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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.
#1201
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 2,781
The renovations to the ATS will be done around Thanksgiving. Assuming travel is after that, very doable in two hours with GE and a carry-on. (I've made similar connections in less than 30 minutes.)
#1202
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
#1203
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 2,781
#1204
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BMI
Programs: AA EXP, Delta, Amtrak, Hertz PC
Posts: 656
Wow, right again. The ATS train is now out of service until the next decade !! Well, January 2020 anyway, until it gets delayed again. Unplanned mechanical issues.
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/dept...e-in-earl.html
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/dept...e-in-earl.html
#1205
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: St. Louis, MO, USA
Programs: AA PPro, Mariott Gold Elite, Lowly kettle across every other loyalty program.
Posts: 778
Luggage storage in ORD/leaving the airport
We are going STL-ORD-VCE, in business, but there is an enormous premium to reduce our 6 hour layover to something more tolerable. Is there somewhere we can securely store our carryons so we can go into the city, or are we stuck at ORD? I know 6 hours isn't a lot, but we can take an earlier flight and spend the morning/early afternoon somewhere other than the Flagship Lounge.
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
#1206
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,435
Sorry, I should have asked this with my original post, but does it work the same way on the outbound? If I book LAX-ORD-FCO, will I likely land in T2 at ORD and have to get to T5 (for the int'l departure)? I'm eyeing a few sAAver awards with a 1:45 connection at ORD.
#1207
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,285
Lax-Ord-Fco you will land and depart from T3. So 1:45 min is a lot of time
#1209
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Minnesota
Programs: AA EXP; United 1K, Delta, IHG Plat Amb, PE, Marriott/Hilton Gold
Posts: 749
Lounge access - recent experiences?
flying through ORDin a few weeks. AA-QR J class connection. We will stay at the Flagship lounge before heading over to terminal 5 but wondering if there is any chance we will be able to get into the BA lounge in 5. I am Oneworld emerald so, technically, should have access but know in practice that has been iffy. Any recent experience?
i know we can get into the KLM/Air France and I do hope to keep our T5 lounge time to a minimum but prefer BA lounge if we can get in. Should we even try or is generally a waste of time?
TIA,AJ
flying through ORDin a few weeks. AA-QR J class connection. We will stay at the Flagship lounge before heading over to terminal 5 but wondering if there is any chance we will be able to get into the BA lounge in 5. I am Oneworld emerald so, technically, should have access but know in practice that has been iffy. Any recent experience?
i know we can get into the KLM/Air France and I do hope to keep our T5 lounge time to a minimum but prefer BA lounge if we can get in. Should we even try or is generally a waste of time?
TIA,AJ
#1210
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,443
Lounge access - recent experiences?
flying through ORDin a few weeks. AA-QR J class connection. We will stay at the Flagship lounge before heading over to terminal 5 but wondering if there is any chance we will be able to get into the BA lounge in 5. I am Oneworld emerald so, technically, should have access but know in practice that has been iffy. Any recent experience?
i know we can get into the KLM/Air France and I do hope to keep our T5 lounge time to a minimum but prefer BA lounge if we can get in. Should we even try or is generally a waste of time?
TIA,AJ
flying through ORDin a few weeks. AA-QR J class connection. We will stay at the Flagship lounge before heading over to terminal 5 but wondering if there is any chance we will be able to get into the BA lounge in 5. I am Oneworld emerald so, technically, should have access but know in practice that has been iffy. Any recent experience?
i know we can get into the KLM/Air France and I do hope to keep our T5 lounge time to a minimum but prefer BA lounge if we can get in. Should we even try or is generally a waste of time?
TIA,AJ
#1211
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Minnesota
Programs: AA EXP; United 1K, Delta, IHG Plat Amb, PE, Marriott/Hilton Gold
Posts: 749
Kind of what I figured. Thanks
#1212
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
Programs: AA (Plt Pro; 1.5 MM)
Posts: 6,185
Lounge access - recent experiences?
flying through ORDin a few weeks. AA-QR J class connection. We will stay at the Flagship lounge before heading over to terminal 5 but wondering if there is any chance we will be able to get into the BA lounge in 5. I am Oneworld emerald so, technically, should have access but know in practice that has been iffy.
flying through ORDin a few weeks. AA-QR J class connection. We will stay at the Flagship lounge before heading over to terminal 5 but wondering if there is any chance we will be able to get into the BA lounge in 5. I am Oneworld emerald so, technically, should have access but know in practice that has been iffy.
Transfer to T5.
Now, lounges in T5 are nothing special, I would prefer Tortas Frontera to any lounge food anywhere anyway, so enjoy a meal there and go to your gate for check-in.
Personally this is what I would do even if I was flying BA and lounge access was not an issue. It is just not worth it.
Last edited by aktchi; Nov 15, 2019 at 11:53 pm
#1213
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 2,327
Hi All
Will fly with AA LHR-ORD-SEA early December. Connection time 3 hours. Will I have still time to visit the Flagship Lounge despite ATS not working (no luggage, GE, TSA pre)?
Thanks all!
Will fly with AA LHR-ORD-SEA early December. Connection time 3 hours. Will I have still time to visit the Flagship Lounge despite ATS not working (no luggage, GE, TSA pre)?
Thanks all!
#1214
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,285
#1215
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 44
T3-T5 Jan 2020
I have a flight booked through ORD to LHR. I arrive on a regional jet, probably to a G gate at 3:40P on a Sun in Jan, and depart on BA 297 (booked as a codeshare through AA) at 5:10P. I know about the Terminal Transfer Bus but I've never actually used it. As best I can tell, the MCT is 1h15m, so 1h30m is at least over that. I'll be flying economy on the incoming flight (there's nothing else...) and Club World on the outgoing flight. What are my chances of making that flight? I can walk briskly but I probably can't run the whole way.
Would it be better to fly carry on only so my bag can't get lost, knowing I will have to gate check my roller bag on the incoming flight, or would it be better to check it to save waiting for it to get brought to the gate?
If there's bad weather forecasted, would it be worth trying to call AA to change the flight, or will they not do anything until the incoming flight is actually delayed?
If I miss the flight and have to be rebooked, can I take the TTB back if they rebook me on an AA operated flight?
Thanks for any advice.
Would it be better to fly carry on only so my bag can't get lost, knowing I will have to gate check my roller bag on the incoming flight, or would it be better to check it to save waiting for it to get brought to the gate?
If there's bad weather forecasted, would it be worth trying to call AA to change the flight, or will they not do anything until the incoming flight is actually delayed?
If I miss the flight and have to be rebooked, can I take the TTB back if they rebook me on an AA operated flight?
Thanks for any advice.