timol

The "Swiss" in the name might sound promising, but the lounge is indeed far from. Almost ok for a 10-minute visit.

OddJobMan

There is mention on the AA forum that the Flagship lounge is opening 30th March.

Here

snaxmuppet

Thanks.

I have to admit to being reticent to checking luggage and wandering off. I have done this a few times when on tier point runs but on occasions I have become quite stressed when my return travel back to the airport has been delayed. I now work on the basis that once at the airport I stay put. Of course, I could find somewhere local to the airport (Rosemont perhaps? We are staying there for one night when we arrive in the USA) where we hole up before returning the rental.

All good points... thanks again

AlwaysOnTheRoad

Swiss Lounge at ORD... Agree... First section is tiny and not appealing.

cheltzel

+1

No windows and small. Limited food/beverage options. Also often crowded.

chris87

I’m not sure that the check-in desks would even be open for you to drop bags off at midday? I suspect that they only open 3 hours before the first service, but someone with better knowledge than me will doubtless be along soon to confirm or correct me.

hmv

Does T3 actually have A380 ready gates?

gliderpilot

Could the OP get into T3 on a T5 boarding card and visit the AA Flagship lounge? It should be open by then. Latest opening is sometime in April.

wrp96

Yes at ORD you can enter any terminal with a boarding pass for another terminal.

basil_fawlty

Visited 21st April. Only the club lounge now, staff were lovely but it’s a grim windowless cellar and the worst airport lounge i think I’ve ever visited. It was a sunny day and I couldn’t hack it so I moved to the comfortable public seats next to the window at gate M13 which are more pleasant and have 50Mbit free WiFi and a well stocked convenience store opposite. Going to Terminal 3 seemed like too much of a mission and I wasn’t sure of the rules for exiting/re-clearing security but anyone who’s done it would do a service by posting a guide on here since the BA lounge is the pits!

johnaalex

The AA Flagship Lounge at AA reopened today and I am flying from there to tomorrow!

AirbusA350

Bear in mind that it isn't exactly quick to get to/from T3/T5 and that currently there's no airside connectivity between the two terminals, there was a bus service which is currently suspended. The ATS train is landside meaning one has to clear security twice (once in T3 and once in T5) and the terminals aren't next to each other either. This means that in order for one to "enjoy" AA Flagship lounge, you'd have to arrive quite early, I wouldn't hesitate to say at least 3 hours before departure and that's still cutting it fine if security queues are busy. I am not sure that much effort is worth it for accessing the AA Flagship lounge at ORD nor is it worth coming any earlier for the small, dull BA lounge nor the even worse Swissport lounge either!

johnaalex

Thanks for the info. I am actually flying into ORD on AA from LAS and then I have over 3 hours before my BA flight departs. I also have GE and my KTN is on the booking so I'm thinking I should be OK???

AirbusA350

Ah ok then I guess you'd be better off going straight into AA Flagship upon arrival (which will hopefully be on time), use the lounge for as long as you need and then start making your way to T5 around 90 mins out from departure. Of course this is assuming you're on a single ticket and your luggage will be through-checked by AA at LAS, otherwise there's the complication of getting your luggage first, then going to T5 to check your bag in with BA, then coming back via ATS train to T3, clearing security (yes I am aware that'll be made faster thanks to your TSAPre), walking (quite a bit) to actually reach the AA Flagship in T3, then walking out (again not a "quick walk") to get onto ATS to get back to T5, clear security at T5 again...you can see how even with GE and 3 hours, time can quickly go past and potentially cut things fine especially with even a small delay. I am just not sure the AA Flagship lounge or the inter-terminal trek would be worth it as the AA Flagship isn't anything marvellous/spectacular either unless of course you are flying AA F and get access to Flagship First Dining

DominicB

Two things to say (as a Chicago resident). Firstly there is not 'Flagship dining' in the usual sense at AA. There is (or was pre COVID) really very good buffet food in the Flagship lounge that is simply available to everyone who gains access. As GGL, when I make the briefest of domestic flights on AA, I get such access, and enjoy really very good food. But - as others posts have said - the hassle of moving between T3 and T5 is really not worth it.

Unlike the now quite appalling T5 lounge. I'm stunned that anyone here thinks the food now being served is good. I flew to London last week, and the burger on offer is shown here. It was about 4mm thick, and reminded me of the quality of state school lunches. In a bulk freezer box, the unit cost would be well less than 10 cents. It bears no relationship to the burgers served in the lounges at LHR, let alone the kind of burger served in most restaurants in Chicago (a city which loves meat).That premium customers can be offered this is a mark of such deep shame for BA...