Oct 18, 2015, 7:37 pm
Last edit by: TEDisgone
Please edit or add information to this wiki as necessary.
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.
Jan 1, 2018, 10:37 am
#721
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 9
Carry-on only domestic to international, two tickets.
I am considering this award booking but see some challenges. Two different ticket reservations. AA Colorado Springs to ORD, economy. 50 minutes from landing (3:50pm to 4:40pm) in ORD to next flight Iberia to Madrid, business. If I am carry-on only, can I print out or use mobile boarding pass for Iberia in advance and not need to check in at ORD Iberia check-in counter? If yes, is 50 minutes enough time to transit? I know the inherent risk of multiple carrier/ticket. This flight is in late May, so no winter weather risk.
Jan 1, 2018, 4:02 pm
#722
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,663
I am considering this award booking but see some challenges. Two different ticket reservations. AA Colorado Springs to ORD, economy. 50 minutes from landing (3:50pm to 4:40pm) in ORD to next flight Iberia to Madrid, business. If I am carry-on only, can I print out or use mobile boarding pass for Iberia in advance and not need to check in at ORD Iberia check-in counter? If yes, is 50 minutes enough time to transit? I know the inherent risk of multiple carrier/ticket. This flight is in late May, so no winter weather risk.
If it was the other way around it would have been easier to take the risk, but here you are risking the TATL and more expensive flight, so this is a recipe for disaster.
The only way I would take that risk is if you are AA EXP and the second flight is an award flight (cancelable for free) and you can book (and redeposit for free) a back up saver award MAD flight for the next day or later in the day, and your schedule is flexible. In that case you won't lose any money, other than a hotel night, if needed.
Last edited by nk15; Jan 1, 2018 at 4:15 pm
Jan 1, 2018, 4:44 pm
#723
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ORD, LAS
Programs: AA-EXP, BAEC Silver, Hyatt-Globalist, Hilton-gold, SPG-gold
Posts: 855
I am considering this award booking but see some challenges. Two different ticket reservations. AA Colorado Springs to ORD, economy. 50 minutes from landing (3:50pm to 4:40pm) in ORD to next flight Iberia to Madrid, business. If I am carry-on only, can I print out or use mobile boarding pass for Iberia in advance and not need to check in at ORD Iberia check-in counter? If yes, is 50 minutes enough time to transit? I know the inherent risk of multiple carrier/ticket. This flight is in late May, so no winter weather risk.
Jan 1, 2018, 5:31 pm
#724
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: KCGX
Posts: 144
There is an airside shuttle from Terminal 3 to 5, but if you dont catch it at just the right time, you may not make it due to the wait time. If you take the landside tram, you will have to clear security again. You are cutting it super close. I dont think I would try it. Unless everything goes perfectly, you will not make your flight.
Jan 1, 2018, 5:39 pm
#725
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 9
My AA flight from COS likely lands at or near Terminal 3 G10. Iberia is Terminal 3 K-something. So it's not far. My alternative flight from COS to ORD is arriving at 11am, so 5+ hour layover, which would be fine at a lounge. I liked the idea of taking off and landing COS ORD MAD in 11.5 hours. I don't like the idea of missing the connection, hassle of award ticket, missed reservations, etc... Part of the trade off from leaving from a small airport (10 gates) is less convenient flights. So unless someone had some recent similar experience and said 'go for it', I'll do the morning positioning flight. Thank you for your help.
Jan 1, 2018, 6:58 pm
#727
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,663
Given that you are in business on the MAD flight, you should have access to the AA flagship lounge at ORD T3, so this will be a great place for a layover (the best in the whole airport, other than UA's Polaris lounge). http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.c...hicago-review/
If the second flight to MAD is an award flight, you can perhaps add the first flight for free to the itinerary, if there is availability. This will protect you from IRROPS.
Based on my reading of this http://www.iberia.com/us/time-limit/ , check in closes at T-60, so if for whatever reason it won't let you check in online, you will miss the flight. For your plan to work, you should be able to check in online, sit towards the front of the plane, and your first flight be no more than 10-15 min late. (you probably need at least 15 min to walk between gates, maybe more if not fast walker). So, if all goes well you can make it, if not, no. Based on these, I would put the chance of you making it at around 50%.
If the second flight to MAD is an award flight, you can perhaps add the first flight for free to the itinerary, if there is availability. This will protect you from IRROPS.
Based on my reading of this http://www.iberia.com/us/time-limit/ , check in closes at T-60, so if for whatever reason it won't let you check in online, you will miss the flight. For your plan to work, you should be able to check in online, sit towards the front of the plane, and your first flight be no more than 10-15 min late. (you probably need at least 15 min to walk between gates, maybe more if not fast walker). So, if all goes well you can make it, if not, no. Based on these, I would put the chance of you making it at around 50%.
Last edited by nk15; Jan 1, 2018 at 7:36 pm
Jan 1, 2018, 7:46 pm
#729
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,663
The awards are priced as USA to Europe, so it doesn't matter what city it originates in the US. That means you can add a segment within the US before the TATL segment for free (in this case COS-ORD can be added for free to ORD-MAD). However, it has to have award availability for that segment (COS-ORD). Assuming that the ORD-MAD flight is also booked with miles as an award, you can call whomever you used miles from for the second flight (Iberia, AA, etc) and ask the to search for availability and add the first flight. However, if you have already booked these and you don't have status, you will incur change/cancellation fees, which could be substantial.
Jan 1, 2018, 8:06 pm
#731
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,663
Call Iberia and ask for the whole reservation. There may be a situation where the COS-ORD segment may not have the same award type availability as the ord-mad segment, i,e., one available in J and one in Y. If the first segment is only available in Y, the agent may be able to tack it on still, ask and see what they can do.
Jan 2, 2018, 9:06 am
#732
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: ORD and RSW
Programs: Former long time AA EXP and CK - 4 MM; Now LTPL; Hilton Diamond; UA Platinum
Posts: 380
Given that you are in business on the MAD flight, you should have access to the AA flagship lounge at ORD T3, so this will be a great place for a layover (the best in the whole airport, other than UA's Polaris lounge). Review: American Flagship Lounge Chicago O'Hare Airport - One Mile at a Time
If the second flight to MAD is an award flight, you can perhaps add the first flight for free to the itinerary, if there is availability. This will protect you from IRROPS.
Based on my reading of this Time limit , check in closes at T-60, so if for whatever reason it won't let you check in online, you will miss the flight. For your plan to work, you should be able to check in online, sit towards the front of the plane, and your first flight be no more than 10-15 min late. (you probably need at least 15 min to walk between gates, maybe more if not fast walker). So, if all goes well you can make it, if not, no. Based on these, I would put the chance of you making it at around 50%.
If the second flight to MAD is an award flight, you can perhaps add the first flight for free to the itinerary, if there is availability. This will protect you from IRROPS.
Based on my reading of this Time limit , check in closes at T-60, so if for whatever reason it won't let you check in online, you will miss the flight. For your plan to work, you should be able to check in online, sit towards the front of the plane, and your first flight be no more than 10-15 min late. (you probably need at least 15 min to walk between gates, maybe more if not fast walker). So, if all goes well you can make it, if not, no. Based on these, I would put the chance of you making it at around 50%.
Jan 9, 2018, 9:09 am
#733
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 9
Well, I talked to an Iberia CSR and they charge Avios by segment, so no free COS to ORD. Bizarrely, the quote for the additional segment was at first 146,000 Avios (just COS to ORD round trip). I told the CSR that that can't be right. He double checked and re adjusted the quote to 94,000 additional Avios; again just for the COS to ORD RT segment. He was pricing it as business class even though there are no business class seats on that flight, which he admitted was the only way. I hung up, booked the ORD to MAD portion online and then went to AA and did the COS to ORD roundtrip in economy for 25k round trip.
Jan 15, 2018, 5:27 pm
#734
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 32
Connection times at ORD
Hi,
Could someone give me some advice on connection times at ORD. I'm flying from the UK MAN-ORD-LAS with AA, my original flight gave me 2h 35 mins connection time in ORD but AA have now changed the time of my flight for MAN-ORD and I now only have 65 minutes connection time.
I'm slightly concerned that 65 minutes will not be long enough to collect my checked luggage, go through immigration, drop off the luggage again, change terminals and go through security again. If I couldn't make the connection because there were long queues at immigration or something like that, would AA just book me on another flight? and would that be a direct flight if there is a direct flight later that day?
Also, what would happen with my checked luggage as it would be tagged with the flight number for the flight I had missed, would that somehow end up on the flight I get re-booked on or would I end up having to wait for it at LAS.
Thanks.
Could someone give me some advice on connection times at ORD. I'm flying from the UK MAN-ORD-LAS with AA, my original flight gave me 2h 35 mins connection time in ORD but AA have now changed the time of my flight for MAN-ORD and I now only have 65 minutes connection time.
I'm slightly concerned that 65 minutes will not be long enough to collect my checked luggage, go through immigration, drop off the luggage again, change terminals and go through security again. If I couldn't make the connection because there were long queues at immigration or something like that, would AA just book me on another flight? and would that be a direct flight if there is a direct flight later that day?
Also, what would happen with my checked luggage as it would be tagged with the flight number for the flight I had missed, would that somehow end up on the flight I get re-booked on or would I end up having to wait for it at LAS.
Thanks.
Jan 15, 2018, 5:40 pm
#735
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Pleasecread the Wikipost at the top of the thread. Official MCT I-D is 1:15; I’d never book that.
1:05 is generally insufficient to arrive at the international terminal, process immigration, re over baggage, process Customs, recheck your baggage, take the train to T-3, process security and get to your gate. With the considerable time change on your connection I’d contact AA for a better solution, particularly in winter, and as your connection now violates MCT.
1:05 is generally insufficient to arrive at the international terminal, process immigration, re over baggage, process Customs, recheck your baggage, take the train to T-3, process security and get to your gate. With the considerable time change on your connection I’d contact AA for a better solution, particularly in winter, and as your connection now violates MCT.