdmirals Club membership, Citi AAdvantage Executive card
Delta Sky ClubDelta Sky Club membership, Amex Platinum/Reserve (limited visits)
United ClubUnited Club membership, United MileagePlus Club card

Pro Tips

  • RDU is often praised for its manageable size — security lines and connections are generally faster than larger nearby airports.
  • Direct flights to London Heathrow (British Airways) and Paris (Air France) are ideal for Triangle tech workers doing European business.
  • Research Triangle traffic is growing fast — afternoon rushes on I-40 and I-540 near the airport have lengthened considerably.
  • Terminal 2 has significantly better food and lounge options than Terminal 1 — check in advance which terminal you'll use.
  • Long-term parking in the economy lots is very reasonably priced by major airport standards.
  • RDU is equidistant between Raleigh and Durham (~15 miles each) — plan your ground transportation accordingly.
  • Peak travel times are Sunday evenings and Monday mornings (business travelers) and Friday afternoons.

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