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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.
#1381
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: TVC
Programs: AA EXP/LT PLT., Marriott LT GLD
Posts: 504
#1382
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 8
MAD-ORD-DFW connection help
This fall I will be flying Madrid to Chicago on Iberia, then Chicago to Dallas on American. These were booked as separate tickets due to the award fights available at the time. The Iberia flight is scheduled to land at 2:10 pm and my American flight takes off at 5:17 pm. I have global entry, tsa pre, and clear.
I have two questions. First with both flights being Oneworld partners, is there any chance of having my bags checked through to Dallas? Then second, if no on the bags is this enough time to clear customs, recheck bags, get thru security, and make my flight?
If it makes any difference the Iberia flight is business class and American is first. I don't have status with either airline.
I have two questions. First with both flights being Oneworld partners, is there any chance of having my bags checked through to Dallas? Then second, if no on the bags is this enough time to clear customs, recheck bags, get thru security, and make my flight?
If it makes any difference the Iberia flight is business class and American is first. I don't have status with either airline.
#1383
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: SFO/DFW
Programs: AA-EP, A3*G, UA*S
Posts: 290
This fall I will be flying Madrid to Chicago on Iberia, then Chicago to Dallas on American. These were booked as separate tickets due to the award fights available at the time. The Iberia flight is scheduled to land at 2:10 pm and my American flight takes off at 5:17 pm. I have global entry, tsa pre, and clear.
I have two questions. First with both flights being Oneworld partners, is there any chance of having my bags checked through to Dallas? Then second, if no on the bags is this enough time to clear customs, recheck bags, get thru security, and make my flight?
If it makes any difference the Iberia flight is business class and American is first. I don't have status with either airline.
I have two questions. First with both flights being Oneworld partners, is there any chance of having my bags checked through to Dallas? Then second, if no on the bags is this enough time to clear customs, recheck bags, get thru security, and make my flight?
If it makes any difference the Iberia flight is business class and American is first. I don't have status with either airline.
Three hours should be more than sufficient assuming flight is on time.
#1386
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: BA GGL, Matmid Gold, TAP Air S* Gold, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 160
Ord layover question
I am flying from EWR via ORD to LHR in business, first leg AA, connection to BA.
I am BA GGL. (Top tier)
I have a knee issue, but really don't like a wheelchair... Will I have to exit security to connect from the domestic leg in terminal 3 to the international leg, at terminal 5?
Am I better off taking a wheelchair? Or perhaps for the short layover AA special services will help me based on status?
15:29 landing in ORD
17:08 takeoff to LHR
so about an hour and a half layover- on the same ticket... All insight and advice much appreciated.
Thank you!
I am BA GGL. (Top tier)
I have a knee issue, but really don't like a wheelchair... Will I have to exit security to connect from the domestic leg in terminal 3 to the international leg, at terminal 5?
Am I better off taking a wheelchair? Or perhaps for the short layover AA special services will help me based on status?
15:29 landing in ORD
17:08 takeoff to LHR
so about an hour and a half layover- on the same ticket... All insight and advice much appreciated.
Thank you!
#1387
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,202
There is a dedicated thread related to ORD here. I think the airside bus is back running again.
AA Guide: ORD / Chicago O'Hare International Airport - MCT, Connection, etc.
AA Guide: ORD / Chicago O'Hare International Airport - MCT, Connection, etc.
#1388
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2022
Posts: 3
Doesn't matter if it's checked through to Dallas or not. You need to pick it up at ORD as the first port of entry anyways. Only difference is you might save a few minutes when dropping it back off after customs (otherwise there are agents there that can check you in for the DFW flight and print new bag tags).
Three hours should be more than sufficient assuming flight is on time.
Three hours should be more than sufficient assuming flight is on time.
#1389
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: DL DM/2MM, UA Gold/1MM, AS MVP 100K, BA Gold, TK Elite
Posts: 1,425
If you show your ticket confirmation @ Priority Checkin in MAD, they should be able to tag your bags to DFW. So while you’ll still have to pick them up in ORD, it will likely save you some time to just drop them back off after passing through customs, instead of waiting in another line to print out a
new bag tag.
new bag tag.
#1390
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: BA GGL, Matmid Gold, TAP Air S* Gold, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 160
I am flying from EWR via ORD to LHR in business, first leg AA, connection to BA.
I am BA GGL. (Top tier)
I have a knee issue, but really don't like a wheelchair... Will I have to exit security to connect from the domestic leg in terminal 3 to the international leg, at terminal 5?
Am I better off taking a wheelchair? Or perhaps for the short layover AA special services will help me based on status?
15:29 landing in ORD
17:08 takeoff to LHR
so about an hour and a half layover- on the same ticket... All insight and advice much appreciated.
Thank you!
I am BA GGL. (Top tier)
I have a knee issue, but really don't like a wheelchair... Will I have to exit security to connect from the domestic leg in terminal 3 to the international leg, at terminal 5?
Am I better off taking a wheelchair? Or perhaps for the short layover AA special services will help me based on status?
15:29 landing in ORD
17:08 takeoff to LHR
so about an hour and a half layover- on the same ticket... All insight and advice much appreciated.
Thank you!
#1391
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: In the Land Beyond OHare
Programs: 3RR, UA, BA, AA, HH, Marriott RW,
Posts: 202
As far as I know the TTB operation is still suspended, (link below, they update it regularly) meaning you'll need to exit/reenter. And, with only a 1.5 hour layover, I hope your first flight isn't delayed and they don't close the BA door early!
https://www.flychicago.com/ohare/Ser...Pages/tbt.aspx
https://www.flychicago.com/ohare/Ser...Pages/tbt.aspx
#1392
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,933
I am flying from EWR via ORD to LHR in business, first leg AA, connection to BA.
I am BA GGL. (Top tier)
I have a knee issue, but really don't like a wheelchair... Will I have to exit security to connect from the domestic leg in terminal 3 to the international leg, at terminal 5?
Am I better off taking a wheelchair? Or perhaps for the short layover AA special services will help me based on status?
15:29 landing in ORD
17:08 takeoff to LHR
so about an hour and a half layover- on the same ticket... All insight and advice much appreciated.
Thank you!
I am BA GGL. (Top tier)
I have a knee issue, but really don't like a wheelchair... Will I have to exit security to connect from the domestic leg in terminal 3 to the international leg, at terminal 5?
Am I better off taking a wheelchair? Or perhaps for the short layover AA special services will help me based on status?
15:29 landing in ORD
17:08 takeoff to LHR
so about an hour and a half layover- on the same ticket... All insight and advice much appreciated.
Thank you!
#1393
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,741
Last time my family used the wheelchair service at T3 they ended up on a cart instead of the wheelchair, which would be handy if you come in at the end of a concourse to at least get you closer to the train.
#1394
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,719
You didn't do anything wrong. This is the protocol for international arrivals at all US airports -- you have to claim your bag and pass through Customs at your first landfall. So in practice it makes very little difference whether you check the bag to your final destination or not; you will still see it in the Chicago arrivals hall.
#1395
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Chicagoland
Programs: AA exp 3mm Hertz 5*
Posts: 334
I am flying from EWR via ORD to LHR in business, first leg AA, connection to BA.
I am BA GGL. (Top tier)
I have a knee issue, but really don't like a wheelchair... Will I have to exit security to connect from the domestic leg in terminal 3 to the international leg, at terminal 5?
Am I better off taking a wheelchair? Or perhaps for the short layover AA special services will help me based on status?
15:29 landing in ORD
17:08 takeoff to LHR
so about an hour and a half layover- on the same ticket... All insight and advice much appreciated.
Thank you!
I am BA GGL. (Top tier)
I have a knee issue, but really don't like a wheelchair... Will I have to exit security to connect from the domestic leg in terminal 3 to the international leg, at terminal 5?
Am I better off taking a wheelchair? Or perhaps for the short layover AA special services will help me based on status?
15:29 landing in ORD
17:08 takeoff to LHR
so about an hour and a half layover- on the same ticket... All insight and advice much appreciated.
Thank you!
the attendant will take you from t-3 to t-5 (on train) and help you get through the oft lengthy security lines at t-5.
imho, status gets you nothing.
Keep a 20 handy.