Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is a busy, growing international airport that serves over 35 million passengers per year. For first-time visitors — or even experienced travelers who haven’t been through recently — navigating FLL’s terminal structure, figuring out where to collect luggage, and finding your ground transportation can be more confusing than expected.
This guide covers everything you need to know about FLL’s terminal layout, including where each airline operates, where baggage claim is located in each terminal, exactly where to meet a private shuttle driver, and tips for making your arrival or departure as smooth as possible.
FLL’s Terminal Structure: Four Terminals, One Airport
Fort Lauderdale Airport is divided into four main terminals: Terminal 1 (T1), Terminal 2 (T2), Terminal 3 (T3), and Terminal 4 (T4). Each terminal has its own check-in area, security checkpoint, gates, and baggage claim — and they’re connected landside (before security) but not airside (after security). If you’re connecting through FLL, make sure you know which terminal your departure gate is in.
The terminals are arranged roughly in a row along the airport’s south side, facing the terminal access road. Shuttle buses connect the terminals, but walking between adjacent terminals on the departures level is possible in about 10 minutes.
Which Airlines Fly from Which FLL Terminal?
Terminal assignments can shift seasonally, but here’s the standard layout as of 2026:
- Terminal 1: United Airlines, Copa Airlines, WestJet, Avianca, and select international carriers
- Terminal 2: Spirit Airlines (Spirit’s primary FLL hub), JetBlue Airways
- Terminal 3: American Airlines (domestic and international), Bahamasair
- Terminal 4: Southwest Airlines (largest single terminal at FLL), Delta Air Lines, Sun Country
Always verify your terminal on your boarding pass or through your airline’s app before arriving at the airport — assignments do occasionally change for seasonal operations or construction.
Pro Tip
When you book with Fort Lauderdale Airport Shuttle, tell us your airline and flight number — we’ll confirm your terminal based on real-time airline information so your driver positions correctly without any confusion.
Baggage Claim: What Level and Where?
At FLL, baggage claim is located on the Ground Level (Level 1) of each terminal building. After landing, you’ll take an elevator or escalator down from the gate level to Level 1 where the baggage carousels are located. Signage inside the terminal will direct you to the correct carousel based on your flight number — these are typically posted on overhead displays as you descend.
Ground transportation — including shuttles, taxis, and rideshare pickup areas — is located just outside the baggage claim exits on Level 1. Look for the “Ground Transportation” signs as you exit through the doors.
Where to Find Your Private Shuttle Driver at FLL
This is where first-time FLL arrivals often experience confusion. There are two options depending on what you’ve booked:
Standard Curbside Pickup
With standard pickup (no Meet & Greet), your Fort Lauderdale Airport Shuttle driver will be positioned in the designated private transportation pickup area on Level 1 outside baggage claim. The night before your arrival, you’ll receive a text with your driver’s name, cell number, and vehicle description. When you’ve collected your bags, text your driver and they’ll pull forward to your terminal’s pickup zone to meet you.
This process is straightforward and works smoothly for travelers familiar with FLL who can navigate from baggage claim to curbside without difficulty.
Meet & Greet Inside the Terminal
With the Meet & Greet upgrade ($40 per booking), your driver enters the terminal and waits at the baggage claim area with a sign bearing your name. For domestic arrivals, this is the carousel level in the main terminal hall. For international arrivals at Terminal 4, your driver waits near the U.S. Customs exit doors.
Meet & Greet is strongly recommended for: first-time FLL visitors, international arrivals navigating customs for the first time, families with young children and strollers, travelers with heavy luggage needing assistance, and VIP or executive arrivals.
The Rideshare Pickup Area at FLL: What You Should Know
FLL’s rideshare pickup area is located on Level 2 of the Consolidated Rental Car Facility (CONRAC), accessed via a free inter-terminal shuttle bus from each terminal. This is a deliberate design to reduce ground-level congestion — but it also means that when you request an Uber or Lyft at FLL, you have to walk or shuttle to a specific building that’s not adjacent to the terminal exits.
For first-time visitors, this is a common point of confusion. Many travelers exit baggage claim, open their rideshare app, and then realize they need to take a shuttle bus to a separate building to actually meet their driver. The process adds 10–15 minutes of transit time that’s not reflected in the app’s estimated arrival window.
Private shuttle pickups, by contrast, happen at the terminal curbside directly outside baggage claim — a much more straightforward process, especially with luggage.
Terminal-by-Terminal Tips for FLL Arrivals
Terminal 1
Terminal 1 is FLL’s international gateway for several South American carriers. International arrivals process through U.S. Customs on the ground floor — once you exit Customs, you’re at the baggage claim level and can proceed directly to curbside ground transportation. Allow extra time after international flights for the customs process (30–90 minutes depending on load).
Terminal 2
Home to Spirit and JetBlue, Terminal 2 handles a high volume of budget travelers. Baggage claim here can get congested during high-traffic periods. The curbside pickup area directly outside Terminal 2 is typically less congested than Terminal 4 and has better vehicle flow.
Terminal 3
American Airlines’ primary FLL terminal, including international Customs processing for AA international flights. The baggage claim area is spacious and well-signed. Ground transportation pickup is located directly outside the exit doors on Level 1.
Terminal 4
The largest and busiest terminal at FLL, handling Southwest (the airport’s largest carrier) and Delta. Terminal 4 has the highest passenger volume during peak hours and can be the most congested for ground transportation. If you’re landing at Terminal 4 during rush hour or on a Friday afternoon, expect some delays in vehicle flow — your driver will communicate their exact position when you’re ready at curbside.
Lost Items at FLL Airport
If you’ve lost an item at Fort Lauderdale Airport, here’s how to handle it based on where you lost it:
- Lost on the aircraft or in checked baggage: Contact your airline directly — they handle all items lost on the plane or in the checked baggage process
- Lost in the terminal (concourse, restroom, food area): Contact FLL’s Lost & Found office at (954) 359-1289 or visit the airport’s Ground Transportation desk on Level 1
- Lost in a taxi or private vehicle: Contact the transportation company directly — for Fort Lauderdale Airport Shuttle vehicles, call us at (954) 688-7738 and we’ll reach your driver immediately
One Last Tip: Communicate with Your Driver
The single biggest factor in a smooth FLL pickup is communication. When you book with Fort Lauderdale Airport Shuttle, you have your driver’s personal cell number. Text them when your plane lands, text them when your bags arrive, text them when you’re exiting baggage claim. This real-time communication — combined with your driver’s flight tracking — means they’re in exactly the right place at exactly the right moment. No waiting, no confusion, no circling.
That’s what 14 years of operating at FLL looks like in practice: a system that works smoothly because we’ve refined every step of it from booking to dropoff.
Flying into FLL? Bookyour private airport shuttle now — your driver knows every terminal, every pickup zone, and exactly how to make your arrival seamless.
