A gas turbine engine includes, among other things, a compressor section including a low pressure compressor and a high pressure compressor, a turbine section including a low pressure turbine and a high pressure turbine, an inner shaft that interconnects the low pressure compressor and the low pressure turbine, an outer shaft that interconnects the high pressure compressor and the high pressure turbine, a bearing structure that supports at least one of the inner and outer shafts, and a buffer system. The buffer system prepares buffer air, communicates the buffer air to the bearing structure to pressurize a bearing compartment, and then from the bearing structure along at least one of the shafts.