Originally Posted by
pinniped
I see these videos of people sleeping at O'Hare and my first thought is: isn't the CTA operating? I get that the Hilton and nearby hotels are probably sold out, but I know the entire downtown Chicago area isn't sold out in January. If somebody tells me it's going to be 12 hours before my next flight, there's zero percent change I'm staying at the airport if I can avoid it.
Been there...spent the night in Starbuck living room on a summer weather cancellation a couple of years ago. By the time that it was clear that I wouldn't get out that night and had flights for the next morning it was well after midnight and I would need to be back at the airport by about 6AM. By the time that I could have found a hotel and solved the ground transportation to the hotel I would not have much time there at all.
The cot, blanket and pillow were not uncomfortable. I didn't sleep much however. The overhead lights were turned out but ORD is a 24 hour kind of place. and it is surprising walk into the small sea of cots and exclaim in their best outside voice, "what are these people doing here?" Well, bozo , we were trying to sleep until you showed up....
Nap time is over at 4AM. The lights went on and an airport official with a uniformed police officer made he rounds. Mostly one tap with the nightstick on the cot frame was enough to roust people out. TSA on the other side of the wall was starting up then too.
As for my stuff, I was able to park the cot by the wall. I put the valuables in the backpack and then the cot leg next to the wall went through the straps. There were other more attractive targets for someone so inclined and I doubt that there was anyone interested anyway.