ORD Train - No Info on Where to Get Off
 

I can't believe they still haven't fixed the international terminal with better signage for finding the train and knowing which terminal to get off at. The only gate info is where you re-check you bags and when it's crowded you can't get close enough to see. The gate info only gives you the concourse so unless you know what terminal Concourse F is in you still don't know where to get off.

Signage throughout ORD, and in the UA terminal, absolutely sucks. They need to get better PR people to design more colorful, visible signs.

We were confused the first time we took that train and when we have so much trouble in such places I always wonder how non-native speakers of English (not to mention non-English speakers) manage. We experienced the same confusion once trying to figure out where to get off the bus for OS at JFK, an airport we don't know at all well. We had to ask people.

The signs on the tram tell you what terminal every airline is in.

There are two stops for UA IIRC, the last stop and the penultimate stop. Please correct me if I'm wrong - our international-domestic ORD traverses are only occasional.

There are some UA flights out of terminal 2, but no check-ins, so the signs tell you to go to terminal 1, which is fine, you can then easily walk to terminal 2. The signs are meant to help the lowest common denominator. A savvy traveler will know that an E/F gate means they can get off at 2 (if said traveler is already checked in). Should that be on the sign? No way. If that was on the signs, you'd have people ending up in terminal 2 who aren't already checked in. Not everyone leaving 5 and going to a domestic flight is checked in, and the tram also serves long term parking.

Thanks. That makes sense. ^ We knew after the first time to get off at terminal 1. That first time we weren't sure how far the walk was or for that matter if it was possible, considering we were riding a train from terminal to terminal.

terminals 1/2/3 are all connected indoors airside and have outdoor sidewalks landside. Terminal 5 is only connected to the others by the tram, no way to walk. If you're changing terminals at ORD not involving 5, you never want to take the tram, as any time savings over walking will be killed by reclearing security.

I would spout a bunch of profanities about T5 but don't want to be kicked off this board.

1. The landside layout sucks. To get downstairs (to the CBP GE office or to meet people) if you're upstairs at ticketing is a joke.

2. There's absolutely nothing airside in T5 aside from the lounges. So everyone crams into the restaurants just before security to wait. One of the places stays open overnight.

3. Dropped someone at T5 the other night (left him at 1 AM). The washroom by the restaurant was closed, and they were sending everyone downstairs. The washroom closest to the escalator downstairs was also closed, so you had to walk all the way to the east end of the building.

4. We're not building T4. Can't we number this damn terminal appropriately?

Leaving on a 3 AM flight from T5 on Friday. This will be a joke.

Before someone writes it, I remember when international was beneath the garage (T4). I'm simply suggesting that once the new terminal opened, that they should have made it T4 since the garage no longer serves as a terminal.

Also, doesn't UAL have kiosks in T2?

Just two or three kiosks, with no personnel. If you need to check bags you have to go to T1.

flyinbob saidI agree. I live in Chgo and use ORD all the time. The signs are lacking and way more difficult to follow than they should be. If I'm in an elevator without my reading glasses, I just have to guess which button to push. Unless I know Braille. :)

Every time I move from International T5 to another terminal, I look around for confused people, cause I know they'll need help. I then explain to them where they should go. I know the difference between concourse letters, terminal numbers, parking lot letters, etc. They don't.

ORD could improve their image to so many travelers from all over the world by putting themselves in their position. Or by listening to us.

I must confess that I have no idea what people are talking about here. The ATS is very clearly marked with signs above the doors. On the occasions that there is a change, portable signs are put at the individual stops. Eventually a new sticker is applied to the ATS sign above the door. UA conducts all of it 'interactive' servies from T1. The sign says that much. A hand full of United flights leave from T2, the sign says that.

Once inside T1 there are monitors. Could there be more monitors, I suppose. if you think that ORD is difficult for foreigners, you have not traveled much in asia where there is ZERO signage for foreigners.

ORD could be better, but I have no idea how you did not know which ATS stop to get off.

On the other hand, nearly every week on the ATS somebody asks me when their stop is. I tell them and then point to the sign.

I think part of the original fuss was that there isn't a place as you exit T5 that lists the gates for all the connecting flights. I'm thinking of something like at FRA, where when you enter the terminal the first thing you see is a giant board listing all the flights with their gates (or departure area if the gate isn't yet known). ORD has nothing similar to this.

I've spent a lot of time waiting for people to emerge from arrivals at T5 (and I've arrived there myself), and I think a lot of confusion and heartache could be saved by having two giant signs (one each at Doors A and B) that reads "ATS TO DOMESTIC TERMINALS T1 - T2 - T3" in as many languages as can fit. Or maybe "ATS TO THE WHOLE REST OF THE FRIGGIN AIRPORT"

I'm ORD-based and I've had problems telling the escalator for the ATS from the one that goes to ticketing and short-term parking, particularly when jetlagged.

And I wholeheartedly agree that airside T5 blows unless you have lounge access.

I mean, c'mon, we're Chicago. We're supposed to have better building design than this.