One checkpoint at ABQ gets you access to every gate
Terminal 1 at Albuquerque International Sunport runs as a single building with one main security checkpoint feeding all gates. Once you clear TSA, you stay on the same secure side for the A and B concourses, with walking times usually under 7–10 minutes end to end. No shuttle buses, no extra screening, and no terminal change math to do between flights.
ABQ lists everything as Terminal 1, so airline apps and boarding passes usually just show a gate like A7 or B5 with no separate terminal code. The layout is simple: ticketing and check-in on the landside level, one central security zone in the middle, then concourses branching left and right behind it. If you land at a B gate and depart from an A gate, you walk inside the same building without passing another checkpoint.
Dining and shopping are thin here: there’s no cataloged sit-down restaurant list, branded coffee chain rundown, or named retail stretch like you’d see at a big hub such as DEN or DFW. You’ll find some basic food and drink options past security, but nothing that regulars consistently call out as a destination stop. If you care about specific chains or vegan/halal/kosher options, assume limited choice and eat in town before the 20–25 minute drive to the airport from central Albuquerque.
Lounges are not a factor in Terminal 1: there’s no published airline club, no Priority Pass room, and no pay-per-use day lounge currently listed. If you’re used to banking on an Admirals Club, Sky Club, or Centurion Lounge, plan to work at the gate area instead. Power outlets vary by gate cluster, so grab one when you see it, especially near the more heavily used morning departure banks.
All departures and arrivals work through this single terminal footprint, so connections at ABQ are straightforward by design. Even with a tight 35–40 minute layover, the walk from one gate to another usually stays under a half-mile, with no trains or buses in the mix. Keep your boarding pass handy when you land; display screens near the concourse split show gate changes quickly, and it’s easy to cut 5–6 minutes off your walk if you check before committing to one direction.
Security queues sit at the heart of Terminal 1, so timing that line is the only real choke point. Early morning banks around 5:00–7:00 a.m. and late Sunday afternoons can push waits toward 20–30 minutes, even though the checkpoint is compact. One last tip: if you’re renting a car, the consolidated rental facility is off-site and uses a dedicated shuttle that can add 10–15 minutes each way, so bake that into your return-to-airport schedule before hitting Terminal 1.