Terminal 4

Most Spirit international flights hit Terminal 4’s green concourse

Spirit runs the show in Terminal 4, using most of the gates on the Green concourse for its departures and arrivals, with Air Canada, Avianca, Norwegian, TAP Air Portugal, WestJet and shifting Azul/JetBlue international flights mixed in. This side of FLL leans hard into Caribbean and Latin America traffic, so the 5 a.m.–9 a.m. and 7 p.m.–11 p.m. banks feel like standing-room-only, then it calms down midday. Build the buffer if you’re on a morning Spirit international flight out of T4.

Layout, connections and walking times

Terminal 4 sits at the south end of FLL and connects airside to Terminal 3 via a secure walkway, which frequent Spirit–JetBlue connectors use to avoid re-clearing security. If your boarding pass shows a Spirit international arrival into T4 and a JetBlue domestic departure from T3, plan 10–15 minutes gate-to-gate on foot. T4’s gates line a single concourse, so the farthest walk inside this terminal alone usually runs under 8 minutes at a normal pace.

Check-in, security and timing strategy

Spirit check-in and bag drop on the T4 departures level stack up quickly before the first wave of departures around 6 a.m., and lines are still rough again from about 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. when the evening bank pushes out to the Caribbean. Regulars flying Spirit international from T4 aim to hit the terminal 2–2.5 hours before departure instead of the 90 minutes they’d risk on a short-hop domestic. If you’re connecting off a domestic flight into FLL and re-checking bags for an international Spirit leg, assume 30 minutes for landside transfer plus 20–30 minutes for security here during peak times.

Food and drink: what’s worth your time

Casavana Cuban Cuisine in T4 pulls a steady line for Cuban sandwiches and café con leche; prices land around $10–$15 for a pressed sandwich or plate, and the coffee hits better than the chains if you’re boarding a 7 a.m. departure. Miami Grill sits closer to the middle gates with gyros, burgers, and fries in the $9–$14 range, workable when you have 40 minutes and want something filling. Corona Beach House near some international gates leans on $10–$12 beers and sit-down plates, which starts to feel long if boarding starts in 25 minutes.

Grab-and-go and basics

The Market by Hudson shows up twice in Terminal 4, once closer to security and once deeper by the gates, and both sell pre-made sandwiches, salads, and bottled drinks in the $6–$14 range. Subway gives you the known 6-inch/footlong routine at typical airport markups, with subs roughly $7–$13 depending on size and extras. If you land in T4 at 11 p.m. and half the hot food has shut down, these spots plus the coolers at Hudson usually stay open later than the full-service restaurants.

Lounges and where to sit

The Premium Lounge in Terminal 4 serves the international side, often tied to airline or card access programs rather than walk-up entry, and it’s used by some Air Canada, TAP or other partners when their flights depart from this concourse. Seating in the main gate areas can get tight during Spirit’s peak banks, especially around the gates that board three flights in under an hour. If you can’t get into the lounge, angling for seats toward the far end of the concourse around less-used gates often buys a bit more personal space.

Shopping, duty free, and last-minute buys

Duty Free Americas in T4 kicks in for eligible international departures, with liquor, perfume, and tobacco priced lower than regular airport retail but still worth comparing against home prices if you’re used to Florida store shelves. The Market by Hudson locations sell headphones, power banks, snacks, and basic travel meds, and a charging cable there often runs around $20–$30. If you’re connecting through and only have 20 minutes, hit the nearer Hudson instead of walking all the way down to duty free and back.

Watch out for gate changes and crowding

Azul and JetBlue international arrivals sometimes bounce between different T4 gates, and frequent flyers report getting 2–3 gate change alerts on the same flight day, so keep an eye on the FLL app and the overhead boards every 20–30 minutes. Peak Spirit banks at T4 mean lines spilling into walkways and boarding areas crowded enough that you might end up sitting on the floor near outlets. If you can, use the restroom and grab food before the 30-minute mark prior to departure, when boarding calls start to clog the aisle.

One last tip

If you’re connecting Spirit international in T4 to JetBlue domestic in Terminal 3 on one ticket, skip the temptation to exit to the curb; follow the T3/T4 connector signs and stay airside, and you’ll usually be at your next gate in under 15 minutes with security already behind you.