Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or you are just quickly passing through, our Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit. Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.
There are practically no benches apart from a few of the oddly curved metal benches. – a guest reviewer
BHM Airport Overview
To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport.
What to Expect
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Airport (code: BHM) consists of a single terminal building with three new concourses (A, B and C) with 19 departure gates. The two-level landside terminal entrance features ticketing and check-in facilities on the upper level, with baggage claim and airport offices on the lower level. There are more than a dozen eateries and shops in the airport, almost all of which are airside near the gates. WiFi is available. There are no private lounges at this airport.
Sleeping in Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Airport
While staff are described as friendly, they apparently frown upon people sleeping on the floor. Seating options are described as all around uncomfortable for sleeping, though one traveller found a hidden nook of comfortable seating on the landside near the ticketing counters across from a door labeled “event room.” If you are stuck here due to a flight cancellation/delay, it is likely that you may be offered a hotel voucher. Check with your airline. For uninterrupted sleep, there are some hotels within a quick shuttle ride of the airport. See Airport Hotels below for more information or read some traveller airport reviews for more tips.
To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos. You can also visit the airport’s web site for current information. For more airport information continue scrolling down to explore more in our Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Airport Guide.
In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security. For more information on Europe’s Schengen Area, click here.
Airport Hotels
If sleeping in the airport sounds like a nightmare, there are hotels near Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Airport that provide free airport shuttles:
With Covid restrictions constantly changing, we recommend that you confirm shuttle availability prior to booking and/or prior to your arrival.
- Ramada Birmingham Airport » Check Rates
- Holiday Inn Birmingham Airport » Check Rates
- Quality Inn Airport – Southeast » Check Rates
For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels near Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Airport that can be sorted by price, distance, traveller rating and popularity.
Airport Lounges
There are no pay-per-use lounges in the airport.
Airport WiFi / Internet
Free WiFi is available at the airport, connect to “BHMFREEWIFI” network and start surfing.
More Services, Facilities & Things To Do On A Layover At The Airport
Accessibility
- Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDD) – Locations: lower level between baggage claim 1 & 2 and baggage claim 3 & 4.
- Translation Device – ELSA™ mobile translation devices are available at airport operations, information counter and Birmingham Airport Authority offices.
- Visual Paging for the Hearing Impaired -Passengers who are hearing impaired can be visually paged on the flight information display system. Request this service at the Information Desk located lower level in baggage claim 3 & 4.
Art in the Airport – There are a number of art exhibits located throughout the airport, check out “Earth Wind and Water: The Landscape of Alabama” a living plant wall located in Concourse B.
ATMs / Cash Machines – Need cash? ATMs are available. Fees may apply, so be sure to check your bank’s fee schedule and your daily withdrawal limit if you are travelling internationally. You may also want to notify your bank of your travel plans. Locations: Lower level of the terminal near baggage claim • Upper level in the rotundas for concourses A and B • Near the food courts for concourses B and C.
Baby Care Facilities – Nurse or feed your baby in privacy and comfort inside one of the airport’s Nursing Rooms. Each room is equipped with gliding chairs, electrical outlets, soft lights, and more. All airside restrooms have changing tables and children’s toilets.
Baggage Carts – Need a hand with your luggage? Baggage carts are available free of charge in the baggage claim area and curbside near terminal entrance. Rate: $5.00 per cart.
Children’s Area – There are 3 Kid Zones in the airport, 2nd Level near Gates, AA2, B2 and C5.
Duty Free and Shopping – Duty Free is not available at the airport. You will find a Hudson convenience/souvenir shop in each Concourse Area and Landside you can shop at Barber Motorsports (gifts, travel accessories and motorsport merchandise)
Food & Drinks – Food concessions throughout the airport operate on varying schedules. At the time of this update, there are no 24-hour dining options, so if you are stuck in the airport overnight you should purchase water and snacks before things shut down for the night. Food options include:
- Landside: Starbucks • The Local Rustic Market
- Conourse A: Birmingham Brewhouse (4:00AM-7:00PM, daily) • Starbucks (5:00AM – 5:00PM, daily)
- Concourse B: Jim’N Nick’s Bar-B-Q (10:30am – 7:00PM, daily)
- Concourse C: Talladega Grille (11:00AM – 7:00PM, daily)
- Food Courts: Chick-Fil-A (4:30AM – 5:00PM, daily) • The Great American Bagel • Starbucks.
Information Desk – Yes, located on the 1st Level beside Carousel 1 and 2.
Luggage Storage & Lockers – Not available.
Mobile Charging – Charging stations are available throughout the concourses in most of the airline gate areas.
Observation Deck – Relax and watch planes taking off and landing from the vantage point of the airport’s observation deck. Location: beside Gate B4 on the 2nd Level.
Pet Relief Area – Travelling with a 4 legged companion? The Airport has an area for pets to stretch their legs, drink water and take their potty breaks. Location: Lower Level, exit through door 4L.
Prayer Room – A Meditation Room is open on the Upper Level, close to Gate C1.
Rest Zones – There are no dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.
Sensory Room – A sensory room provides travellers with special needs a space to reduce anxiety before flight.
Showers – Not available.
SIM Cards – A reader has asked us to include where to buy SIM Cards. If you know, click here to update this airport guide.
Airport Hours
The airport is open 24 hours; however, the TSA security checkpoints are only open from 4:30AM until the last flight departure of the day. You are not permitted to stay inside the airside section of the airport when the TSA checkpoints are closed.
Airlines
Birmingham airport is served by the following airlines: American Airlines • Delta Air Lines • Southwest Airlines • United Airlines.
Airport Transportation: Getting To/From The Airport
Car Rentals
The following car rental agencies offer service onsite in the BHM Rental Car facility, located in Section 1B on the ground level of the parking deck: Alamo • Avis • Budget • Dollar • Enterprise • Hertz • National • Payless • Thrifty.
Hotel Shuttles
Several area hotels provide airport shuttle service: Ramada by Wyndham Birmingham Airport • Holiday Inn Birmingham-Airport, an IHG Hotel • Quality Inn Airport–Southeast.
See also Airport Hotels above.
Limousine and Shuttle Service
Several companies offer scheduled or on-demand shuttle service to and from BHM airport. Reservations are required in advance. Contact your service provider of choice for details or visit the Birmingham Airport website for a list of providers.
Shuttles
Shared-ride shuttles offer service to and from BHM, but usually need to be booked in advance. Contact your service provider of choice for details.
Taxi
Metered taxis are readily available 24 hours a day on the ground level outside of the baggage claim area.
Last updated: 2023-03-21
This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning. All information, including rates and hours, are subject to change at any time without notice. The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers and their web sites. We are not representatives of any of the above mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or write a review.
