Connecting at O'Hare

[Barefootgirl]

I think I have a bad connection and i need advice. I am flying out to Kansas City in a couple of weeks' time, and becasue there aren't any direct flights from the UK to KC airport, I have to change. I get in to Chicago at 3pm (in theory) at Terminal 5 and my flight to KC leaves at 4.45pm from Terminal 3.

I last went to O'Hare ages ago, and can't remember the layout of the airport too well. My question for all those who know about connecting through the Windy City is, is this connection just too tight? I assume my checked-in bag will go happily off to KC automatically, but presumably I will have to exit through Immigration and Customs, and then check-in again for my connecting flight, which means no way will I make said flight. Is there a Passengers in Transit facility, which would mean me not having to go through the whole checking-in rigmarole twice?

Or should i jsut phone AA and ask them, and then get onto the travel agents and ask them to change my incoming flight? There's actually one that leaves London two hours earlier, and i would much rather be hanging round in Chicago with a good book for a couple of extra hours than freaking out in the Immigration queue watching my plane to KC taxi slowly away....

[trunks2k]

I personally think that's pushing it a bit, but you will probably be OK. Give US customs a half hour if you are a US citizen. 45 min to an hour is you aren't. So that gives you 45 min to get to your next gate. That should be plenty of time for any airport. If you are doing a connecting flight, it is possible that the airline will assist you in going through everything faster than others. Your issue will be whether or not the flight comes in on time. Considering you are flying to the US and going against the jet stream, there is less chance that any time lost during the trip can be made up. Plus I believe Chicago is pretty well known for it's delays.

Most airlines will let you check in online. So if you have to check in for your connecting flight, you can do that online beforehand. Saves a bunch of time. In my experience, checking in doesn't take nearly as long as it used to, especially for international flights. I flew Virgin Atlantic and was able to check into my flight in less than 15 minutes by using a terminal, I bypassed a huuuge line. And even if you can't check in online, I think there's usually a seperate booth to check in if you are coming from a connecting flight so you don't have to deal with the line. But don't quote me on that.

[thegiraffe]

They're pretty good at holding planes - especially international-to-domestic flights - if there's a delay. I think an hour and 45 should be plenty. Talk to the flight attendant on the plane from UK to chicago and let him/her know that you have to meet a plane and ask what they would suggest/what they can do (if anything). You should get first priority in customs because you're meeting a flight. Good luck!

[dispatch]

call the airline to be safe, they all do things differently, I just got back from vacation and I had to check in at my connection, but it was with the gate agent and not the ticketing desk. mine was a domestic flight, though

[sportsmom]

I don't know about how long it will take for customer and such, but I do know that O'Hare is notorious for running on delays, so you may not have to worry too much because your flight might be delayed anyway.

It is so bad, that my mom, who flys everywhere, refuses to route through O'Hare anymore.