Is there anywhere to store a bag at ORD?
 

Got a long layover and don't want to check my backpack in, but on the other hand, I don't want to carry it around for 10hrs whilst I do some touristy things.

Is there any luggage storage at ORD (Chicago O'Hare), or say, Union Station?

Below is a post from 2018. I doubt the situation has improved.

"monsieurcumulus;29598730] ....No storage in ORD and Hilton (and any hotels) will usually refuse to check if you don't stay there. Union Station has a bag check but you need a train ticket. You may want to look at bagnb.com"

The following is is a cross post of a reply to a similar post in the UA forum. The post I reference is from the end of May 2021.

That post runs contrary to the many dozens of times when I have stored luggage with the Hilton ORD bellhop desk. Did it multiple times in 2018 and 2019 too.

The Hilton ORD has never stopped accepting to hold my luggage — for a fixed fee per item (paid in cash upfront) — even when I’ve not been staying the night there and have no bookings to do so. But I go direct to the bellhop desk to do so.

Here are the words from the above referred to post 431 there, a post dated May 2021:

Great data point, thanks.

I'll follow up and say that I did check my bag at Union Station for $20 (price for non-Amtrak customers).

Quite practical that such thread exist. Our family has ~10h layover at ORD in june while coming from domestic, was planning to visit city center BUT
As outbound flight is on different PNR, changes are 0% that AA would check baggages through to AY, regardless or OW status? Hilton would sound like reasonable option but can one trust on it still existing, cash payment sounds like off-the-books arrangement that has tendency to disappear quickly.

If AA won't check the bag through (it seems to me they would, even if you're on two reservations) then you'll have to pick up the bag at ORD anyway. Just take it to the AY desk and check it there, assuming someone is at the desk.

AY check in desk at T5 won't open more than 4 hrs before the flight and for some airlines even 3-3.5 hrs.

Yeah, exactly, AY has limited opening time so it is not feasible option and I do not bet on interline luggage as it as OW perk is removed and I have had issues on those even within same airline.
Hene much more safer bet is to store bags somewhere.

AA will NOT check bags through on separate reservations.

I decided to make pre-emptive inquiry to avoid hassle, Hilton replied they only provide storage to guests. So, either they still provide storage off the books or have stopped it. But if the official policy is no storage for you, naturally one should not put all faith on this.

But that brings up another question, where to store luggage.

Did you manage to get Hilton to take the luggage as a non-guest?

No, they rejected my request so did not bother going and trying it. I used Bounce instead, maybe not the perfect solution but did the trick.