Chicago O'Hara: Need go thru security again for international connection?
 

Hi,

Do I need to go thru security again after coming in from an international flight with a connection to a domestic flight? They are different airlines: Asiana and AA.

I'm wondering if 1 1/2 hours for clearing custom, etc. is enough to catch my domestic flight.

Please reply asap as I need to book the ticket now. Thanks much!!

Yes, after clearing immigration and customs you'll pass through security before any onward flight. Two hours would be better. All flights are on a single ticket, right? so if you miss your AA flight you'll be put on a later one at no cost.

Custom sis easy - immigration can be time-consuming - esp if several international flights land at once. Plus you neeed to pick up your bags and recheck them - as well as go through security again. I would think there's a reasonable chance of making it - but woldn;t be surprised if you didn't.

I had a 2 hr connection at O'Hara a few years ago - and barely made it. Biggest bottleneck was baggage claim.

Stu Dudley

At O'Hare, you'll arrive in Terminal 5. As the others have said, you claim your luggage and pass through immigration/passport control and customs. Immediately after you leave the arrivals hall, there is an AA desk where you drop your bags for your connecting flight. If you need any adjustments to your ticket, they will make them there.

Then, head upstairs and take the tram to Terminal 3.

Thanks, all, for your quick responses!

I took the chance and booked the ticket since I don't have too many alternatives. The travel agent said if I miss the connection, they can put me on another later flight but that gets me in after midnight.

I don't plan to have any check-in luggage.

Thanks again for all your help! Fodorites are great!

>>they can put me on another later flight but that gets me in after midnight.<<

If there are seats available.

>>you'll arrive in Terminal 5. As the others have said, you claim your luggage and pass through immigration/passport control<<

If my memory is correct, you go through passport control first, then pick up your bags, then go through customs (could be a line there also), then drop off your bags for the connecting flight.

Stu Dudley

If you are ready to dash off the plane and sprint to passport control ahead of most of your planemates, you should do ok (assuming on-time arrival). Try for a seat assignment as far forward as possible.

Not checking bags will be your saving grace. While half the passengers on your flight are standing around waiting for their stuff, you can proceed straight through customs.

>>While half the passengers on your flight are standing around waiting for their stuff, you can proceed straight through customs.<<

That will work - unless all the other planes that arrived 15-30 minutes before JC98's plane arrived, are already waiting in the customs line. I think the only time JC might save is the time he/she won't spend retrieving a checked bag.

Stu Dudley

The airlines will sell ticket connections that are 1.5 hours apart at O'Hare, claiming that is a "legal" connection. On a "good" day when everything is perfect, pp control is not on break, etc, that will be long enough. But day in and day out, you cannot bank on it.

Thanks for all the good suggestions. Cross my fingers.

What's the fastest way to go from Terminal 5 to 3? O'Hara is big. I remember a few times running breathlessly to catch my connecting flight.

Today's history lesson: Edward Butch O'Hare was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for shooting down 5 bombers on 1 mission in the Pacific. This action took place on February 20, 1942. He was shot down and killed in 1943.
The airport in the NW side of Chicago was originally Orchard Field and was put in to serve the Douglas Aircraft Company.
Enjoy your flight into and out of O'Hare (ORD)

(my first thought... not OHarA (oh hair-uh)... AAARGGGHHH!!!it's OHare (oh hair)

And you should be OK with that tight connection. I fly into and out of OHare (oh hair) all the time, both international and domestic. It usually takes me about 35 minutes from de-planing to leaving terminal 5 for a connecting flight, or for a ride home.

I agree that you will be ahead of your fellow passengers if you do not have to wait for check baggage to arrive. Certain times of the mid-afternoon, there can be 3-5 flights landing from various international locations at the same time. The line at immigration can be long sometimes.

Please let us know how you do and how much time you had to spare, or how the "ticket change" goes.

So, from Terminal 5 I take a train (?) to Terminal 3? That's the fastest way?

Thanks

P.S. BTW, thanks for that history lesson. It was a final jeopardy question with Watson. Its answer was "Toronto."

Yes, you take the train. That is by far the fastest way, as the terminals are not connected buildings. It would be a very long walk!

That history lesson is a good follow-up to the answer to the question about U. S. airports that Watson blew on "Jeopardy."