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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.
#1006
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: SPG, AA, United
Posts: 1,813
Wow! At 4m you're hauling to get to K15. I can usually just enter the K concourse in 4m.
#1007
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Tampa, FL
Programs: AA Ex Plat United Premier Silver Hilton Diamond Marriott Gold
Posts: 104
well thanks to the max issues just got a nasty schedule change. flying JNB-DOH-ORD-TPA QR/AA. Arriving t5 departing t3 they cut my layover by 3:20 down to a total time of just 1:20. even with GE is it possible to make that tight of a conx with the terminal change involved?
#1008
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,285
well thanks to the max issues just got a nasty schedule change. flying JNB-DOH-ORD-TPA QR/AA. Arriving t5 departing t3 they cut my layover by 3:20 down to a total time of just 1:20. even with GE is it possible to make that tight of a conx with the terminal change involved?
If it’s carry on only - plenty of time
#1009
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Chicagoland
Programs: AA exp 3mm Hertz 5*
Posts: 334
My last return on QR 725 was met with inoperative computers in T-5. So that added 60 mins. I'm think it's doubtful. Maybe others have done the dash. Looks like there's AA 2409 at 19:00??? The date would probably help others offer guidance.
#1011
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,285
#1012
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: SPG, AA, United
Posts: 1,813
And while customs may not kill your time, in my wife's experience, every time I came to get her at t5 domestic, I was with her for almost 20 minutes before the bags even began. I learned to expect 30m+ to get our bags.
#1013
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: London, United Kingdom
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold;BA GGL; hhonors lifetime diamond; Marriott lt Gold; IH Plat Amb; Amex Centurion
Posts: 4,738
Hello. I have been offered a flight from Houston to London via ORD arriving on AA187 at 0915 and departing on AA90 at 1000. Looking at the posts above it seems that this can be done provided that the flight from IAH is on time (which it usually is if flight stats are accurate). I am fit and know my way round airports. I am not mad to agree to this am I? It's a whole five minutes above the MCT And I really would like to be back to London that night.
In an ideal world I would want to check in some bags. I suppose that would be pushing it or am I being unnecessarily untrusting of AA?
Thanks a lot for any thoughts and fraternal greetings from the BA board.
In an ideal world I would want to check in some bags. I suppose that would be pushing it or am I being unnecessarily untrusting of AA?
Thanks a lot for any thoughts and fraternal greetings from the BA board.
Thanks for responding and allaying my unnecessary fears.
#1014
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
well thanks to the max issues just got a nasty schedule change. flying JNB-DOH-ORD-TPA QR/AA. Arriving t5 departing t3 they cut my layover by 3:20 down to a total time of just 1:20. even with GE is it possible to make that tight of a conx with the terminal change involved?
party wasn’t just fast-moving adults, and we had checked luggage (with no priority tags/notation) to claim (even as it all could have just as well been cabin baggage). This week I chose to use MPC again and it got me out of there faster than GE. It helped that PreCheck was open and had no line and that the checked bags came out quickly. While I dislike that the ATS is out at ORD and have to use a bus between T5 and T1/2/3, it still works.
ORD T5 has some airlines doing the express connection thing and that can help too.
Last edited by GUWonder; Mar 30, 2019 at 5:58 am
#1015
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Chicagoland
Programs: AA exp 3mm Hertz 5*
Posts: 334
As ORD is home, I don't connect there much. While I rarely experience the "ORD delay" I hear so much of, I regularly experience some hefty baggage wait times though. And that is after the typical mile long walk to security.
I'd suggest that OP consider the day and time. Can vary substantially. Not looking to beat a dead horse, but it seems OP hasn't much experience in this regard, and just wanted him to know it is not always a quick jump. The last time I took the bus from T-5 to T-3, it took 35 mins.
#1016
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: SPG, AA, United
Posts: 1,813
Just to report as a data point that the flight from CLT was 10 minutes or so early. I walked (as opposed to ran :-) ) from an H gate at the far end of H (forget which one) to a K gate in the middle. I could have grabbed a coffee in the lounge as I got there ten minutes before group 1 was called. And my bag made it too. And best of all there were 100 mph tail winds across the Atlantic so we got to LHR 40 minutes ahead of schedule!
Thanks for responding and allaying my unnecessary fears.
Thanks for responding and allaying my unnecessary fears.
#1017
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: SPG, AA, United
Posts: 1,813
And this is a very important data point as when the train (ATS) was operating, this was maybe 10m as opposed to 35. I've picked up my wife there and seen long lines waiting for the bus that rival the security lines inside. Peak times at ORD can break a trip, so take that into consideration.
#1018
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
You're referring to the orange card/sleeve to expedite at security on domestic side, yes?
As ORD is home, I don't connect there much. While I rarely experience the "ORD delay" I hear so much of, I regularly experience some hefty baggage wait times though. And that is after the typical mile long walk to security.
I'd suggest that OP consider the day and time. Can vary substantially. Not looking to beat a dead horse, but it seems OP hasn't much experience in this regard, and just wanted him to know it is not always a quick jump. The last time I took the bus from T-5 to T-3, it took 35 mins.
As ORD is home, I don't connect there much. While I rarely experience the "ORD delay" I hear so much of, I regularly experience some hefty baggage wait times though. And that is after the typical mile long walk to security.
I'd suggest that OP consider the day and time. Can vary substantially. Not looking to beat a dead horse, but it seems OP hasn't much experience in this regard, and just wanted him to know it is not always a quick jump. The last time I took the bus from T-5 to T-3, it took 35 mins.
Some airlines are providing expedited assistance to also clear the passport control part at ORD T5.
I arrive at ORD T5 repeatedly each month and connect out of T1/2/3 more often than not. I haven’t missed an onward flight out of ORD in quite some time for any of my 65-80 minute layovers there. I was willing to again try a 40 minute connection off an international flight there on Thursday using separate tickets to just see how it would go, but while in the air to ORD decided to skip the idea as there would be no chance for me to make what would be a 20 minute window from gate arrival to onward flight departure. With 40 minutes and my knowledge of the place, I would say I would more often than not miss the connection, but that I would continue to make some of them when without checked luggage. For 65-80 minutes, I would expect to make at least around 3/4 of the connections if not even closer to 90% of them. For someone with less experience but checked luggage to deal with, I wouldn’t say it’s possible half the time at least if PreCheck screening is available (not always a given at ORD).
Last edited by GUWonder; Mar 30, 2019 at 9:07 am
#1019
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,913
Hello, flying in on T3 and connecting to an international flight in T5. What is the recommended amount of time to connect? I have almost 5 hours built in right now just in case but flying in from the East coast and definitely don't want to miss my connecting international flight. I was even thinking even if all goes smooth I could go to the nearest Lou Malnati's closest outside the airport and get some authentic deep dish pizza!
#1020
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,285
Hello, flying in on T3 and connecting to an international flight in T5. What is the recommended amount of time to connect? I have almost 5 hours built in right now just in case but flying in from the East coast and definitely don't want to miss my connecting international flight. I was even thinking even if all goes smooth I could go to the nearest Lou Malnati's closest outside the airport and get some authentic deep dish pizza!
There is an airside shuttle bus you can take from terminal 3 to terminal 5 so you don’t have to pass thru security.
If your first fligbt is on time you can probably go to closest Lou’s to get a pizza. Keep in mind it takes at least 45 min to an hour for deep dish pizza