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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.
#1426
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Alpharetta, GA, USA
Posts: 948
Flying ATL-ORD-DOH on New Years Eve arriving 4pm into ORD and departing to DOH at 6:35pm. AA award ticket on AA F and QR J. I assume we arrive T3 and depart T5. Assuming on time arrival into ORD, what time do we need to depart Flagship Lounge to head to T5? We have clear and precheck it that helps. Thanks.
#1427
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,123
Flying ATL-ORD-DOH on New Years Eve arriving 4pm into ORD and departing to DOH at 6:35pm. AA award ticket on AA F and QR J. I assume we arrive T3 and depart T5. Assuming on time arrival into ORD, what time do we need to depart Flagship Lounge to head to T5? We have clear and precheck it that helps. Thanks.
Personally I would not get to T5 later than 90 minutes before departure. You could cut it a little closer if you don't mind the risk.
This has been discussed in the following thread in the USA - Midwest forum. There are people there who have more experience than I have with T5. You might want to post your question there.
ORD Terminal 5 discussion (more recent posts)
#1428
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Alpharetta, GA, USA
Posts: 948
The second variable (beyond the timeliness of your flight from ATL) is the amount of time required to check in and clear security. Business check in for QR at ORD is typically pretty quick. However you cannot count on the availability of PreCheck at T5. There are PreCheck lanes at T5 but staffing seems to be an issue. I have been through security at T5 where the PreCheck lanes are open and functioning properly and have cleared security in 5 - 10 minutes. I have been there where you go through the PreCheck lane and get dumped in with everybody else and have to be cleared as if I did not have PreCheck. I have been there and the PreCheck lanes are closed.
Personally I would not get to T5 later than 90 minutes before departure. You could cut it a little closer if you don't mind the risk.
This has been discussed in the following thread in the USA - Midwest forum. There are people there who have more experience than I have with T5. You might want to post your question there.
ORD Terminal 5 discussion (more recent posts)
Personally I would not get to T5 later than 90 minutes before departure. You could cut it a little closer if you don't mind the risk.
This has been discussed in the following thread in the USA - Midwest forum. There are people there who have more experience than I have with T5. You might want to post your question there.
ORD Terminal 5 discussion (more recent posts)
#1429
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,123
If you have a boarding pass you should be able to get through security. You still may have to get a QR issued pass at the gate. But since I never connect at ORD, hopefully someone else can jump in to give you an informed answer.
#1430
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Canada
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 1,254
Yes, it is lucky for sure. In my case I would have chosen to connect via a different city since any of the eastern seaboard would have been just as good. Never mind, I’ve learned to always check flyertalk before booking a new route. It didn’t even occur to me that there wouldn’t be a connections facility!
#1431
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 397
I’m surprised AA would offer
DTW-ORD-PVR with only a 35 minute transit in Chicago. Isn’t that less then MCT, even before accounting for international?
Example:
Jan 14
AA 3141 DTW-ORD 6:00A-6:20A
AA 1910 ORD-PVR 6:55A-11:29A
they do warn to notice connection time on AA.com, but allow booking. OTAs don’t warn
DTW-ORD-PVR with only a 35 minute transit in Chicago. Isn’t that less then MCT, even before accounting for international?
Example:
Jan 14
AA 3141 DTW-ORD 6:00A-6:20A
AA 1910 ORD-PVR 6:55A-11:29A
they do warn to notice connection time on AA.com, but allow booking. OTAs don’t warn
#1432
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,483
I’m surprised AA would offer
DTW-ORD-PVR with only a 35 minute transit in Chicago. Isn’t that less then MCT, even before accounting for international?
Example:
Jan 14
AA 3141 DTW-ORD 6:00A-6:20A
AA 1910 ORD-PVR 6:55A-11:29A
they do warn to notice connection time on AA.com, but allow booking. OTAs don’t warn
DTW-ORD-PVR with only a 35 minute transit in Chicago. Isn’t that less then MCT, even before accounting for international?
Example:
Jan 14
AA 3141 DTW-ORD 6:00A-6:20A
AA 1910 ORD-PVR 6:55A-11:29A
they do warn to notice connection time on AA.com, but allow booking. OTAs don’t warn
Connecting to international doesn't matter, the MCT is the same for D>I as D>D.
#1433
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 397
Ah, I thought I’d seen 40 listed most places as MCT, including in the FAQ on this thread, vs 35. Should that be updated?
Is it legal and doable, or is that doable only in theory?
The minimum connect time at ORD, domestic to domestic or international, is 0:40 minutes.
Last edited by sea_flyer_17; Aug 14, 2022 at 6:26 am
#1434
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,483
No it's perfectly doable assuming the flights are on time, pretty much any 2 AA gates at ORD can be reached within 10 mins of walking.
Of course it doesn't leave any room for error, and the connecting flight will probably be boarding by the time you make it to the gate.
Of course it doesn't leave any room for error, and the connecting flight will probably be boarding by the time you make it to the gate.
#1435
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: SPG, AA, United
Posts: 1,815
#1436
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,485
As opposed to some other AA connection points, it really wasn't too bad. Taxi time to the gate was under 5 minutes. The concourse is busy, but not packed. If you're in a hurry, you can easily move quickly through the terminal. There are decent places to grab something to eat. There are plenty of restrooms and they're mostly clean and not too busy.
#1437
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: SPG, AA, United
Posts: 1,815
I recently connected at ORD twice, both times going from high H to mid G. I'd guess it took 10-15 minutes. My connections were both listed at 50 minutes, but the incoming AUS-ORD arrived 20 minutes early both times, so I had plenty of time for the connection.
As opposed to some other AA connection points, it really wasn't too bad. Taxi time to the gate was under 5 minutes. The concourse is busy, but not packed. If you're in a hurry, you can easily move quickly through the terminal. There are decent places to grab something to eat. There are plenty of restrooms and they're mostly clean and not too busy.
As opposed to some other AA connection points, it really wasn't too bad. Taxi time to the gate was under 5 minutes. The concourse is busy, but not packed. If you're in a hurry, you can easily move quickly through the terminal. There are decent places to grab something to eat. There are plenty of restrooms and they're mostly clean and not too busy.
#1438
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: St. Louis, MO, USA
Programs: AA PPro, Mariott Gold Elite, Lowly kettle across every other loyalty program.
Posts: 778
Ever since COVID, I've heard a lot of, "but the airline said we could make this connection... what do you mean you won't pay for a hotel?" For me, I have low risk tolerance. I won't book I->D with anything less than 2 hours, and D->D under an hour. If the options are D->I under 2h, and the alternative is spending the night, I'll book a hotel, spend the overnight, and get a flight at a decent hour the next day. I can always try to standby if I make it, otherwise, there's no stress or anxiety involved. And if you're traveling with someone who gets anxious (or a young child), this is much better on your nerves. I've already canceled and rebooked one trip this year on DL when they cut my connection to 31 minutes, and the next flight out was at 7 am the next day. (MCT is 30 minutes at this airport.) I ended up rebooking on AA.
#1439
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: CMH
Programs: BA Gold, AA Plat, NK $9 fare club
Posts: 666
Unfortunately, I don't think airline connections allow for environmental conditions. They are counting on all other parts of the connecting paradigm to function perfectly. So if on an international flight TSA, passenger-side baggage handling, or customs & immigration are slow, they consider these out of their purview, and the traveler's risk. They let you book these because under near-perfect conditions, a seasoned traveler can make these connections. In your case, the alternative would have been an extra 6 (?) hours added to the layover, so it was worth (?) the risk, but only because you had a plan B.
Ever since COVID, I've heard a lot of, "but the airline said we could make this connection... what do you mean you won't pay for a hotel?" For me, I have low risk tolerance. I won't book I->D with anything less than 2 hours, and D->D under an hour. If the options are D->I under 2h, and the alternative is spending the night, I'll book a hotel, spend the overnight, and get a flight at a decent hour the next day. I can always try to standby if I make it, otherwise, there's no stress or anxiety involved. And if you're traveling with someone who gets anxious (or a young child), this is much better on your nerves. I've already canceled and rebooked one trip this year on DL when they cut my connection to 31 minutes, and the next flight out was at 7 am the next day. (MCT is 30 minutes at this airport.) I ended up rebooking on AA.
Ever since COVID, I've heard a lot of, "but the airline said we could make this connection... what do you mean you won't pay for a hotel?" For me, I have low risk tolerance. I won't book I->D with anything less than 2 hours, and D->D under an hour. If the options are D->I under 2h, and the alternative is spending the night, I'll book a hotel, spend the overnight, and get a flight at a decent hour the next day. I can always try to standby if I make it, otherwise, there's no stress or anxiety involved. And if you're traveling with someone who gets anxious (or a young child), this is much better on your nerves. I've already canceled and rebooked one trip this year on DL when they cut my connection to 31 minutes, and the next flight out was at 7 am the next day. (MCT is 30 minutes at this airport.) I ended up rebooking on AA.
#1440
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Canada
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 1,254
I acknowledge all of that. I consider myself a seasoned traveller, although I had not done this particular type of connection (International to international in the US) before so wasn't aware that 2h would be considered "tight". I've done it, for example, at Heathrow with no issues at all. On my own I would have been perfectly happy spending the 6h in the Flagship lounge, but my son was exhausted as it was, so we went to the Hilton and flew out the next day. I would have chosen a different connection airport had I known! Anyway, as I said, I'll be sure not to make assumptions in future.