First time flyer w/ Chicago layover
Jul 21, 2011, 8:01 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1
First time flyer w/ Chicago layover
Hi everyone! I've never flown before and I'm flying alone, so please bear with me. I'm flying out of PIT into SAT and a 4 hour layover at O'Hare. Since I don't have the privilege of traveling nearly as much as I would like, or at all really, I would love to check out downtown Chicago even if it's only for an hour. My question is, will I have time to make it to the city and walk around for an hour or so if my layover is only 3hrs 40mins? I really appreciate any help! Thank you!
Jul 21, 2011, 11:03 pm
#2
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Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: PHX and LIH
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Posts: 85,518
Hi everyone! I've never flown before and I'm flying alone, so please bear with me. I'm flying out of PIT into SAT and a 4 hour layover at O'Hare. Since I don't have the privilege of traveling nearly as much as I would like, or at all really, I would love to check out downtown Chicago even if it's only for an hour. My question is, will I have time to make it to the city and walk around for an hour or so if my layover is only 3hrs 40mins? I really appreciate any help! Thank you!
Jul 24, 2011, 9:28 am
#4
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
Programs: AA (Plt Pro; 1.5 MM)
Posts: 6,185
Agreed. The so called 4-hour stop is from touchdown to takeoff, it will be more like 2 hours in real life. Not enough time to do anything outside the airport. If it is award ticket and you can change to a later flight without penalty, look into that. Otherwise enjoy our beautiful airport. 
Last edited by aktchi; Mar 29, 2012 at 8:12 am Reason: Typo
Aug 2, 2011, 7:25 pm
#6
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Mar 29, 2012, 5:58 am
#7
Join Date: May 2009
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 450
I'm going to have 3 hours to kill at ORD tomorrow (my wife gets in on a later flight). Flying LHR-ORD on UA, presumably I get into T5 - is there any way to get to Tortas Frontera, or would that involve leaving security? I'm guessing so, but...
Mar 29, 2012, 7:03 am
#8
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Mar 29, 2012, 8:41 am
#9
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
Programs: AA (Plt Pro; 1.5 MM)
Posts: 6,185
In order to kill 3 hrs, you can start out with a relaxed walk to the immigrattion and customs and not joining the mad dash. The immigration and customs process funnels everyone outside security (landside). Now, unless you are connecting to a domestic flight or you buy a refundable ticket, there is no way to get inside security (airside) in other terminals, where the Tortas Frontera are.
At T5, the lower (arrivals) floor has more comfortable chairs to sit on, but only McDonalds for food. There are monitors where you can track the ETA for your wife's flight (assuming she too is coming into T5).
The upper (departures) floor has more interesting food options in a food court, and also a bookstore/newsstand.
Divide your time between the two.