United has a transfer desk at T5. Drop your luggage with them and then take the train to T1.

ORD Terminal 5 to Terminal 1 How long?
 

Hello there. This is not really a question about United but more towards Ohare, but since I am flying on United and Chicago is a hub I thought I would ask here.

On a Thursday I will be flying from AMS - ORD - YVR.

I am scheduled to arrive to ORD (Terminal 5) at 13:13
and
depart from ORD (Terminal 1) at 14:45

My understanding is that from terminal 5, I'll have to go through immigration, collect my bags, go through customs, drop off my bags, then haul ... to Terminal 01 with reprocessing for security once I reach terminal 1, and then get to my gate.

I was wondering if anyone has done this transfer and what my odds are on making my connecting flight and if you have any advice for improving my odds? I am also travelling someone who requires assistance when travelling long distances, (Wheelchair). Will the wheelchair help me with my transit or hinder me?

What has been your best or worst time in making this transfer?

Thanks for looking,

Cwipes

Best time through this 17 minutes from gate to gate.
Worst time 3.5 hours-- Included getting a nice 90 day entry stamp to the US after ariving late and sitting behind a plane load of the Air India folks, no line for US citizens, a broken baggage belt, etc

The airtrain or whatever it is called makes for an easy transfer. If you are in F for your connection I would recommend using the terminal 2 entry as the CO/NW elite and F line for security is usually no where near as bad as the one in Terminal 1.

Overall despite the terminal transfer it isn't really that bad.

BTW is your flight to YVR on AC or UA? If it is a UA codeshare on AC then you need to use terminal 2.

In my limited experience, the longest part of this journey is typically the "wait for bags" component. If you can get one of the pink "*A Priority" stickers on your bag, it should get pushed to the front of the conveyor. May shave a few minutes. Perhaps note at AMS check-in that you've got a tight connection.

Wheelchair or Golf Cart
 

Thanks for the advice. Would you happen to know if they use a wheelchairs or golf carts to get people around the airport and is there a special line for physically challanged people at customs or immigration?

Unfortnuately the passangers for this particular flight are non-elite and not flying in F and flying on United Metal (non-codeshare). So use of the elite line might not be possible via Terminal 2. But is it better to go through security via terminal 2 anyway or will the wheelchair act like a pass to the front line when they get to terminal 1?

Thanks,

Will move to the very helpful Chicago forum, then, which will also help those from outside the UA forum who might be searching in the future for such information.

cblaisd
Moderator, United

They use wheelchairs and panthers, but you can't drive the panther streetside from T5 to T1. You'll have to take the elevator to the ATS and ride it over to T1 and then take the elevator down. I've noticed folks in wheelchairs and their party seem to get allowed to cut in front. As someone else said, if the line is long, clearing TSA in T2 can make things go much better.

To be on the safe side, with a wheelchair, I'd want at least a 1.5 hour connection.

Depends largely on the time of day. Afternoon till about 5:00 p.m. is bad at both T5 ARR and T1 DEP. Give yourself an hour and fifteen mins, gate to gate at that time.

A shortcut (sometimes), especially if your connection leaves from B1-B8 is to get off at the T2 station and negotiate the security line in T2, then walk over to T1 Concourse B.

ORD Terminal Transfer Question
 

I am returning from London on British Airways 299 at 6:10 PM (Terminal 5). Will I have ample time to clear customs, transfer to Terminal 2, and re-check my bags for an outbound NWA flight (to MSP) at 8:00 PM? What does the terminal transfer involve? I am new to ORD, so any help would be much appreciated. Thanks a lot!

Today? Customs lines are hard to gauge, but shouldn't be too bad on a midweek during winter. Once out of customs, you'll exit into baggage claim. Proceed and go up two levels on the escalator to the ATS airport train (follow the monorail signs), take it to T2, go back down and re-check. The higher-numbered gates at T2 are quite a long walk from security.

I haven't done security at T2 in ages, so I don't know how efficiently it proceeds.

If you absolutely, positively need to check bags...I'd say you're cutting it very close to airline rules.

Bags need to be checked one hour before departure, so that means 7:00pm (at the latest) you need to be at T2.

Your arrival is at 6:10, and BA is pretty punctual, but they cannot overthrow the powers of ORD ATC which often results in a delay due to traffic. Add to that reclaiming your bag from a 777 in T5, doing the immigration line...yes, it can be done in 50 minutes assuming EVERYTHING goes as planned.

Does NW offer a later flight for your peace of mind?

Unfortunately, I will have to check bags, since I am returning from three weeks in Europe. The 8:00 NW flight is the last of the day. Maybe I should check American or United, but I bet the flights will be more expensive. Thanks for your help.

The checkpoint next to the old HP ticket coutners in T2 is extremely efficient. I generally clear it regardless of where I'm actually flying from. Takes me less time to go through there and then hoof it to T1 or T3.

Maybe you could check your bags in T5(?) Don't know about NW, but UA and AA have transfer desks at T5 for domestic connection. I usually re-check my bags there after exiting the custom at T5, then take the monorail to the domestic terminals.