O'Hare International Airport (ORD) — Terminals, Lounges & Travel Tips
Chicago, IL, United States · ORD
Terminal Guide
| Terminal | Airlines |
|---|---|
| Terminal 1 (B & C Concourses) | United Airlines, Air Canada |
| Terminal 2 (E & F Concourses) | Delta, Alaska, Porter Airlines |
| Terminal 3 (G, H, K & L Concourses) | American Airlines domestic & international |
| Terminal 5 (International) | Aer Lingus, Air France, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, KLM, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines |
Getting There — Ground Transportation
- CTA Blue Line: Runs 24 hours directly to Chicago O'Hare station inside Terminal 2. $5 from O'Hare (discounted to $2.50 from Midway). Downtown Loop in ~45 min.
- Rideshare: Uber and Lyft pick up from designated rideshare areas outside each terminal's lower level. Expect 10–15 min wait in peak periods.
- Taxi: Yellow cabs queue at lower level exits. Expect $40–55 to downtown Chicago; metered.
- Metra Train: Metra North Central Service stops at an off-site station (free shuttle from terminal) — slower but useful for North Shore suburbs.
- Car Rental: On-site rental center connected via skybridge; no shuttle needed.
Airport Lounge Directory
| Lounge | Location | Access |
|---|---|---|
| United Club – Concourse B | Terminal 1 (B) | United Club membership, United MileagePlus Club card |
| United Club – Concourse C | Terminal 1 (C) | United Club membership, United MileagePlus Club card |
| Amex Centurion Lounge | Terminal 3 (K Concourse) | Amex Platinum, Centurion cards (up to 2 guests) |
| American Admirals Club – H Concourse | Terminal 3 (H) | Admirals Club membership, Citi AAdvantage Executive card |
| American Admirals Club – L Concourse | Terminal 3 (L) | Admirals Club membership, Citi AAdvantage Executive card |
| Lufthansa Business Lounge | Terminal 5 | Lufthansa/SWISS Business class, Senator/HON Circle status |
Pro Tips for ORD Travelers
- The CTA Blue Line is the best bet for downtown — it runs 24/7 and avoids the notoriously congested I-90/94 corridor.
- Connections between Terminal 3 and Terminal 5 (International) require exiting security and re-clearing — leave at least 90 minutes.
- O'Hare is a hub for both United and American, so delays cascade — check flight status aggressively during winter months.
- The Amex Centurion Lounge in Terminal 3 is one of the best in the US network; go early as it fills quickly on busy mornings.
- Ground floor buses and car rental shuttles can be confusing — follow the blue 'Ground Transportation' signs to the central pickup island.
- The new O'Hare Global Terminal is under construction; watch for terminal changes if flying 2025 or later.
- Request early boarding if you're connecting from Terminal 5 — the shuttle bus between T5 and the main terminals takes 15–20 minutes.
Know Before You Land — ORD Checklist
Review these before your flight so you hit the ground running at Chicago.
- Confirm which terminal your airline uses — O'Hare International Airport has 4 terminals and inter-terminal transfers may require re-clearing security.
- Rail is available: Runs 24 hours directly to Chicago O'Hare station inside Terminal 2. $5 from O'Hare (discounted to $2.50 from Midway). Downtown Loop in ~45 min.
- Renting a car? On-site rental center connected via skybridge; no shuttle needed.
- Amex Platinum/Centurion holders: Amex Centurion Lounge (Terminal 3 (K Concourse)).
- United Airlines hub: expect higher flight frequency and stronger upgrade/standby availability for United Airlines elite members.
- Connections between Terminal 3 and Terminal 5 (International) require exiting security and re-clearing — leave at least 90 minutes.