Is 50 min. enough time to make a connection in Chicago (ORD)?
 

I am booked on a United flight originating at LAX to Amsterdam with a plane change in Chicago- with only 50 min. between planes. I didn't question it because I assumed that United wouldn't schedule a ticket without enough time to make a connection. Having read some of the threads on this website though, I am beginning to worry. Why would United do this? Do I have a chance?

Probably not because you have to change terminals! Assuming your flight is ontime, you need to take the train all the way to the international terminal and then go through security again. You shuld call the ticket agent again and ask for a change.

I totally agree with Grasshopper. Used to live in Chicago and traveled quite a bit out of ORD. If your flight is a couple of minutes late into ORD you probably will miss your connection.

I would definitely call the agent and try to change. Good Luck!!

Can you stand by for an earlier flight on the LAX-ORD leg? Last time I flew United (but on a different route), you could stand by, and if lucky, get on an earlier flight for free. However, planes are crowded nowadays, and I wasn't able to get on an earlier flight.

Of course if they will change it, that's best of all.

There's no terminal change on your outbound flight LAX-ORD-AMS. All flights will be using Terminal 1, concourse B or C. 50 minutes is allowed, and is legal.

I'm pretty sure that I had a terminal change when I did United SFO to ORD to AMS.

If you miss your flight, know that there are two other UA flights to London later in the day, also two UA codeshares operated by Lufthansa to Frankfurt, which they can put you on to get to Amsterdam.

I could be way off base, but I was thinking United's international flights only <i>arrive</i> at the Int'l terminal (Terminal 5). United's main terminal is #1. Just to check my sanity, I looked on United.com for today's flight status. Every LAX-ORD flight arrived in Terminal 1, either B or C concourse. Every ORD-AMS flight departed O'Hare from Terminal 1, concourse C.

So, it's likely that you will arrive and depart in the same terminal and not go through any check points. But you don't have much room for flight delays. Double check with United though.

Here's a map of Terminal 1 at O'Hare.

http://www.ohare.com/ohare/airlines/airlines_term1.shtm

Grasshopper - Are you thinking about the return flight? My own experience, as well as all indication on UA's website, suggest that all international flight departs Terminal 1. Are you simply thinking about changing from Concourse B to C, or vice versa?

RK, I agree that the International flights depart from Terminal 1. But I think my SFO to ORD arrived in a different terminal. I remember taking the train.

Grasshopper, I just did the little flight status thing again (rkkwan has this stuff down, I had to go investigate)

Sure enough, the SFO flights are arriving at ORD at T3.

Ack, never mind. Was looking at the SFO column. They're arriving at T1 at ORD today. Could have been having problems at the assigned gate on your trip and shuffled you. That's happened to me a bunch of times.

I appreciate all of the immediate feedback.

I just called United and the agent told me that both the arrival and departure were terminal 1, and that it wouldn't be a problem. (She was practically laughing at me for being worried). If I want to change it the cost is $100- on top of a ticket that I already paid too much for.

rkkwan- thanks for the info on the flights to London, that makes me feel a bit better. I am travelling on my own and don't want to spend the night in Chicago (never been) on my own.

Thanks Clifton. :-) You know how we San Franciscans like to be different!