O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

O’Hare International Airport has four terminals: Terminals 1, 2, and 3 form a horseshoe connected by airside walkways, while Terminal 5 handles most international flights and sits across the airfield. The Airport Transit System (ATS) train links all terminals, parking, and the rental car center on a frequent loop. Walking between concourses inside the domestic complex is straightforward—Concourses B and C in Terminal 1 are joined by the underground neon tunnel (5–7 minutes end to end), Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 takes about 8–10 minutes, and Terminal 3’s farthest gates are 12–15 minutes from Terminal 1 via secure corridors. Travel to Terminal 5 requires exiting or riding the ATS from the domestic terminals; the train ride is about 8 minutes with another few minutes of platform access. Each terminal hosts multiple TSA checkpoints with PreCheck and CLEAR lanes; the main checkpoints in Terminals 1 and 3 open earliest for banked morning departures. Typical waits run 15–25 minutes, but peaks before 7 a.m. or during holiday afternoons can exceed 35 minutes, so the TSA “MyTSA” feed is useful for live estimates. Re-entry from Terminal 5 to domestic gates requires clearing security again. Immigration and customs for most international arrivals are handled in Terminal 5’s expansive arrivals hall with Global Entry, Mobile Passport, and baggage re-check desks for onward connections. Certain precleared arrivals from Canada and select international flights on United or American may use facilities in Terminals 1 or 3, but transfer passengers should follow airline-specific signs before boarding the ATS. Amenities are extensive: United Polaris and United Club lounges populate Terminal 1, Delta Sky Club sits in Terminal 2, and American’s Admirals Clubs and Flagship Lounge anchor Terminal 3. Terminal 5 offers lounges for Delta, Air France/KLM, British Airways, and others, plus a large dining court. Nursing rooms are available in every terminal, “Kids on the Fly” play areas sit near Gates F1 and in Terminal 2’s rotunda, and all concourses provide elevators, moving walkways, and adult-changing stations for accessibility.