Chicago OHare International Airport Departures (ORD)

Chicago O’Hare International Airport is one of the largest airports in the United States of America, and the third largest in the world, behind Atlanta Hartsfield Airport and Beijing Airport. It has been allocated the IATA code of ORD in order to distinguish it from similar establishments, and is often referred to as the Chicago International Airport, the O’Hare Airport, the O’Hare Field or simply as O’Hare. Chicago O’Hare International Airport departures are offered by a large number of important airline carriers, including American Airlines and United Airlines, for which the airport is a hub. The airport departure areas are well equipped for passengers, and there are plenty of ground transport options for travelling to the airport.

Chicago O’Hare Airport is located approximately 17 miles from the Chicago Loop, and along the Interstate-90. The airport is nearby to Des Plaines, Schiller Park, Rosemont, Bensenville and Elk Grove Village, in the north-western corner of Chicago. It is also mostly located in Cook County, and partly in DuPage County. The easiest way to reach the airport for a departure flight is on the CTA Blue Line trains, that run from various stations in downtown Chicago. The trains are a very cheap way to travel, a ticket costing just $2.25, and the journey is about forty to forty-five minutes. The train drops passengers off at the O’Hare Train Station, that is on the lower level concourse that connects Terminals 1, 2 and 3. There also a number of bus routes that are convenient for departing passengers. The Go Airport Express is available from various downtown Chicago hotels, downtown businesses and other residential locations, Coach USA Wisconsin and Omega Airport Shuttle travel from the Chicago Midway Airport and other Chicago locations and several regional buses provide transport from the surrounding areas. The PACE bus connects departing passengers to the Kiss ‘n’ Fly lot, a short distance from the terminals, and which is connected to airport facilities by the ATS (Airport Transit System). Taxis can be taken to Chicago O’Hare Airport as well, for between $30.00 and $40.00 from downtown Chicago.

Passengers driving their own vehicle to the airport will travel the I-90 from Chicago, the I-294 from areas south and north of the airport and the I-90 from areas to the west. These roads provide a connection to the I-190, the access road of the airport. A number of parking options are available, including the main parking garage nearby to Terminals 1, 2 and 3, an international parking lot at Terminal 5 and the Economy parking lots E and F, located further from the airport terminals. The Economy lots are the most affordable parking areas at Chicago O’Hare Airport.

Chicago O’Hare International Airport departure facilities are found in all terminal buildings, of which there are four. Terminal 1 is used for the majority of flights by the airline company United Airlines, and is also the departure terminal for some of United Airlines’ Star Alliance partners. Other Star Alliance members are present at this terminal as well, and Lufthansa departures are often operated from Terminal 1. However, all international arrival flights are handled in Terminal 5, as Terminal 1 does not have sufficient Customs facilities. Each terminal has a few concourses. Concourse B has 23 gates and Concourse C has 30 gates. A shuttle service runs between Concourse C and Concourses E and F in Terminal 2. Departure flights from Terminal 1 serve the destinations of Tokyo-Narita, Hong Kong, Amsterdam, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich, Birmingham, Manchester, Toronto-Pearson, Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal and Halifax, as well as a large number of airports in the United States, including Cincinnati, Cleveland, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Dallas/Fort Worth, Atlanta, Houston-International, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Washington-National, Nashville, Detroit, Philadelphia, Kansas, Denver, Seattle, San Francisco and Las Vegas. The airport lounges in Terminal 1 include several United Clubs operated by United Airlines and a United First International Lounge in Concourse C.

Terminal 2 of Chicago O’Hare International Airport is the terminal for US Airways and Delta Air Line flights, and United Express operates a number of departure flights from this terminal as well. Terminal 2 has two concourses (E and F) and 38 gates. There is a United Club in Concourse F and a SkyClub for departing passengers in Concourse E, operated by Delta Air Lines. Airline companies at Terminal 2 also include Air Canada, WestJet, Comair, Compass Airlines, Shuttle America and Republic Airlines. Terminal 3 is a large building, with 80 gates and four concourses (G, H, K and L). This terminal operates low-cost carrier flights from Concourse L. It has two American Airlines Admirals Clubs and a Flagship Lounge. Airline companies with departure flights from Terminal 3 include Alaska Airlines, All Nippon, American Eagle, Etihad Airways, Jet Blue, Spirit Airlines and Virgin America.

There is no fourth terminal at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, but the new Terminal 5 is the international terminal of the airport. All international flights arrive at this terminal, besides those from airports with U.S. border preclearance facilities. Many other non-US carriers are found at this terminal as well, and some low-cost carriers. There are 21 gates and one concourse, Concourse M. The departure lounges in Terminal 5 include the Aer Lingus Gold Circle Club, Korean Air Lounge, British Airways Lounge, Swiss Lounge, Air France Lounge, Alitalia Sala Freccia Alata and the SAS Business Lounge. The most popular international Chicago O’Hare Airport departures in recent years were to London in the UK, Frankfurt in Germany, Tokyo-Narita in Japan, Cancun in Mexico, Paris in France and Montreal in Canada. In total, Chicago O’Hare Airport handles well over 60 million passengers per annum.

The Chicago O’Hare International Airport departure areas are, in general, all very well equipped for their passengers. All terminals have many airport shops and restaurants pre-security and post-security, power and work stations in all concourses, lost and found facilities and services for disabled passengers. There is also a medical centre and chapel at the airport, and volunteer airport ambassadors provide assistance to passengers.

Further assistance with Chicago O’Hare International Airport departures can be obtained by contacting the airline company in use, or by contacting the airport at their customer service number of 1-773-686-2200.