Hello There
i have booked flights with AA from LHR to Orlando via O'Hare. We arrive at O'Hare 12.55 and our connecting flight with AA leave at 15.15. We are British Passport Holders so anticipate a wait at Immigration. I spoke to AA as i was concerned that we might no have time but they said it is ok .
My question is ...is it easily doable. Checking the stats it would appear a wait of an hour to pass through immigration would be average. Are our bags routed right through to Orlando or do we have to collect them and re check them. I assume we are then needing to get from Term 5 to Terminal 3 and again negotiating the security . All seems a bit tight to me or am i being overly cautious.
AA advise do nothing as if we miss the connection they would re book us but there is only one further flight and the real concern is not late arrival at Orlando but a night in O'hare
Any comments would be welcomed and i thank you in advance
Harry

Your bags will be checked all the way through to Orlando, but everyone must collect their bags at their first port of entry in the United States. Once you pass through customs, you'll see an AA desk for you to drop off your bags again. You'll then board a train to get you to Terminal 3, where you go through security again.

Do you have the option of carry-on bags only? That would save you the time waiting at baggage claim in Terminal 5?

Hello Thanks Jeff
Ok that makes more sense. Have been to the USA lots of times but not with an internal flight tagged on.Sadly we won't have a carry on only as an option. I just couldn't understand why if they were checked all the way through we needed to claim them again but you answered that for me re the customs. Looking at that i think our only problems are the immigration line and security line which i suppose is a bit hit and miss time wise

Whenever I get travel deals, I always try to make it to a point to check in my bags but carry my personal belongings.

Jeff is correct and I'll add that when you re-check your bags, if any adjustments are needed to your itinerary, the staff at the desk can make them.

When you're done, head upstairs to catch the tram to T3. It will be the first stop as there is no T4.

Help most welcome thank you
Harry

I’ve been on an LHR-ORD flight a number of times and I’ve noticed the foreign line is generally longer. Your research of about an hour wait seems about right.

When you land at terminal 5, it’s quite a walk to immigration. I’m tall, and usually alone, so I walk can fast, as getting up to the front will help. A little hustling can pay off.

The good news is that while you are waiting in line at immigration, your bags will probably be waiting for you. If you get through immigration “too quickly”, well, all the better.

A 2:20 layover is tight, but possible. Let’s say you get through immigration in one hour. 1:20 left. Pickup your bag immediately after immigration and recheck them, 10 minutes. Wait for, get on the train (called the Airport Transit System,) arrives at terminal 3, say 10 minutes. 1:00 left to go through security and find your gate. You should be okay.

When you exit customs, the train will be up the stairs, to the right if I recall. Make sure you get on the one headed to terminals 3, 2, and 1, not to “remote parking.” (If one were to get on the train headed to remote parking, it’s all the same system so it would come back to T5, T3, T2, and T1, but precious time would be wasted.) Citylights is right: There is no T4 - who knows why - so it will be the first stop.

The trouble, of course, is the wild cards of how long immigration and security will be. Finally, if you do miss the flight, of course check with AA as soon as possible to help assure that you get on the next fight.

Regards and Welcome!

Hello cubfanalways
Thats a great reply thanks so much
Harry