South Bend International Airport

It's a tiny airport, everyone is super nice, there's 2 TSA lines for one lane of scanners. There are 2 restaurants, one in the secure area and the other outside of security. It's been a long time since I've been in an international airport this small. I like it though, no lines to get through security, you can sit at your gate and not feel like a sardine. The only downside is I've not found a direct flight and all flights that I've seen have been commuter jets so the delays coming in have been pretty regular and if the flight isn't packed then that is also pretty comfortable.

Lots of activities here despite ongoing expansion construction. Arrivals crowd cluster around the bagging carousel. The regular shopping option around the gate are still active. Still one of the area's best gateway to the rest of the world.

It was very easy to find the gate# and a very nice airpot. Had some great onion rings at the bar fly before our flight! All the employees I met were so nice and helpful throughout the airpot.

The airport was busy but that was fine. For being a small city airport. It does its job and TSA act like decent people here compared to big airports where you are treated like trash by them. Overall good experience here.

I travel a lot and this was my first experience with the South Bend Airport. It is a small airport, very easy to navigate, rental cars are onsite adding to the convenience. Staff was friendly and TSA was quick and easy. Nice change from the hustle and bustle of larger airports.

The airport is clean and functional but definitely not designed with overnight passengers in mind. I spent the night here due to an early flight and was surprised to find that background radio or announcements play non-stop, all night, everywhere in the airport — there's no quiet area. It made it nearly impossible to rest. I hope this feedback can help improve the experience for future overnight travelers.

This is a nice and convenient airport. Restaurants and especially SB Chocolate Company are superb. I would definitely give 5 stars for everything but the main thing...airline service (at least American and United). Shorter distance aircraft are old and in disrepair. At least 50% of the flights are delayed, and often canceled because mechanics are hours away and usually don't travel with spare parts. If you are flying for business beware, but if you are flying leisure with a few days to risk pull the trigger.

Despite being a smaller airport without having to travel to Chicago, South Bend International Airport (SBN), located in Indiana, operates 4 airlines (Allegiant, American, Delta, and United) nonstop, where I arrived last Thursday from Charlotte. While air travel could present plenty of headaches, this airport made life a little easier to navigate. Breezed through check-in and security with friendly staff as it wasn’t too busy. Not many options for food inside where I ordered from Chocolate Cafe a breakfast burrito and coffee. The food was tasty and in good-sized portions. Most planes are smaller. Overall, it was a smooth and easy experience that I can recommend.

As far as airports go, we like this one. Easy to get in and out. It's not too crowded. TSA was fast and efficient. Unfortunately, there were no places open to grab food and drinks when we were there. Kind of a bummer. Otherwise a good experience.

This is a very clean and well run airport! It took me only a few short minutes to get through TSA! The only oddity was my gate for Allegiant Airlines had no seating, but rather a very long ramp as there were several people with wheelchairs going on and off the plane. The other gates appeared to have seating, just not this one? Overall the airport was very nice and I would highly recommend to anyone considering using this location instead of some of the larger nearby airports. The only concern is if you are not renting a car; there are very few taxis and Uber and Lyft are non-existent in the later hours of the day. I had a plane delay and needed to share a taxi ride with a stranger to get to my hotel in Goshen and him to Elkhart. This is a very small town - transportation from friends or family or a rental car is easier than depending on ride share or even taxis.

Very easy to get though TSA, cheap to park very short walk to the counter and 2 good places to get food and drink

Despite being a smaller airport without having to travel to Chicago, South Bend International Airport (SBN), located in Indiana, operates 4 airlines (Allegiant, American, Delta, and United) nonstop, where I arrived last Thursday from Charlotte. While air travel could present plenty of headaches, this airport made life a little easier to navigate. Breezed through check-in and security with friendly staff as it wasn't too busy. Not many options for food inside where I ordered from Chocolate Cafe a breakfast burrito and coffee. The food was tasty and in good-sized portions. Most planes are smaller. Overall, it was a smooth and easy experience that I can recommend.

Nice little airport. It was easy to get through security and more Importantly, the airplane almost left on time. I'll definitely fly through here next time I'm in the area.

First time flying out of South Bend regional airport (SBN) because it was cheaper with Delta Airlines, so I snapped it up. I thought it was cool that South Bend has its own regional airport, especially when it's pretty close to Chicago, more or less. I didn't want to commute back to Chicago from Warsaw, Indiana, so I found this slice of heaven. This airport is relatively small with a handful of departure gates. Thankfully, Delta airlines services this regional hub so I could get home quicker without much of a commute time. With that said, South Bend regional airport is a small airport that is a place where you can fly into and not have to rely on the bigger airports - Chicago, Detroit, and Indianapolis - and have to drive a long distance to get here. The airport itself was easy to get in with the departure level drop offs and thru TSA security and it was nice after that. It was very clean and has restroom facilities. It felt peaceful here and not as rushed as with the major airports in the area. It helps when the flights are on time and you board on time too. I spent the usual 2 hours here from arriving to departure. There was a couple of places where you can buy food and drinks, but not a whole lot of choices. Best thing to do is to have your meal outside the airport before your flight or after arrival. For myself though, I ended up having a lite breakfast in the terminal before departure. It's an airport that's strategically placed so you can be in NE Indiana instead of commuting from Chicago, Detroit, Grand Rapids, or even Indianapolis. The overall experience here at the South Bend regional airport was nice and casual. Best to get in as early as you can to get your bags checked in and thru security seamlessly before your flight. It's a small enough airport to where you don't need to rush in but at the same time, it really helps if you are here early enough to not be in a hurry for your flight. The signage in the terminal is very helpful getting in and getting out to the baggage claim area. South Bend regional airport is really a small airport, so it's about 5 minute walk from the departure gates to the baggage claim. It's really great since there's usually no traffic that comes with picking up people at the airport versus the larger airports. The seating at the departure gates are standard & usually black leather style throughout the country. It's nice to have outlets to charge your devices while waiting for the flight to board. Not sure about if there is airport WiFi here since it was too early in the morning for me to really notice to have the opportunity to use. And so, if you need to be in the area of South Bend, Indiana or don't want to deal with Chicago area traffic, consider flying in or out of South Bend regional airport. It probably will save you a monster commute and it's quite nice and no dramas in South Bend. Most major carriers fly in and out of South Bend too, so you may get a cheaper ticket. South Bend regional airport is located in the outskirts of the city of South Bend, Indiana. Only people who have business with the airport and the traveling public are permitted to use the airport and its facilities. All others are discouraged. Airline tickets are usually available at the airport via the various airlines. Most ticketing for flights happens weeks or months in advance of travel. All of them require a valid credit card. And the few food options at SBN accepts major credit cards as well as cash. Not sure if the airport has garage parking for commuters but probably has cell phone parking lot for people picking up arrivals, including Uber/Lyft people too. Uber & Lyft is always a good choice for anyone commuting to SBN airport and don't want to leave their vehicle at the airport. For best results, follow the 2 hour airport rule and you'll make it to your flight. I enjoyed this trip to SBN, since it was fast to get to my gate. While it was 6am in the morning thru TSA security, it was fast enough to where I could just enjoy and have 1 1/2 hrs or so to kill before my departure to Minneapolis-St Paul that morning in late April 2024. 5.0 stars for the overall experience. Support local! A

This is a very small international airport. Once you are through security, which is very simple, there's only one line to get into. Once you're through, you are in the single terminal that has about 8 gates total. There is one single stop for food, which comprises 2 separate businesses. One is a bar, and the other is a sandwich chocolate factory. If you get here early and you're looking to get your steps in, one round trip all the way around the terminal from security to gate eight and back to security again is about a quarter of a mile, so four round trips gets you about a mile, or roughly twenty five hundred steps. There are 2 massage chairs located in the center of the terminal. If you're looking to get your legs worked on before you get on an airplane, so there's THAT for comfort amenities. Otherwise, that's it. Enjoy!

Solid 4 stars for me. My one time flying out of a small airport wasn't all that bad. Its a small airport consisting of pretty much one terminal and about 7 gates with one security hub when you enter. The airport is pretty easy to navigate coming off the highway and there's plenty of signage to guide you where you need to be. The airport is somewhat modern and kept super clean. One nice thing is this place is not at all busy compared to some major airports. Once you're off of your plane it's easy to get out of this airport without any hassle. My only thing is the food options here are pretty terrible. Coffee was trash. All I ask for in the AM is some decent coffee. Overall not a terrible trip to and from this airport just make sure you're caffeinated prior to your flight unless you like mud!

Small airport so there are not a lot of options, especially for direct flights, and it is usually quite expensive, but it is very convenient. It's easy in and out from parking to security. Even early they have food available. Inside was nothing special but was clean.

Nice small airport with connections to larger cities. Airport parking is $10/day or $60/week. TSA pre-check line is available for quicker clearance. Limited dining and snack options. Water bottle refill station available. Bag claim is super easy.

Decent airport not a lot of foot traffic so it is easy to get in and out of. Also has few nice places to grab a bite to eat from.

The airport itself is easy to get in and out of. Security didn't take that long. The only thing I can complain about is the restaurant within the airport is overpriced and rude servers.

I have flown though this place so many times over the years. So no idea why I am just now getting around to reviewing it. It's a nice small town airport. The kind where you can park and be at your gate in 10 minutes just the way I like it. The newer terminal helps from the old days and easy to navigate through. When you drive out or in you can see some missiles and planes on display. Great for kids

Small but efficient. Really don't have much to say. Check-in was a breeze, security check was quick, male bathroom were clean. They don't have much for food options but what they do have is sufficient to cover a quick craving to satisfy your thirst or hunger.

**AVOID SBN** Note: This one star review is based on the poorly trained TSA agents at their one and only security check point. This coupled with many years of experiences with canceled connecting flights (some due to weather others due to mystery circumstances) and overall poorly managed amenities. This morning, my bag was held in TSA due to carrying on FACIAL CLEANSING WIPES. I was told they are not permitted in a carry-on and are to be flagged per TSA website. That is pure hog wash. In what world are 'wipes' not permitted in a carry on?! I even bring Lysol wipes to wipe down the airplane seats, as my loved ones' immune system is compromised. I cannot bring cooties along with me from my plane travels. The TSA agents continued to insist that my wipes had to be tested and told me to look at their website. I was LIVID. They proceeded to snap at me telling me I am fault for not arriving 2 hours prior to my flight. Excuse me?! ...insert deep breaths ... This is not a major airport that would warrant my arrival time to accommodate a mismanaged TSA security checkpoint. In fact, I arrived over an hour early for my flight. I wasn't tumbling in with 5 mins to spare. I'm not a rookie at traveling. I know my rights as a passenger and will not let a TSA agent "bully" me into whatever they want me to do. I've never missed a flight due to not arriving with ample time or not allowing at least an hour to get through security. Being harassed and held up for no VALID reason is not ok. I made that clear to everyone. If I had water/liquids above 3.4 ounces or a sharp object -- ok, I get it -- those are a 'no go.' But wipes -- freakin' wipes-- you're out of your flipping mind. I'm not tolerating it. On top of this, they made me, as a TSA precheck passenger, pull out every item from my bag laptop and iPad/all liquids - because TSA precheck was closed and their line was out the door. In regards to a nasty toned lecture about me not allowing enough time for TSA when I started to complain -- Umm.. TSA lady, I am flying to Detroit and then to Las Vegas not to Bali. I'm not flying internationally and 2 hours should not be needed for SBN. I had over an hour to spare prior to my departure with a carry on and TSA precheck for domestic travel isn't unheard of. This tiny airport that has LESS THAN 10 GATES TOTAL. YES, LESS THAN 10 GATES. No one should ever have to arrive 2 hours prior to their departure to accommodate their lack of knowledgable and trained TSA staff. It took a whopping total 45+ minutes with a side of unnecessary harassment to be cleared. It was straight insanity. I WAS FUMING. I snatched my items back after they tested my wipes and cleared me. Until that point I was refused the right to have them/my wipes tossed out or to let me leave the area without my items. I will be filing a formal complaint with TSA SBN directly. I hope no one experiences their unnecessary harassment. Now, I can't cut SBN out of my future travel plans. My parents live here. I am ONLY visiting due to a family medical emergency. I avoid this airport like the plague. However, due to the emergency, I needed to fly in here for time savings and booked a same day ticket for a 36 hour visit. Bottom Line: If you have a choice in your own travels, avoid this airport at all costs. Or, do as the TSA agents demand and arrive 2 hours early in case they want to screen you or harass you over something that is perfectly ok to go in your carryon. I would rather continue to fly into DTW or MDW/ORD or any other neighboring airport to avoid being harassed by their security checkpoints for no VALID reason.

Terribly managed airport. Most recent flight arrived at 4:35, sat on runway for 45 minutes due to staffing shortage to open gate. POOR management! fly to Chicago and drive instead of trying to land here! Nobody took charge to move to another gate.

Really small airport but efficient and easy to get around. Plenty of easy to find parking around the airport, with cabs and a bus stop right outside the front gate.

Quick in and out flight here. Small airport not a lot inside and limited what you can get but overall it was cleaned. Tsa didn't take forever and it's right next door to the train

Ever since SBN opened a hub to DFW, traveling with my family is much easier than what it use to be. We would either drive or fly to CHI, connect to a flight from CHI or Detroit, and our flight would eventually be flying to DFW. I hope with a hub from DFW to SBN will open more business opportunities for Texans to expand in our little town. This place has so much potential!

Though my flight had a layover because there were no direct flights out of South Bend to the East Coast, the convenience of location & reasonable long term parking rates made up for it.

Checking in the agent decided to talk with another customer, all but ignoring me. Meanwhile another agent hollered out my name trying to get me to come to his queue to check my bag. I tried to tell him the ignoring agent already had my bag. Get that straightened out and finally ask permission to move to security. Given the go ahead. Get to security and TSA can't get my ID to read. Wants to know if it is a new or old one since it looks different from the one he got earlier. Can not get it to read and tells me I will have to go back and see the airline's agent. I have a passport card and ask if he can use that. Yes, and that works. Move on to get screened and start to unload laptop and advised to remove nothing. Why is this different at every airport? Not the most pleasant of TSA folks here and everything is extremely s Finally get through that line and head toward gate. Try to get a soda and snack. That line is super long, but get through that as well. It takes me almost an hour to finally get to my gate in this tiny international airport.

I travel out of here often with Delta, Allegiant Airlines and the South Shore train. The lobby area is nice and clean and the service has always been quick. The best part is that the TSA checkpoint is normally staffed by friendly people. Being a TSA Precheck we can confidently show up later then normal here and still catch our flight. That in itself brings the rating up. The choices inside the terminal for food and beverage are VERY limited and not very good (see separate review). The fact that you can show up later and not sit long definitely makes up for that. Having been a patron of this airport for years, its been great seeing the constant improvements.

Staff was nice and helpful! They can't accept cash anymore and they were kind and patient till I was able to add money to my card.

Delayed flights out of southbend. Missed next flight from Atlanta because of the delay. Hope they look into it!

Delayed or canceled my last 3 flights. Virtually every flight out of SBN is delayed in recent memory. The convenience of departing close to home is negated by poor performance. This combined with airline incompetence make it so frustrating better off driving to a better airport.

Small airport - nothing wrong with it per se. I walked at 6 am in the absolute freezing cold weather back from dropping my car off at the car rental parking lot. (My visit was in February). Entered the location and was quickly checked in. TSA was quick as well since it was 6 am! There is no Starbucks sadly. I was really craving a Starbucks pick me up but instead I visited the local breakfast / lunch / bar area for a breakfast burrito before my flight. When I went to the gate, the agent just asked for my seat number and verified my name. She never asked to see my ticket. Decent experience.

South Bend Airport is a surprisingly nice regional airport, located about 10 minutes away from the University of Notre Dame and the downtown South Bend area. We had originally flown in to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, and then rented a car to drive to South Bend. When we were getting ready to return home, we learned of a work stoppage at O'Hare by the various ground crews, and were told that our flights were cancelled pending resolution of the strike. Anxious to get back to warmer weather, one of the staff at our client's office suggested talking to the airlines and seeing if we could book our return trip through South Bend and completely avoid Chicago. Yeah Baby, I like this plan! Sure enough, the Delta ticket agent in South Bend very kindly re-booked me from South Bend to Detroit and then on to Tampa. Even though the strike was settled the next day, this saved me from spending the night at a hotel airport in Chicago. Delta waived the change fees because of the strike, and that made me very happy. On my most recent trip to South Bend, I booked my flights directly into and out of this smaller regional airport, and was quite pleased with the experience. The terminal has nine gates, and is immaculately clean, very modern, and easy to navigate. There's free WiFi available throughout the airport, which is a nice touch while waiting for your flight. Dining options are limited in the airport, with only one restaurant located before you walk through security, and a second version of that same restaurant located on the other side of security. There's not much in the way of amenities, so bring something to read while you sit back and relax.

My experience relates to the other companies inside the airport and not the airport itself. Today was the opposite of previous experiences at this airport and this is because of Shae, the American Airlines employee. She was remarkable. She was calm, friendly, and not controlling or stressed. Security was better this time. Last year it appeared as though a bunch or racists worked for TSA, this year the TSA staff were diverse, friendly and were not treating people differently.

Recently took a trip from Las Vegas NV to South Bend, IN. Airport is well staffed and we moved quickly through security. TSA agents are extremely pleasant, greeting us and telling us to have a great day. Smiles on their faces was very welcome as most agents at other airports act like we are bothering them when they are just doing their job. Very easy to get around the airport. My only complaint was dirty bathrooms. Counters soaked, some sinks not working and garbage not being emptied. My favorite airport to travel through

Small, convenient airport located right off the I-80 toll road near Notre Dame. Parking is a breeze and security is quick and painless. There isn't many amenities but they do have a restaurant and bar inside. The finally added free Wi-Fi (thank you!) where previously you had to pay to use it. SBN is much easier than flying out of O'Hare or Detroit. You can also catch the South Shore train to Chicago from the airport. Wish they offered more non stop flights and had competitive prices like the big airports can offer but if you can avoid the traffic and airport hassles it is sometimes worth spending a little more for less aggravation.

These people are absolutely rude. From the front to the back. But I see them treat white people nice. Timothy with United Airlines made me seat down and not standby booth. Right after me 2 white people went up and he didn't treat them the way he treated me! You racist SBN! I'm glad I won't have to return

Small and easy to navigate early flights to CLT and nice little cafe to grab a latte pastries and a hot sandwich. Easy rental car pick up and drop off.

This is one of the worst airports I have visited. As a business traveler both domestic and international, I am surprised to see such a desolate place. There is nothing to do here. Do you want to eat chocolate? They have that. But, that's all. The airport is nearly empty. Echoing other reviews here, the TSA at this airport is not well trained. I was put through a manual pat-down of my crotch on August 3 for no reason. I've never experienced this treatment before. I think the male TSA agents were looking for perverted fun. Avoid this place if you can.

Well,I live in California so this Airport is literally heaven.No traffic,congestion or a million taxis', uber or Lyft drivers. It took 5 minutes to get through airport security..

Its about as small and easy to navigate as you can get. I think calling it an "International" airport is kind of. stretch but even airports have to reach for the stars. The parking is decent at least, and When I used to pick up people frequently I never had a problem finding them.

This airport used to be top notch. Now it doesn't matter what airline you use, flights are delayed and cancelled. I feel sorry for the folks working there as they take the brunt of the complaints. If you can't get the planes in and out then just close. The people working the counters are as in the dark as the passengers. They do the best they can with the information they are provided. SAD!!!!

Great small airport! It is an easy walk from parking lot and into terminal. Parking fees are "reasonable" especially when comparing other larger airports. The security lines are generally short and TSA staff friendly.

The Airport facility is fine, the car rental return is HORRIBLE. Early flights must park in a fairly remote parking lot. The parking lot is horribly overcrowded, I had to park on the grass. All of the rental agencies say you are liable until they get in. Not a big deal if parking is safe, which it is not. I would say the parking is unsafe from an overcrowded standpoint people creating parking spaces at the end of rows making some aisles impassable. This was an early Friday no holiday weekend. Fort Wayne is $300 more, maybe better parking. /shrug

More like a 3.8 star not quite at 4! It def. is more convenient than having to drive to Chicago if you are from the St. Joe county. It is still more expensive though compared to leaving from bigger cities unless you snagged a deal. I do love the convinience of the south shore line being right at the airport! You can take it all the way to downtown Chicago. Price is a little high though at $14.25 a ride so almost $30 roundtrip. Parking is easy though and well it is nice that it is a small airport so easy ro navigate.

South Bend is one of those cute little airports that just make it so easy to get in and out of within hassle, no stress, no crowd. They have a nice food counter that has a decent selection for the size and considering the traffic. The baggage claim is two turnstiles and everything is in one long corridor, one level.

If I could give zero stars I would. Charge twice as much as Chicago just to delay your flight, have TSA take 20 minutes per person because they search every single bag for no reason, "don't have any available pilots" so you have to sit waiting LONG past the time you are supposed to depart, and just a pathetic excuse for an "International airport." Do better or close.

The is a great airport! We live about 90 minutes from Chicago in southern Michigan but flying out of SBN will always be our first choice. Clean, friendly, with a nice bar across from Delta gates, Welcome to South Bend International Airport!

Small and convenient. Bar Fly Restaurant and South Bend Chocolate Company are gems, while waiting for a flight. No shuttle for the rental cars, they are on-site. Small but clean bathrooms.

Having a flight cancelled into south bend for a funeral service the next morning wasn't a great thing. Managed to get a flight into Fort Wayne however. The problem is not being able to reach final destination or receive any help from Delta staff. Whether supplying us with a rental car or any means of transportation. This is totally unacceptable and we had to rent a car to make it to the destination we had already paid for. I will file a lawsuit against this airline for reimbursement of rental car etc.. will never use this airline again and will be sure to let others know of the lack of help we received from in particular Xavier or Javier however you say his name. Totally poor form and lack of compassion. SHAME !!!!?

United airlines cancelled our sons flight, refused to refund him and wouldn't pay for his bus ticket that he had to take (from their airport) to O'Hare, to make his connecting flight. No vouchers or offers of apologies. Just a too bad, so sad. There's a bus coming that can take you to O'Hare. If you want further help or want to try and get a refund you have to call United hotline. Fyi , you sit on hold forever and never get a human.

Let me start by saying that I've flown out of South Bend for decades and the airline staff has always been great. Unfortunately the staff at the grill still has issues counting change or in telling denominations apart.

Bartenders are not friendly, do not acknowledge you and are not consistent in the pours... actually so disappointing.

South Bend Airport is small and easy to navigate. Getting through security for the most part is quick, I've been flying out of here for ten years and there has been only one time that there was any sort of a line. I usually fly out really early or late, so that may be the reason why and mid-day traffic may be heavier. I have never had an issue with the TSA people at this airport, they are friendly and nice and open to any questions you may have. The parking is good and compared to O'Hare or some of the bigger airports around it's priced good. I've taken the opportunity to catch the South Bend train to Chicago a few times and I've got to say, if I'm saving money flying out of O'Hare this is the way to go. The 6:30 train has a no talking car that allows, you to work and the Wi-Fi is great. There are two areas at the airport where they sell South Bend Chocolate the first is the shop right outside the security check point and the second one is next to the café (Bar Fly) after the security check point. Both have a good selection if you need that "something sweet" on your trip. The lobby of the airport itself is clean, but a little dated looking. There are two different restaurants at the airport the Bar Fly, which is in Concourse A, past the security check point, serves local foods as well as locally crafted beer. Studebagels, is located pre-security check point by the rental car agencies, I have never seen open, so I can't tell you anything about it. I would take a moment to look at the gift shop in the main part of the lobby as they seem to carry not only last-minute souvenir or travel items, but upon occasional local artist items that are truly unique.

South Bend is nice and the food in the chocolate cafe is better than most airport food. Security and screening is actually friendly. The 5 stars is for Kennedy in TSA security. She is the friendliest security personnel I have witnessed in about 60 flights. I watched as she left the counter and came to help the bag check line and stepped up to help with a confused and difficult elder couple and soon everyone in the line was smiling. She should be modeled after and this will continue to be one the the best airports for customer service in the Midwest! Such a change from the normal grumpy serious security nowadays!