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PHX Phoenix layover guide

A layover at PHX.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

Lounges, security and customs waits, and what a connection at PHX actually involves. LYVR plans the whole layover, with real walk times on the indoor map.

Updated October 2026 · Sources

7lounges at PHX, with what gets you in
2open to Priority Pass or DragonPass members
Livesecurity wait times in the app
CBP datacustoms and border queues in the app
PHXConnections

Connecting
at PHX.

Yes, if you're arriving from another country. Every international arrival at PHX clears passport control and customs, collects and rechecks checked bags, and goes back through TSA security before a connecting flight, even a domestic one. The exception is a flight that was precleared before departure, such as from Canada, Ireland or Abu Dhabi. Domestic-to-domestic connections stay airside.

Wait times

The lines at PHX, before you're in them.

Open the Airports tab in LYVR and pick PHX.

Security · Live

Security lines

LYVR shows live security wait times for each checkpoint, grouped by terminal, refreshed every couple of minutes.

Border · CBP data

Customs and border

LYVR shows the average customs wait for the current hour over the latest week, for US citizens and visitors, from US Customs and Border Protection's own data. LYVR only shows the checks your connection actually crosses.

In your plan

Counted in your time to spare

Every checkpoint on your connection becomes a step in the layover plan, so the time to spare already allows for the lines.

Lounges

7 lounges at PHX.

2 open with a credit card, 2 with Priority Pass or DragonPass, 3 with airline elite status. Rules and hours change, so check with the lounge before you go.

Terminal 3

Delta Sky Club

Airline status
SkyTeam Elite Plus
Terminal 3

United Club

Airline status
United Airlines Premier Gold and up (international flights)Star Alliance Gold
Terminal 4

American Admirals Club

Airline status
American Airlines Platinum and up (international flights)oneworld Sapphire (long-haul international flights)
Terminal 4

The Centurion Lounge

Credit cards
Amex Platinum CardAmex Business Platinum CardAmex Centurion CardAmex Delta SkyMiles Reserve (Delta flights)
Terminal 4 (near Gate D11)

Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club

Credit cards
Chase Sapphire ReserveChase Sapphire Reserve for BusinessChase J.P. Morgan ReserveChase Ritz-Carlton Card
Terminal 4, Concourse B, across from Gate B22

Escape Lounge PHX Terminal 4

Memberships
Priority Pass
Day pass / waitlist →
Plan it in LYVR

Your PHX layover, planned to the minute.

Save your flights and LYVR finds the connection at PHX on its own, then times every part of it.

Time to spare

Every minute, accounted for.

Deplaning, every walk on the indoor map, the checkpoints your connection passes and when the doors close. What's left is yours to plan.

A LYVR layover plan: deplane, re-clear security with a live wait, free time with Ask AI, the train between terminals, then board
Lounge access

Lounges you can actually get into.

Add your cards and memberships once. Every lounge at PHX shows whether you're in.

A LYVR lounge list with The Centurion Lounge marked eligible with Platinum Card
Turn-by-turn, indoors

Directions that know which floor you're on.

Around walls, up escalators, onto the train between terminals and through security on the way.

Turn-by-turn directions inside a terminal: stay on the train, get off at the next terminal
Long layovers

Time to see Phoenix?

Getting out, the ride each way, security on the way back and a cushion, checked against your passport. Then a day, planned.

Leaving the airport on a layover: hours in the city, rated worth it
Layover questions

PHX, answered.

Do I have to go through security again on a connection at PHX?

Yes, if you're arriving from another country. Every international arrival at PHX clears passport control and customs, collects and rechecks checked bags, and goes back through TSA security before a connecting flight, even a domestic one. The exception is a flight that was precleared before departure, such as from Canada, Ireland or Abu Dhabi. Domestic-to-domestic connections stay airside.

Can I check the security wait time at PHX?

LYVR shows live security wait times for each checkpoint, grouped by terminal, refreshed every couple of minutes.

How long is the customs or passport line at PHX?

LYVR shows the average customs wait for the current hour over the latest week, for US citizens and visitors, from US Customs and Border Protection's own data.

Which lounges at PHX can I use on a layover?

LYVR lists 7 lounges at PHX, 2 of them on Priority Pass. Which ones you can get into depends on your ticket, airline status, credit card or a lounge membership. Each lounge on this page lists what gets you in, and LYVR checks it against your own profile.

Which credit cards get me into a lounge at PHX?

Amex Platinum Card: The Centurion Lounge; Amex Business Platinum Card: The Centurion Lounge; Amex Centurion Card: The Centurion Lounge; Amex Delta SkyMiles Reserve: The Centurion Lounge; Chase Sapphire Reserve: Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club; Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business: Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club; Chase J.P. Morgan Reserve: Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club; Chase Ritz-Carlton Card: Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club. Card benefits change, so check your card's terms before you go.

Does airline status get me into a lounge at PHX?

Yes, at 3 lounges: Delta Sky Club (SkyTeam Elite Plus); United Club (United Airlines Premier Gold and up (international flights), Star Alliance Gold); American Admirals Club (American Airlines Platinum and up (international flights), oneworld Sapphire (long-haul international flights)). Status entry needs a same-day departing flight on that airline or its alliance, and some tiers only count on international flights.

How much time do I need for a layover at PHX?

It depends on your terminals, whether you re-clear security or customs, and how far the gates are apart. LYVR adds up deplaning, every walk on the indoor map, any checkpoints your connection passes and the boarding door time, then shows exactly how much time you have to spare.

Is a 1 hour layover enough at PHX?

For a domestic connection on one ticket, usually yes. Arriving at PHX from another country, no: you clear passport control and customs, collect and recheck checked bags and go back through TSA security, so plan on 2.5 to 3 hours, unless your flight was precleared before departure. If a delay makes you miss a connection on one ticket, the airline rebooks you. LYVR works out your exact time to spare for your own two gates.

What is there to do on a layover at PHX?

With an hour or two, eat near your gate and walk the terminal. With more, PHX's 7 lounges (2 on Priority Pass) have quiet seats, food and often showers. LYVR's Explore tab lists every restaurant, bar and shop near your gate with the walk time, so you only see what fits in your layover.

Can I leave the airport on a layover at PHX?

Yes, if you have time. Arriving from abroad, you've already cleared US immigration and customs at PHX, so leaving only adds the trip into Phoenix and back and TSA security on the return. As a rule of thumb, it's worth it with about 4 hours on a domestic layover and 6 on an international one. LYVR checks the ride each way and how much time you'd really have in Phoenix.

Got a layover
at PHX?

Free, in your browser. LYVR finds the layover, times every walk and fills the gap.

Plan my layover →

Sources

Lounges from Priority Pass's and DragonPass's directories, the card networks' lounge lists (American Express, Capital One, Chase, Mastercard), each operator's own booking or waitlist page, and the Wikivoyage article on Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (CC BY-SA). Who gets in is worked out with the same rules the LYVR app uses for your saved cards, memberships and airline status. Wait times come from the airport's or TSA's own data, US Customs and Border Protection. Terminal times are LYVR's curated estimates. Compiled October 2026; details change, so confirm with the airport, airline or lounge before you travel. LYVR isn't affiliated with Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.