Which terminal does my airline use at O'Hare?+
Terminal 1: United domestic + Star Alliance international (Lufthansa, ANA). Terminal 2: United Express regional + Delta + Air Canada. Terminal 3: American + oneworld + JetBlue + Spirit + Alaska. Terminal 5: ALL non-US international flag carriers (BA, AF, KLM, Emirates, Qatar, Etihad, Cathay, JAL, Korean, Turkish, Aer Lingus, Aeroméxico, LATAM, EVA, Hainan).
How do I get from O'Hare to downtown Chicago?+
CTA Blue Line — $5.00, 40-50 min direct to downtown Loop. Runs 24/7, every 5-15 min during the day. Station inside ORD between T2 and T3 — follow signs from arrivals. Cheapest + reliable. Taxi $50-$65, Uber $35-$60, GO Airport Express shuttle $33. Avoid driving — ORD parking is expensive + I-90 traffic at peak is brutal.
How long do I need for an O'Hare connection?+
Same terminal (T1 + T3 only — most connections happen within these): 60 min domestic. Inter-terminal: 90 min. T5 (international) ↔ T1/T2/T3 (domestic): 2 hours minimum via the free ATS train (4-min ride + 10-min walk each end) + re-clearing security. International arrival (T5) → domestic departure (T1/T3) after immigration: 2.5-3 hours minimum.
What is the ATS at ORD?+
Airport Transit System — a free automated rail line connecting T1, T2, T3, T5 + the multi-modal facility (rental cars + rideshare). Currently being expanded with new vehicles. Runs every 3 min, 24/7. Use it for any inter-terminal transfer at ORD — walking between T3 and T5 takes 25+ min versus 7 min on ATS.
How early should I arrive at O'Hare?+
Domestic: 2 hours. International: 3 hours. ORD security can hit 45-90 min waits during peak (5-9am summer + holiday weekends + Sunday evenings). Use Clear or TSA PreCheck — typical 15-min vs 45+ general. ORD is geographically huge: from CTA Blue Line station to the furthest gate at T3 is a 25-min walk.
What is the O'Hare Global Terminal?+
A new $8.5B mega-terminal replacing Terminal 2. Construction in phases through ~2030. Will house both Star Alliance + SkyTeam + American partners on a unified hub-and-spoke design. Adds 25 new gates and a unified security hall. Terminal 2 demolition begins 2025; passengers temporarily route through T1 + T3.
