It's a tight connection.
We recently connected from an NH HND-ORD flight to DL ORD-DTW (separate tickets) with a 2 hour, 15 minute connection per our scheduled itinerary. We pulled into the gate on-time and since we were the second flight of the day, deplaned & swiftly cleared immigration. We were then held up waiting for customs -- perhaps because everybody on board (as it seemed) the AI DEL-ORD flight had 10 bags.
We arrived at the DL counter at cutoff and it took some arguing to get a late baggage check. But there was no line for security and we arrived at the gate 10 minutes before departure. Our bags made it with us too, the only ones on the belt at DTW - first time I've ever seen that.
Personally, I'm not certain I'd book a tight international -> domestic connection again, especially during the heavy evening banks.
Originally Posted by
chinook9
I don't believe it is necessary to take the train which is outside the terminal.
Last fall we flew in from DEN to ORD on AA connecting to BA out of the international terminal. There is a bus that is operated specifically to take passengers between these terminals (3 and 5 I believe).
The train is outside security; the bus is specifically for taking passengers from T3 -> T5 without having to re-clear security. It does NOT take passengers from T5 -> T3, since international arrivals have to re-clear security anyway.