We have a former exchange student arriving via Korean Air to O'hare at terminal 5. We purchased a ticket on American to fly the rest of the way here Myrtle Beach, SC. How complicated is it going to be for her to get terminal 3 for the rest of the journey. I know she will have to go through customs, and collect her checked bag, but how does she need to proceed. Can she collect her luggage inside security, and take it on to terminal 3. The American ticket will be on her phone.

Thanks for any help!

No. Her luggage should be checked through to m Beach. She will go through immigration, then pick up her luggage and go through customs and immediately return her luggage. People will be there to get her luggage back to the luggage area. BUT --- since she has touched her checked luggage she is outside of security and will need to go through security at the next terminal. Signage is good so just follow the signs. It is a bit of a hike.

>>No. Her luggage should be checked through to m Beach.

American and Korean are in different airline alliances as well.

American has customer service desks right after the customs checkpoint (where she hands in the customs form) and before exiting the customs hall. She should be able to check her luggage in there if it has not been tagged through. If it has been tagged through, then there will be a baggage drop before exiting the customs hall.

She will need to take the airport train (ATS) to terminal 3. Once she exits the customs hall, she should look for the sign for the ATS. It is on an upper level, and there is an escalator to get up there. She will clear security at T3.

Thanks so much!

I was hoping American could accept her checked baggage close to customs, so she didn't have to drag it all the way to terminal 3. It probably weighs as much as she does!
With Thailand being 12 hours ahead of us, and the flight taking 12 hours, she won't be able to check in for the domestic flight until she lands in Chicago and gets some wifi. Korean Air has no wifi onboard. I'm trying to proactively cut down on the headaches for her.

I missed the separate ticket. Will have to check in with Am. However, you should be able to check her in for American when the window opens. Now, hope you have allowed enough time between flights to handle any delays in her flight. It is always a little risk to have two separate tickets.

Yes, that's our hope too. She should have two hours, if the flight is on time. If not, we will just have to change the next flight. Its the wallet of host dad for the domestic flight, so she will be OK...

Both are different airlines.

Is the ticket changeable? If not, she is on the hook for a very expensive, last minute tickets.

FYI regarding the ATS system at O'Hare:

Get ready for buses at O'Hare this year as 'people mover' gets rehab - Chicago Tribune

Seems the OP isn't concerned with that >>Its the wallet of host dad for the domestic flight, so she will be OK...