Terminal 4

JetBlue now runs from T4, alongside American and Southwest

Terminal 4 at Ontario International handles American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and the JetBlue flights that moved over from the other concourses in 2024. T4 sits on the south side of the field with its own security checkpoint and a straight, single concourse, so once you’re past TSA you’re basically on one long hallway of gates and food. Flights here are almost all domestic; international operations use the IT terminal across the roadway.

Layout, security, and walking times in T4

Security for T4 sits directly in front of the ticket counters for American, Southwest, and JetBlue, and typical mid-day lines run 10–20 minutes based on traveler reports. From the checkpoint to the farthest gate is roughly a 5–7 minute walk, so even if you land at one end and depart from the other, you’re not doing an LAX-style hike. There’s no airside connector between T2, T4, and IT, so plan about 5 minutes outside on the curb if you need to switch terminals, plus another full TSA re-check.

Food: breakfast carbs, tacos, and beer

Dunkin’ sits near the earlier-numbered gates and opens for the first departures of the morning, usually around 4:30–5:00 a.m., with coffee and basic breakfast sandwiches under $8. Einstein Bros. Bagels is also post-security in T4 and pushes bagel sandwiches in the $7–$10 range, so if your American or Southwest flight leaves before 8 a.m., this is the better stop for something more filling. Pricing across T4 is standard airport markup, roughly 20–30% higher than off-airport chains.

Bars and fast casual options

Mi Casa Cantina sits closer to the mid-concourse gates and runs tacos, burritos, and margaritas, with combo plates usually landing around $15–$20 before tip. Tap & Pour and Liquid Provisions are the main bar setups in T4, each offering local and national beers on tap plus cocktails in the $10–$15 range, and they’re good for killing 45 minutes when a Southwest turn gets pushed. Yo-Kai Express machines are scattered along the concourse and serve hot noodle bowls from a vending-style kiosk in about 45 seconds, with most bowls at or under $15.

Lounges: Aspire and Escape

The Aspire Lounge in Terminal 4 opened in May 2022 and sits airside, accessible from the main concourse within a few minutes’ walk of any gate. It typically operates from early morning through the last bank of evening departures, with peak crowds matching American’s and Southwest’s late-afternoon push. Day passes run in the roughly $40–$50 range when bought through lounge programs, and food is mostly snacks and light bites rather than full meals.

Escape Lounge as the second option

The Escape Lounge also operates in T4 post-security and usually opens around the first wave of departures, often before 6 a.m., then closes once the final flights have boarded. Admission for walk-ups often lands a little above $40, though some bank cards grant complimentary access. Seating is oriented toward individual chairs and small tables, so if you want a guaranteed outlet and quieter space than the gate areas, building a 60–90 minute pre-flight buffer in Escape makes sense.

Shops, last-minute tech, and kid distractions

Evolve by Hudson and multiple Hudson News stands dot the Terminal 4 concourse with bottled water, snacks, and magazines, and you can usually grab a basic drink-and-snack combo for under $10. Ink by Hudson leans heavier into books and souvenirs, while Tech on the Go has chargers, headphones, and travel adapters in the $20–$60 range. There’s also an Ontario Provisions spot and a Lego Machine vending unit, which is handy if you need a sub-$20 distraction for a kid before a long Southwest or JetBlue hop.

Final tip for Terminal 4

Build the buffer: give yourself 60 minutes from curb to gate in T4 during morning and late-afternoon banks, since there’s no airside link to T2 or IT and any terminal change means a second TSA queue.