Security at O'Hare
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA AA
Posts: 57
Security at O'Hare
Kids are going to be flying out of O'Hare in a month. I have not flown out of T5 in a while (was pre pandemic) and most of the TSA wait time websites either give general times for all of ORD or just list terminals 1-3. Anyone have recent experience with TSA wait times? What to expect? We are trying to figure out how early they need to get to the airport.
Thanks for any help.
Thanks for any help.
#2
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: In the Land Beyond OHare
Programs: 3RR, UA, BA, AA, HH, Marriott RW,
Posts: 165
What time is the flight? Generally anytime before 1pm is a breeze. After, with all the evening, high capacity international flights some delays are normal. FWIW, I've never waited more than 15 minutes, and two months ago it was about 10. As always, ymmv!
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA AA
Posts: 57
Thank you - flight time is around 3pm, so that prime busy period I guess. I was thinking boarding would begin around 2:15, so I was going to get them to the airport around 1:30, giving 45 minutes for security.
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: AA Gold AAdvantage Elite, Rapids Reward
Posts: 38,011
Wrong! You have be there more than 2 hours in advance. So please spend more extra time. You must come at ORD airport early. You don't want stuck at security. The lines will be very long.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA AA
Posts: 57
I guess you have to plan on the off chance security is delayed. ORD TSA times are listed as "around" 15-20 minutes when I checked - with PRE I usually spent about 10, less now with CLEAR, but that is Terminal 1. I was concerned about Terminal 5 as that is never listed.
Sent my wife there 1.5 hrs "early" and she ended up sitting around for an extra 1.25 hrs and was "upset" with me with standard security taking less than 15 minutes.
Sent my wife there 1.5 hrs "early" and she ended up sitting around for an extra 1.25 hrs and was "upset" with me with standard security taking less than 15 minutes.
#7
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: ORD, MDW or MKE
Programs: American and Southwest. Hilton and Marriott hotels primarily.
Posts: 6,410
I guess you have to plan on the off chance security is delayed. ORD TSA times are listed as "around" 15-20 minutes when I checked - with PRE I usually spent about 10, less now with CLEAR, but that is Terminal 1. I was concerned about Terminal 5 as that is never listed.
Sent my wife there 1.5 hrs "early" and she ended up sitting around for an extra 1.25 hrs and was "upset" with me with standard security taking less than 15 minutes.
Sent my wife there 1.5 hrs "early" and she ended up sitting around for an extra 1.25 hrs and was "upset" with me with standard security taking less than 15 minutes.