Redbrick2

Yes, thank you for the updates, appreciate the opportunity to give feedback. I’ve been through T5 in June, October and November and with my last trip can finally start to appreciate where the project is going.

Hopefully 2024 brings closure to the project.

ords

There's a major shift on passengers flow exiting the FIS hall starting Monday. I was hoping to get a rendering to post but for the most part, instead of 2 officers collecting the card at the exit point, there will be 4 officers/lanes. The new public washroom opens up and another temp wall comes down. Signage (of course the afterthought) will need changing but seeing it's Wednesday and this takes place Monday expect some confusion.

Conceptually:

1. Claims 1-5 will exit lanes 1 and 2
2. Claims 6/7 will exit lane 3
3. Claims 8/9 will exit lane 4.

CBP will have the ability to shift folks around if one lane backs up. GE wasn't mentioned but, the goal is not to have long exiting queues like they've had in the past. By Summer 2024 CBP wants to have this nailed down, so there will probably be changes after this initial setup. (the government never gets things right the first time)

xobile

A bit of a sidebar, but in a Sun Times article about the new Global Terminal, the final line mentioned future improvements at T5 that were in intial renderings and plans, but apparently have not been funded yet, which I'm sad to hear about as I was looking forward to new access improvements to the terminal. I did once see somewhere buried on the City's webpages drawings for the road that will take people directly from T5 over the Balmoral/O'Hare Road intersection, through the existing helicopter pad, and on to I-190 East, for example.

"Other plans for the international terminal include an adjacent hotel and roadway improvements. Neither have been designed — or, more crucially, approved by the airlines that pay the bills."



https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-ha...lights-chicago

ords

The 190 work which includes some of the T5 roadway is funded through IDOT. That is still progressing. The hotel isn't too critical for now.

ords

The main sterile corridor coming from the east will be fully opened to accommodate the holiday season. Construction work will resume after the first of the year.

goodeats21

Was International arrival again just before Christmas. Much smoother and more organized. Global Entry machines still located around a corner, but had CBP there directing movement and no back up at all.

And amazingly, my checked bag came out in a very reasonable amount of time. Near perfect visit this time around.

Will be thru again on New Year's Day. I imagine it will be VERY busy, so curious how it all flows then.

goodeats21

Came thru again on New Years Day. Arrival gate was 35, which was a LONG walk to processing. Once there, all smooth again. No backup on the upper floor and only a very brief wait for an open Global Entry kiosk.

ords

Good to hear and yes, the far east gates do make for a nice leg stretch. I'll push this out here now, there could be some bump along the way with CBP staffing over the short term. End of January is the next large target date for construction area to be completed.

xobile

How is the immigration area laid out now? you mention upper floor, while I recall earlier you had to go down one level to enter the immigration area and be on the same level as the exit

ords

There's still a couple of areas that have temporary walls up and there's still a section in the middle that needs to be demoed. There's also plans to have permanent passenger queuing setup in the main immigration area once it's completely opened by April.

goodeats21

from the far gates, you walk quite a ways "upstairs", finally reaching stairs / escalators to go down one level, then walk some more to get to the processing area.

There have been rare times when things have gotten so backed up, they stop people at the top of the stairs / escalators and release them in stages, to avoid getting on the escalator and having no way to get off due to the lines.

Last couple of times I have been through, no backup on the upper level, just the normal lines at the processing area.

guflyer

Does anyone know whether there is a separate Mobile Passport Control line again, or if it is still closed for construction?

aisleorwindow

Last 2 times (granted this was in 2023), I was able to use MPC in the Global Entry line. YMMV.

ords

There is a lane for MPC still in place. I arrived yesterday at 5pm and was checking signage. With carryon only, arrival gate M18 and GE was out the door within 7 minutes once on the bridge. Plenty of officers manning booths for non GE, MPC folks.

ords

Another update...the arrivals hall of the FIS is now 100% completed and open as of this past Friday. Queuing lanes have been revamped and you should start seeing a much improved arrivals experience. There's still some construction storage areas that are located in the west FIS corridor that will be removed and then the area cleaned.

United airlines recheck is still on target to be completed by April 15th. Until then United will continue to use the common use recheck counters. The recheck area outside the FIS has gained nearly 20' in width.