ORD: Chicago O'Hare Priority Pass lounges and switching terminals
Jan 19, 2019, 7:21 pm
#61
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 703
True, depending on how much hassle one is willing to put up with. I recently had a 5 hour layover at ORD, with my departure flight leaving from Terminal 1. I decided to go to Terminal 5 for two reasons:
1. To see if I could get into T5 with a boarding pass for a flight departing from T1.
2. To check out the Priority Pass lounges.
In the end, I felt it was worth it. The lounges weren't as good as a lot of airline lounges, but in my opinion, it was worth my time. But I enjoy airports. For a passenger who would not enjoy the transit to another terminal and two security checks, I'd say grab a meal at a restaurant in your terminal and wait out the layover there.
1. To see if I could get into T5 with a boarding pass for a flight departing from T1.
2. To check out the Priority Pass lounges.
In the end, I felt it was worth it. The lounges weren't as good as a lot of airline lounges, but in my opinion, it was worth my time. But I enjoy airports. For a passenger who would not enjoy the transit to another terminal and two security checks, I'd say grab a meal at a restaurant in your terminal and wait out the layover there.
Jan 21, 2019, 1:19 pm
#62
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 556
Yes, that part of it was a non issue. Security at T5 took a bit of time though. If I would not have had lots of time to kill, I would not have waited. Besides the lounges, I also enjoyed walking up and down the terminal and viewing the aircraft of foreign airlines.
Jan 21, 2019, 4:13 pm
#63
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: IAD
Programs: UA Gold + 1MM; HHonors Gold; Marriott Plat
Posts: 747
In the end, I felt it was worth it. The lounges weren't as good as a lot of airline lounges, but in my opinion, it was worth my time. But I enjoy airports. For a passenger who would not enjoy the transit to another terminal and two security checks, I'd say grab a meal at a restaurant in your terminal and wait out the layover there.
Jan 22, 2019, 2:20 am
#64
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 556
If you have time, visit both. They're quite close together. And please be aware that YMMV. When you visit, the conditions could be opposite of when I was there.
Jan 25, 2019, 4:21 am
#65
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Yes, these are the two Priority Pass lounges in T5. I thought that Swissport was more comfortable, but it doesn't have any windows. AF has a fairly decent view of the apron. As far as the food, I would rate them about the same, at least when I was there. This can vary, depending on when you visit and how crowded it is. I was in them between 2 and 4 PM or so. AF was quite crowded, but Swissport was quiet.
If you have time, visit both. They're quite close together. And please be aware that YMMV. When you visit, the conditions could be opposite of when I was there.
If you have time, visit both. They're quite close together. And please be aware that YMMV. When you visit, the conditions could be opposite of when I was there.
I prefer the AF lounge to the Swissport lounge at ORD, but there are times when the Swissport lounge has had better food than the AF lounge.
I would consider going to T5 just for Bao.
Jun 7, 2019, 3:17 pm
#66
Join Date: Jul 2012
Programs: American Airlaines, Delta SkyMiles, United, BA, HH, Marriott, SPG, Priority Club
Posts: 160
I just checked into the Swissport in T5 and can confirm you can get in without an international boarding pass. I’m flying domestic with a 6 hour layover and simply needed to exit out of security and take the bus to T5 and then go in through security. You can’t take the shuttle on the secured side but once you exit security then you can get into T5 just fine
Jun 15, 2019, 2:20 am
#67
Used to be 'rockferd'
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP 75K, UA Gold, HH: Diamond, Marriott: Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 254
I just checked into the Swissport in T5 and can confirm you can get in without an international boarding pass. I’m flying domestic with a 6 hour layover and simply needed to exit out of security and take the bus to T5 and then go in through security. You can’t take the shuttle on the secured side but once you exit security then you can get into T5 just fine
Aug 5, 2019, 7:11 pm
#68
Join Date: Jul 2012
Programs: American Airlaines, Delta SkyMiles, United, BA, HH, Marriott, SPG, Priority Club
Posts: 160
Aug 23, 2019, 10:45 am
#71
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 394
AF lounge is better for food IMO and drinks. However, I have only been in once, because the other four times I have tried I was rejected due to "potential fullness due to incoming flights". I am getting pretty frustrated that the PP is useless at my home airport.
Aug 23, 2019, 12:41 pm
#72
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
The only positive to ORD is that it is quite well-connected public transit wise...but darn, I wish that people mover would come back in action before BER opens.
Nov 2, 2019, 11:53 pm
#73
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Greater Chicagoland Area
Programs: frontier Elite, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,455
Just to answer some questions:
T5 doesn't have a precheck line. If you have precheck, you can hold it up so you don't have to take your shoes off and you can go through the metal detector. I assume you can leave your coat on but I always have stuff in mine so I run it through the X-ray machine
The Air France lounge has multiple.hours where PP is restricted so I usually end up at the Swissport across the hallway. They used to have a fruit plate, which I loved but at my current flying time in the afternoon, at least it's gone and meatballs only show up right before I'm about to leave
When I used to be able to use the Air France lounge after 9pm, it had better food (some noodles and something else). Oatmeal containers. The only other food in Swissport is the soup containers that you pour hot water into.
T5 doesn't have a precheck line. If you have precheck, you can hold it up so you don't have to take your shoes off and you can go through the metal detector. I assume you can leave your coat on but I always have stuff in mine so I run it through the X-ray machine
The Air France lounge has multiple.hours where PP is restricted so I usually end up at the Swissport across the hallway. They used to have a fruit plate, which I loved but at my current flying time in the afternoon, at least it's gone and meatballs only show up right before I'm about to leave
When I used to be able to use the Air France lounge after 9pm, it had better food (some noodles and something else). Oatmeal containers. The only other food in Swissport is the soup containers that you pour hot water into.
Nov 3, 2019, 7:28 am
#74
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 703
Just to answer some questions:
T5 doesn't have a precheck line. If you have precheck, you can hold it up so you don't have to take your shoes off and you can go through the metal detector. I assume you can leave your coat on but I always have stuff in mine so I run it through the X-ray machine
The Air France lounge has multiple.hours where PP is restricted so I usually end up at the Swissport across the hallway. They used to have a fruit plate, which I loved but at my current flying time in the afternoon, at least it's gone and meatballs only show up right before I'm about to leave
When I used to be able to use the Air France lounge after 9pm, it had better food (some noodles and something else). Oatmeal containers. The only other food in Swissport is the soup containers that you pour hot water into.
T5 doesn't have a precheck line. If you have precheck, you can hold it up so you don't have to take your shoes off and you can go through the metal detector. I assume you can leave your coat on but I always have stuff in mine so I run it through the X-ray machine
The Air France lounge has multiple.hours where PP is restricted so I usually end up at the Swissport across the hallway. They used to have a fruit plate, which I loved but at my current flying time in the afternoon, at least it's gone and meatballs only show up right before I'm about to leave
When I used to be able to use the Air France lounge after 9pm, it had better food (some noodles and something else). Oatmeal containers. The only other food in Swissport is the soup containers that you pour hot water into.
Dec 4, 2019, 12:02 am
#75
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Greater Chicagoland Area
Programs: frontier Elite, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,455
Just to answer some questions:
T5 doesn't have a precheck line. If you have precheck, you can hold it up so you don't have to take your shoes off and you can go through the metal detector. I assume you can leave your coat on but I always have stuff in mine so I run it through the X-ray machine
The
T5 doesn't have a precheck line. If you have precheck, you can hold it up so you don't have to take your shoes off and you can go through the metal detector. I assume you can leave your coat on but I always have stuff in mine so I run it through the X-ray machine
The
This changed the next trip after I made the post above