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At Chicago O’Hare (ORD), American Airlines operates out of Terminal 3
AA Ticket counters Open daily: 3:30am to 10:00pm
Flagship Check-in: Yes
Five Star Service: Yes
Curbside check-in: International only
Check-in times
In most locations, you must be checked in:
At least 45 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights within the United States
At least 60 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights to or from airports outside of the United States
Peculiarities:
ORD can be affected by winter storms or very heavy air traffic; ground holds even at incoming flights' departures airports, are not uncommon at these times. Knock-on effects during lengthy IROPS can manifest themselves systemwide.
NOTE: AA has 66 gates at Terminal 3, and has added five more at Concourse.Alaska, Iberia, and Japan Airlines all depart AA T-3. Alaska has moved to Terminal 2. All international arrivals are at Terminal 5, many international departures as well. AB, BA, CX, EY, QR, RJ depart T-5.
International arrivals from Canada airports without USCBP pre-clearance are sometimes listed as arriving at "IAB" - International Arrivals Building. These aircraft's passengers will not arrive at T-3 as domestic passengers; by Federal law, they must be cleared by USCBP, and that facility is at T-5.
There is no airside connection T-3 <--> T-5; one must go landside and use the free "ATS" airport train. Flyers connecting to BA departing T-5 may use the airside shuttle bus departing near gates G17 and K20. Every half hour 11 am - 9 pm. Sign with orange dot. TTB SERVICE HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED - TTB service takes travelers from the domestic terminals (1, 2, & 3) to Terminal 5 without having to exit security or be rescreened in Terminal 5 at the TSA checkpoint. [Still suspended as of 4/30/2022] Airside connection has been restored March 1, 2023 - SEE BELOW
Operating terminals and gates
Terminal 1 is used by All Nippon Airlines (Departures), Ethiopian (Departures), Lufthansa (Departures), and United.
Terminal 2 is used by Air Canada, Alaska,Delta, and previously US Airways, jetBlue, along with many United Express flights.
Terminal 3 is used byAlaska Airlines, American Airlines and for departures only by Iberia and Japan Airlines (exception: arriving international flights that have been USCBP cleared, e.g. originating in Canada or DUB, arrive at Terminal 3 as domestic flights). Other airlines flying domestically and not mentioned above are also handled in Terminal 3.
Concourse G is used mostly for American Eagle flights
Concourse H and K are used for mainline flights
Concourse K gates 12-20 are typically used for international flights
Concourse L is used mostly for American Eagle flights (as well as non-oneworld carriers)
Terminal 5 is now both an international and domestic terminal. Among the international flights, the following oneworld carriers depart and arrive here: British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Etihad Airways, Finnair, Qatar Airways, and Royal Jordanian; arriving international American Airlines, Iberia and Japan Airlines flights all arrive here as well. In fact, all arriving international passengers from places without pre-clearance will arrive at Terminal 5.
Domestic carriers now using Terminal 5 are: Delta and Delta Shuttle, Frontier, Southwest, and Sun Country.
Getting from terminal to terminal
Landside transfers are normally done by using the Airport Transit System train, which also connects to the airport car parks.The ATS is currently out of service with substitute buses operating at present. April 18, 2022: ATS service has been fully restored and is operating 24/7 daily.
Terminals are connected by frequent landside buses, and AA T3 - International T5 are connected by an airside Terminal Transit Bus (TTB). If you have a boarding pass for your connection (or a printed itinerary of flight confirmation), you can use this bus, boarding at G17 or K20 and arriving airside at T5 Gate M1. The TTB runs 7 days a week, 1100 / 11 am to 2100 / 9 pm while the ATS is shut down, but seasonally and with shorter hours when it is. At other times you must exit landside and use the landside bus.
If you arrive at O'Hare on an international flight you will arrive at Terminal 5. If you have a connecting domestic flight from T1-2-3. You must use the landside bus to T3 after you process Immigration and exit Customs. You will be required to pass through security at T3. Landside busses are frequent. May 1, 2022: Shuttle buses ended.
Airside:
walking corridors connect Terminals 1, 2 and 3 between terminals. (ATS landslide train must be used to connect to or from Terminal 5 outside of shuttle bus operating times.)
For those holding boarding passes on same day flights out of Terminal 5 (International Terminal), a shuttle bus will operate from T-3 (From Gates G17 and K20) to T-5 (Gate M13) between 11:30 am and 9:30 pm.[Still suspended as of 4/30/2022] March 1, 2023: Service restored. Connecting Traveler Information
Walking between terminals
Walking airside between terminals airside is possible (other than Terminal 5). There are no shortcuts and it can take significant time.
Arrival at the airport:
Within the U.S. as well as flights to Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, check in:
At least 30 minutes prior to departure (if not checking bags)
At least 45 minutes prior to departure when checking bags
For flights to international destinations check in:
At least two hours prior to departure to complete all necessary international requirements
Minimum time for checking in and arriving at the gate
To better ensure an on-time departure, our goal is to close the jetbridge door 10 minutes before departure time. This allows all customers to board and stow their belongings. (AA may release your seat if you show up at your gates less than 15 minutes prior to scheduled departure.)
To retain your pre-reserved seat on a confirmed flight, make sure to follow the minimum check in and gate arrival times.*
Time to baggage delivery:
minimum 20 minutes
Security at ORD
May 2016: security queues have been quite lengthy at times, requiring up to an hour to pass through security, even at PreCheck queues. Options include:
If you have Flagship Check-In privileges, they will place you at the head of the security queue next to that check-in area.
You may choose to process security at Terminal 2 and walk airside to the AA gates (UA is only slightly better than AA). If you have CLEAR, you might want to consider clearing security here.
The mid-terminal Pre-Check line tends to be better than the one at priority security.
Note: coming out from International Terminal Arrivals immigration and customs, you are landside and may find yourself with two options: leave the building land side, or take the escalators or lifts to the ATS train platform to proceed to the other terminals or remote parking lot. To access the other terminals, you will have to process through TSA security.
What is the domestic to domestic or to international Minimum Connection Time (MCT)?
The minimum connect time at ORD, domestic to domestic or international, is 0:40 minutes. Domestic to international is easy if your international flight departs the AA terminal, but domestic to International terminal is comfortably done in 2:00 (not the official MCT, 1:15), because of the lack of connectedness between terminals. International arrival at Terminal 5 with flight departing Terminal 3, Global Entry is likely to allow 2:00 or even less, but non-U.S. or Canadian passport holders with checked baggage might use 3:00 as a better guideline.
If I am making an international to international connection, what is the process?
There is no international transit process in nearly all airports in the USA (MIA has a baggage exception for international to international). Arriving internationally, unless you have been pre-cleared, you must proceed through U. S. immigration (there are kiosks and a fast channel for Global Entry approved passengers), recover your baggage from the baggage carousel and proceed through U. S. Customs. There is a "green line" shortcut for passengers traveling only with carry-on baggage (no checked luggage) which is called "1 Stop" and there are Global Entry kiosks and there have fairly recently been dedicated Global Entry customs lines added, which ORD lacked for a very long time. Global Entry kiosks are located both in the central part of the main immigration hall area, as well as in the hall next to the 1-Stop exit.
Upon exiting Customs there is a bag drop facility; drop your checked baggage, exit to the landside arrivals area. Proceed to the the AA terminal on the ATS train, to counters or kiosks to get boarding passes for your ongoing travel, then proceed through TSA security to airside.
At Chicago O’Hare (ORD), American Airlines operates out of Terminal 3
AA Ticket counters Open daily: 3:30am to 10:00pm
Flagship Check-in: Yes
Five Star Service: Yes
Curbside check-in: International only
Check-in times
In most locations, you must be checked in:
At least 45 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights within the United States
At least 60 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights to or from airports outside of the United States
Peculiarities:
ORD can be affected by winter storms or very heavy air traffic; ground holds even at incoming flights' departures airports, are not uncommon at these times. Knock-on effects during lengthy IROPS can manifest themselves systemwide.
NOTE: AA has 66 gates at Terminal 3, and has added five more at Concourse.
International arrivals from Canada airports without USCBP pre-clearance are sometimes listed as arriving at "IAB" - International Arrivals Building. These aircraft's passengers will not arrive at T-3 as domestic passengers; by Federal law, they must be cleared by USCBP, and that facility is at T-5.
Operating terminals and gates
Terminal 1 is used by All Nippon Airlines (Departures), Ethiopian (Departures), Lufthansa (Departures), and United.
Terminal 2 is used by Air Canada, Alaska,
Terminal 3 is used by
Concourse G is used mostly for American Eagle flights
Concourse H and K are used for mainline flights
Concourse K gates 12-20 are typically used for international flights
Concourse L is used mostly for American Eagle flights (as well as non-oneworld carriers)
Terminal 5 is now both an international and domestic terminal. Among the international flights, the following oneworld carriers depart and arrive here: British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Etihad Airways, Finnair, Qatar Airways, and Royal Jordanian; arriving international American Airlines, Iberia and Japan Airlines flights all arrive here as well. In fact, all arriving international passengers from places without pre-clearance will arrive at Terminal 5.
Domestic carriers now using Terminal 5 are: Delta and Delta Shuttle, Frontier, Southwest, and Sun Country.
Getting from terminal to terminal
Landside transfers are normally done by using the Airport Transit System train, which also connects to the airport car parks.
If you arrive at O'Hare on an international flight you will arrive at Terminal 5. If you have a connecting domestic flight from T1-2-3. You must use the landside bus to T3 after you process Immigration and exit Customs. You will be required to pass through security at T3. Landside busses are frequent.
Airside:
walking corridors connect Terminals 1, 2 and 3 between terminals. (ATS landslide train must be used to connect to or from Terminal 5 outside of shuttle bus operating times.)
For those holding boarding passes on same day flights out of Terminal 5 (International Terminal), a shuttle bus will operate from T-3 (From Gates G17 and K20) to T-5 (Gate M13) between 11:30 am and 9:30 pm.
Walking between terminals
Walking airside between terminals airside is possible (other than Terminal 5). There are no shortcuts and it can take significant time.
Arrival at the airport:
Within the U.S. as well as flights to Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, check in:
At least 30 minutes prior to departure (if not checking bags)
At least 45 minutes prior to departure when checking bags
For flights to international destinations check in:
At least two hours prior to departure to complete all necessary international requirements
Minimum time for checking in and arriving at the gate
To better ensure an on-time departure, our goal is to close the jetbridge door 10 minutes before departure time. This allows all customers to board and stow their belongings. (AA may release your seat if you show up at your gates less than 15 minutes prior to scheduled departure.)
To retain your pre-reserved seat on a confirmed flight, make sure to follow the minimum check in and gate arrival times.*
Time to baggage delivery:
minimum 20 minutes
Security at ORD
May 2016: security queues have been quite lengthy at times, requiring up to an hour to pass through security, even at PreCheck queues. Options include:
If you have Flagship Check-In privileges, they will place you at the head of the security queue next to that check-in area.
You may choose to process security at Terminal 2 and walk airside to the AA gates (UA is only slightly better than AA). If you have CLEAR, you might want to consider clearing security here.
The mid-terminal Pre-Check line tends to be better than the one at priority security.
Note: coming out from International Terminal Arrivals immigration and customs, you are landside and may find yourself with two options: leave the building land side, or take the escalators or lifts to the ATS train platform to proceed to the other terminals or remote parking lot. To access the other terminals, you will have to process through TSA security.
What is the domestic to domestic or to international Minimum Connection Time (MCT)?
The minimum connect time at ORD, domestic to domestic or international, is 0:40 minutes. Domestic to international is easy if your international flight departs the AA terminal, but domestic to International terminal is comfortably done in 2:00 (not the official MCT, 1:15), because of the lack of connectedness between terminals. International arrival at Terminal 5 with flight departing Terminal 3, Global Entry is likely to allow 2:00 or even less, but non-U.S. or Canadian passport holders with checked baggage might use 3:00 as a better guideline.
If I am making an international to international connection, what is the process?
There is no international transit process in nearly all airports in the USA (MIA has a baggage exception for international to international). Arriving internationally, unless you have been pre-cleared, you must proceed through U. S. immigration (there are kiosks and a fast channel for Global Entry approved passengers), recover your baggage from the baggage carousel and proceed through U. S. Customs. There is a "green line" shortcut for passengers traveling only with carry-on baggage (no checked luggage) which is called "1 Stop" and there are Global Entry kiosks and there have fairly recently been dedicated Global Entry customs lines added, which ORD lacked for a very long time. Global Entry kiosks are located both in the central part of the main immigration hall area, as well as in the hall next to the 1-Stop exit.
Upon exiting Customs there is a bag drop facility; drop your checked baggage, exit to the landside arrivals area. Proceed to the the AA terminal on the ATS train, to counters or kiosks to get boarding passes for your ongoing travel, then proceed through TSA security to airside.
AA Guide: ORD / Chicago O'Hare International Airport - MCT, Connection, etc.
#46
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 2,781
Looks like the flight from CWA gets in at 4:20, which means a fairly tight 40 minute connection. I would personally opt to check the bag to give yourself as much time as possible to make the walk. The flight usually arrives on-time or slightly early, so I think you have a good chance of making the connection barring any unexpected weather problems (forecast for tomorrow is fine), but with how congested the G pier can get in the late afternoon I wouldn't count on having any more time than planned.
Last edited by linglingfool; Jul 23, 2014 at 7:33 pm Reason: Misread arrival time
#47
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,933
It will probably work on a good day, even with a gate checked bag, but the CWA-ORD flight ran 13 minutes late on Tuesday which would squeeze you a bit. If I didn't have much to do at the LAX end I would go for the later flight and use the time at ORD for a relaxed dinner in your position.
#48
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,315
Thanks to those that offered help.
The flight actually was 35 minutes late departing, which would have only given me 5 minutes from G17 to H16. I would have never made it, as the ORD-LAX flight took off on time.
Thankfully, the proactive CWA staff got me on the next flight in F. So I was able to gate check my bag, and while I got in late, it was a nice flight.
40 minutes in ORD? Never again.
The flight actually was 35 minutes late departing, which would have only given me 5 minutes from G17 to H16. I would have never made it, as the ORD-LAX flight took off on time.
Thankfully, the proactive CWA staff got me on the next flight in F. So I was able to gate check my bag, and while I got in late, it was a nice flight.
40 minutes in ORD? Never again.
#49
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
Hi
For some reason, I booked a ridiculous connection time, most likely to get home at a decent time.
I thought having only carry on would make it easier but I now think it's harder.
Tomorrow I am leaving CWA (Wausau Wisconsin) at 3:15 pm, arriving at gate G17 (ouch). My Ord-lax flight leaves at 5pm at H16.
On the way in, retrieving the gate checked carryon was a good 8 minutes.
Should I do regular check in for the bag? I'm going home, if it doesn't make it on my flight, that's ok. Although it means a while at lax sorting it out, it will save me a few minutes at ORD.
The next flight is 7:10 pm. Should I just bite the bullet and change flights? It means taking a window seat instead of 16d (aisle with the seat next to it blocked)? Then I know I wouldn't get a middle seat if I missed the 5pm.
Both flights have low upgrade chances (f1 at 5pm, f2 at 7:10 pm) ; I'd probably change flights if the upgrade chances were better on the later flight.
Thanks in advance.
For some reason, I booked a ridiculous connection time, most likely to get home at a decent time.
I thought having only carry on would make it easier but I now think it's harder.
Tomorrow I am leaving CWA (Wausau Wisconsin) at 3:15 pm, arriving at gate G17 (ouch). My Ord-lax flight leaves at 5pm at H16.
On the way in, retrieving the gate checked carryon was a good 8 minutes.
Should I do regular check in for the bag? I'm going home, if it doesn't make it on my flight, that's ok. Although it means a while at lax sorting it out, it will save me a few minutes at ORD.
The next flight is 7:10 pm. Should I just bite the bullet and change flights? It means taking a window seat instead of 16d (aisle with the seat next to it blocked)? Then I know I wouldn't get a middle seat if I missed the 5pm.
Both flights have low upgrade chances (f1 at 5pm, f2 at 7:10 pm) ; I'd probably change flights if the upgrade chances were better on the later flight.
Thanks in advance.
#50
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 2,781
#51
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: SEATTLE, WA USA
Programs: UAL, AA, AS, CX
Posts: 1,973
Hong kong to ord then onward domestically
How much transit time should I allow when coming inbound from HKG on Cathay in F class to ORD, and then connecting to an AA domestic flight?
Currently I see I would arrive 735pm on Cathay with an 835pm departure on AA. Is one hour really enough? I'm not sure if I will or will not check bags. I try not to as much as I can. Thanks
Currently I see I would arrive 735pm on Cathay with an 835pm departure on AA. Is one hour really enough? I'm not sure if I will or will not check bags. I try not to as much as I can. Thanks
#52
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
Programs: AA (Plt Pro; 1.5 MM)
Posts: 6,185
(1) Clear immigration. Being in F will help exiting the plane first, but how long immigration takes I can't guess.
(2) (Forget about checking bags.)
(3) Take the airport train to T3.
(4) At T3, go through security.
(5) Walk to the gate.
Better look at other options. Does AA have a later flight? Otherwise, why not enjoy one of the lovely ORD hotels and continue in the morning.
#53
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 2,781
I agree that it's a bit close for comfort, but some things you have going for you:
You don't need to be there until 15 minutes before the door closes, so you've got more like 45 minutes to get through everything. I arrived at ORD at 7:46 for an 8:15 flight last Friday night and made it on board before 8:00, so the part once you've cleared customs is definitely doable, provided you get through CBP quickly enough.
- ORD has oneworld connection staff that are good about meeting travelers with tight connections, especially those in premium cabins. They'll give you a priority pass through immigration which will help speed things up quite a bit, assuming you don't have Global Entry.
- Security at 8pm is pretty light, especially in the premium line at checkpoint 8, which you will be able to use on account of your Plat status.
You don't need to be there until 15 minutes before the door closes, so you've got more like 45 minutes to get through everything. I arrived at ORD at 7:46 for an 8:15 flight last Friday night and made it on board before 8:00, so the part once you've cleared customs is definitely doable, provided you get through CBP quickly enough.
#54
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,933
How much transit time should I allow when coming inbound from HKG on Cathay in F class to ORD, and then connecting to an AA domestic flight?
Currently I see I would arrive 735pm on Cathay with an 835pm departure on AA. Is one hour really enough? I'm not sure if I will or will not check bags. I try not to as much as I can. Thanks
Currently I see I would arrive 735pm on Cathay with an 835pm departure on AA. Is one hour really enough? I'm not sure if I will or will not check bags. I try not to as much as I can. Thanks
#55
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold but PlatPro thanks to LPs
Posts: 4,439
How much transit time should I allow when coming inbound from HKG on Cathay in F class to ORD, and then connecting to an AA domestic flight?
Currently I see I would arrive 735pm on Cathay with an 835pm departure on AA. Is one hour really enough? I'm not sure if I will or will not check bags. I try not to as much as I can. Thanks
Currently I see I would arrive 735pm on Cathay with an 835pm departure on AA. Is one hour really enough? I'm not sure if I will or will not check bags. I try not to as much as I can. Thanks
I have Global Entry, so the CBP process was fast. The checked luggage was delivered promptly so I was out of there and on the train.
I got to T3, went through that security and then entered the main concourse. Out of curiosity, I looked up my original flight and noticed it was "now boarding". To make that flight, I needed to sprint, even after a painless GE-enhanced CBP process.
Instead, I leisurely waited for my booked flight 2 hours later.
If 1:40 was borderline for me and Global Entry, then I'd say 1:00 would be nuts.
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: LAX; AA EXP, MM; HH Gold
Posts: 31,789
Agreed. If you have no checked bags, you're young and in shape, and you have a lightweight carryon and can hustle, and your time is so valuable that the thought of building in an extra two hours aggravates your ulcer, then by all means, try to do it in an hour. In short, Type A's will do what Type A's always do. For everyone else, building in some extra connection time helps reduce stress.
#57
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AA PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,405
What would y'all do - I found a good CX PE fare departing at 3:30 PM. Wondering whether to chance arriving into ORD at 1:20 PM on the nonstop, or flying out earlier and connecting through DFW, aiming for a noon arrival into ORD. Not sure what's more risky - taking a nonstop a little later in the morning which meets the MCT (but barely) - or flying out earlier and making a connection and risking that, but if it works out, arriving into ORD earlier. To complicate it the AA flts to ORD and the onward on CX will be separate tickets. Oh joy!
#58
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
Programs: AA (Plt Pro; 1.5 MM)
Posts: 6,185
What would y'all do - I found a good CX PE fare departing at 3:30 PM. Wondering whether to chance arriving into ORD at 1:20 PM on the nonstop, or flying out earlier and connecting through DFW, aiming for a noon arrival into ORD. Not sure what's more risky - taking a nonstop a little later in the morning which meets the MCT (but barely) - or flying out earlier and making a connection and risking that, but if it works out, arriving into ORD earlier. To complicate it the AA flts to ORD and the onward on CX will be separate tickets. Oh joy!
Is there an earlier nonstop? It would help to know where you are starting from.
Last edited by aktchi; Sep 22, 2014 at 10:49 pm
#59
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AA PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,405
From OKC. There's a 6 AM nonstop which would guarantee we make the connection, but then we sit at ORD for 7 hours and have a relatively sleepless night (am already on call the night before). I think we'll just chance it at go with the 11 AM flight. Agree - plenty of time to make the connection at ORD barring ridiculous delays/bad weather.
#60
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
Programs: AA (Plt Pro; 1.5 MM)
Posts: 6,185
From OKC. There's a 6 AM nonstop which would guarantee we make the connection, but then we sit at ORD for 7 hours and have a relatively sleepless night (am already on call the night before). I think we'll just chance it at go with the 11 AM flight. Agree - plenty of time to make the connection at ORD barring ridiculous delays/bad weather.
If you decide to chance the 11AM flight: Watch weather forecast carefully. If it looks dicey, standby for the 6AM flight.